Never Despair

What now? asks Sweezus.

Paco regards him.

Doesn't he know?

We hike up to the second refuge, says Pauline. Get some shut-eye and then attempt the final stretch to the summit, arriving at dawn.

You are right, says Paco. Perhaps you know this from eating the stew.

The stew, no, says Pauline. Trip Advisor.

Another way to learn of the future, says Paco. It was a joke though. Shall we be going?

They pick up their gear. They are ready.

No need to rope you together, says Paco. Not till the final climb. Just watch where you're going.

They pass the stones piled up on the dead frogs.

Sweezus takes a photo.

He sends it to Gaius.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that, says Arthur.

Minutes later Sweezus's phone rings.

Hello, it's Gaius, says Gaius.

I know, says Sweezus. Did you get the photo?

Yes I did, says Gaius. Stones, with frogs' feet just visible. Not dead, are they?

Err, yes, says Sweezus. But they made it up to the first refuge, and they might have gone further.

Might have? says Gaius. Stick to the facts. No. On second thoughts, let me speak to Arthur.

Sweezus hands Arthur the phone.

What is it? asks Arthur. We're just starting out for the second refuge.

Don't let me stop you, says Gaius.

Arthur doesn't. They continue ascending. He, Paco, Pauline and Sweezus.

What exactly happened to the frogs? asks Gaius. I assume they're the tadpoles you began with.

Only two of them, says Arthur. We had to ditch the rest in a stream, before we started.

Why was that? asks Gaius.

 Burst out of the bottle, says Arthur. And died.

Ours is a similar experience, says Gaius. But all our tadpoles have died. Which stream did you drop your tadpoles into?

The one near the bus stop, says Arthur.

Good man, says Gaius. Nil desperandum.....crackle crackle.

Arthur is now out of range.

Gaius hastens to relay the information to Simon and the rest of the team.

It is agreed that Saint Roley will fly back to the bus stop and locate the stream. There may be one or two tadpoles that revived when dropped in the water.

It's worth trying.

Otherwise the mission has all been in vain.

Saint Roley flies, straight and fast, on an empty stomach. There is the bus stop. There is the stream.

He lands gracefully.

Peers into the babbling water.

Yes, there are one or two tadpoles. Three! And two more advanced froglets, half in and half out of the water.

Do you speak? asks Saint Roley.

Do you eat frogs? asks a froglet.

Of course not, says Saint Roley, eyeing the tadpoles. I'm here in the interests of science.