Two Sickening Thoughts

At last they arrived at RIAUS. Ageless successfully smuggled Baby Pierre and Frog inside under his hat. They sat down at a round table between the bar and the stage.

They've only given me one clicker pad, said Ageless. So you boys can't vote. But you can tell me what you think.

I think...began Frog.

Not yet, said Ageless.

The panel consisted of scientists and researchers and lawyers. They each gave a ten minute presentation. It seemed that Synthetic Biology was about creating new forms of life in the laboratory, and frightening everyone with the results.

Afterwards the audience split into discussion groups. Frog was in the Blue Group, upstairs. He sat on a chair at the Blue Group table. It was too low for him. He decided to sit up on the table. He was happy to see plates of nibbles in the centre of the table, as he was feeling rather peckish.

Four friendly-looking ladies of varying ages sat down at Frog's table, followed by a Professor, and a young man called Brad.

Does anyone mind if I start eating? asked Brad. I'm starving.

Go for it Brad, said the two older ladies, feeling motherly.

Brad picked up a small round quivering piece of pink flesh, topped with a blob of yellow, and polished it off in an instant.

Frog had a sickening thought. What if the piece of pink quivering flesh was Synthetic? Yuck.

Then he had another. He was the only tomato on a table of nibbles, and Brad was eyeing him off!

He tried to roll inconspicuously off the table.