A Cruel Experiment

Arthur's knees are bleeding.

He pulls a dirty bandage from his pocket.

A stone skitters past his ear.

A rescuer?

No it isn't.

Sweezus won't have stopped the train.

If he stops the train they'll both be busted.

It occurs to Arthur that Sweezus may have jumped from the train and even now may be walking back on the hazardous train track, looking for him.

Another stone skitters.

Arthur looks up, through the thorns.

........

Knock knock.

Mariposa opens.

It's Simon, and the Riobamba team.

Is this the right house? asks Simon. Pedro Vincente Maldonado?

Yes, says Mariposa. Come in. Everyone is looking at Piffy and Pi-face.

You have a nice house, says Lydia.

Are Piffy and Pi-face your frogs? asks Tilly.

Are Sweezus and Arthur here? asks Buzz.

Thank you. Yes.  Not yet, says Mariposa.

She leads them into the grand salon.

Welcome, all, says Pedro Vincente Maldonado. You're just in time to see the frogs before they return to the frog room.

Hello Simon, says Gaius. How did the meeting go?

Not all that satisfactory says Simon. But never mind. Let's see these frogs.

Piffy's eggs have developed to tadpole stage and should be in water.

Plop plop. Argh!

She should be in water, says Simon. How would you like to be part of an experiment?

Me? asks Pescado.

You and your frogs, says Simon.

He takes out his pool salt.

Tip a few grains of this in their water, says Simon. And see how many tadpoles survive.

That's cruel, says Mariposa.

Pescado takes the pool salt. He is all for experiments.

His dad looks approving.

Ding dong.

It's the caterers, bringing containers of dinner.

Take them round to the kitchen, says Pedro Vincente Maldonado.

When's dinner? asks Terence.

Hush, says Gaius. Obviously soon.

Sweezus and Arthur aren't here yet, says Terence. What if they fell off the train?

Until now no one has thought of this happening.

......

Bro? calls out Sweezus.

Down here, answers Arthur.

Fuck, says Sweezus. Stay right where you are.

He slides down the almost perpendicular mountain on his bottom and stops near the sapling.

My dream, mumbles Arthur.

You're delirious, buddy, says Sweezus.

He looks around at the difficult spot he has landed himself in.

Got a pencil? asks Arthur.

No, mate, says Sweezus. He feels in his pocket.

Awesome. What he does have is some eco-friendly string.