In Search Of An Eye

The Riobamba team is in the library café.

We fly out from Sydney tomorrow, says Simon.

All right if we leave our bikes here? asks Gaius.

Of course, says Simon. You can leave them in my office.

Thank you, says Gaius. Are your bell frogs coming?

No, says Simon. There are restrictions on bringing animals into Ecuador. And we don't need them.

What about Saint Roley? asks Terence.

He has his own passport, says Gaius.

It's a Parrot Passport, says Terence.

Very good, says Simon. So we're all set. We're just taking the basics. We can buy tools when we get there.

Tools? says Sweezus.

Yes, for constructing new habitats says Simon. You and Arthur will be used to that, working with Gaius.

Yeah, says Sweezus. Kind of. Yeah, whatever.

He looks at Arthur.

Arthur appears unconcerned.

Any of you speak Spanish? asks Simon. Donde esta la rana?

It got away, says Terence. Oops!

Far out! says Sweezus. Did you understand that?

NO, says Terence.

What got away? asks Gaius.

Nothing, says Terence.

Sweezus puts two and two together. Years ago, Terence fell off the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, a crazy construction, embellished with exotic carvings and animal images, including yeah, tortoises, chameleons and parrots. Terence would have heard passers-by talking. And Saint Joseph would've cursed him in Spanish. Bastardo! So of course the little bugger knows Spanish. But hey. He doesn't want anyone to know that he knows it. Okay. That's cool.

Where is the frog? says Gaius, who has been slowly translating the Spanish via its roots in the Latin.

Bravo, says Simon. Hopefully we'll be able to use that phrase in Riobamba.

Perhaps in the plural, says Gaius. I look forward to it. So does Arthur.

He says this because Arthur is not paying attention.

Arthur is rifling through a pile of plastic inflatable swan squares, in search of an eye.