A World Containing My Brother

The augmented Riobamba team has gone to the university library café, for a quick lunch.

Saint Roley remains in Simon's office, with the four bell frogs.

His tray of molluscs is almost defrosted.

The bell frogs have finished their mice.

Would any of you care for a slightly chilled mollusc? asks Saint Roley.

We all would, says a green and gold bell frog.

Do help yourselves, says Saint Roley.

One by one they hop out of their box.

They start gobbling the molluscs.

I'm surprised that you like them, says Saint Roley, taking one for himself.

In captivity, says a bell frog, you like what you're given.

I see, says Saint Roley.

We dream of crickets, fruit flies and maggots, says one.

Silkworms, says the second.

Flies, beetles and mealworms, says the third.

Cockroaches, locusts, water snails and earthworms, says the fourth. What do you dream of?

I dream of a world still containing my brother, says Saint Roley. He floated away towards the horizon, off the coast of Brittany.

That is sad, says the fourth bell frog. We ourselves have been ninety percent depleted, and have lost many relatives.

Are you part of the team going to Riobamba? asks Saint Roley.

We don't believe so, says the first frog. No passports.

I have a Parrot Passport, says Saint Roley. They are easy to come by in France.

How urbane you are, says the second frog. Do you speak Spanish?

Molusca, says Saint Roley.

What does that mean? asks the third frog.

Mollusc, says Saint Roley.

The frogs laugh. Herp! Herp! Herp! It's nearly the same!

Let us make him a poem, says the first frog.

No need, says Saint Roley.

But we would like to, says the fourth frog. We admire you, and wish to immortalise you in verse.

Okay, go ahead, says Saint Roley.

Saint Roley waits. The frogs put their heads together.

Eventually the first frog clears his throat and recites:

SAINT ROLEY THE GOOD.

Saint Roley The Good
Did He Eat Us? NO! Although He Could.
We Who Lost Ninety Percent Of Our Brothers
Through Development Schemes.
He Shared With Us His Last Mollusc
And We Shared Our Dreams.

He Taught Us Spanish.
And Then Told Us How
Should We Go To France
We Might Buy Parrot Passports
So We Love Him Now.

We Wish Him Safe Journey,
Saint Roley The Good.
He Did Not Eat Us
Although He Could.

Saint Roley is moved by the tribute.

He hopes to remember it long enough for someone with paper and pencil to write it down.