Six Red Legs Surround Him

Next, Gaius calls Simon.

Simon answers. Hello?

I'm about to join you, says Gaius. Where's your hotel?

Stay where you are, says Simon. I'll come and meet you.

Gaius goes back inside the large house.

Sweezus and Arthur are trying on red waterproof trousers in the hallway.

Very sensible trousers, says Gaius. Are there others?

Heaps, says Sweezus. In there.

Keep an eye on this frog for me, says Gaius.

He goes into the store room. Comes out in red waterproof trousers.

The frog stares through the side of the reheatable plastic container, which is transparent.

Six red legs surround him.

They all look the same.

He looks at his own legs.

They look different.

A sorrow descends upon him. He collapses.

Your frog looks dejected, says Arthur.

He'll buck up when he sees his siblings, says Gaius. Although..... he may not.

True, says Arthur. Not everyone bucks up when they see their siblings.

I reckon I would, says Sweezus. If I had any.

The point is, says Gaius. This frog was only a tadpole for a matter of hours. The pool salt killed three of his siblings, but he thrived. He must have remarkable qualities.

Yeah, says Sweezus. (He would buck up if he had remarkable qualities, and his siblings did not).

Simon walks in without knocking.

Everything's sorted, says Simon. Our team will release the new tadpoles in an agreed location on the lower slopes of Chimborazo. We'll go part way by bus. Then there's a bit of a walk on an ancient stone highway. Hey, nice trousers!

They're for the summit, says Sweezus. We're hiring a guide.

Great, says Simon. What's that on the floor there? Your lunch?

No, says Gaius. An ex-tadpole, now a giant Riobamban marsupial tree frog. I believe its metamorphosis was accelerated by an over-concentration of pool salt, which you subsequently corrected.

I don't believe it! says Simon.

I find your reaction unscientific, says Gaius.

But natural, says Simon. Let me see.

He opens the reheatable plastic container.

The frog shuts his eyes and cowers. Nothing bad happens. He opens his eyes.

Then something bad happens.

He is lifted by Simon.

Not SO bad. Simon is used to scared frogs.