Bad Comrades

And what of the others?

Simon and his team are in Ibarra, assisting with the translocation of Riobamban marsupial tree frogs.

Simon, aware of the dangers of using too much pool salt, is using it sparingly.

So far, so good.

Gaius is on a bus on his way to Ibarra.

He chats with another passenger.

It will be a lightning visit, says Gaius.

What a shame, says the passenger (a lady).

Not at all, says Gaius. I only wish to ascertain how the pool salt is working. We have had trouble.

With your pool? asks the lady.

Ha ha! No. With the tree frogs, says Gaius.

He explains how too much pool salt has resulted in the deaths of a number of tadpoles and mutations in others.

She appears to be interested.

Terence is on his way back to Riobamba, with Pedro Vicente Maldonado, and the children.

Their plane has landed in Quito and Pedro is calling a taxi.

Terence has a new hat.

It has side flaps and is similar to the one that was stolen in Melbourne when he was there with Grandpa Marx for the Marxist convention and they got separated and bad comrades took it off him.

Cherry is slowly recovering her abilities, after falling into the hotel pool in Hawaii.

She is learning her tables. Twice times seven.

 And the square root of pi.

Saint Roley is still at Maldonado's with the waxworms. They are afraid of the future.

Wah wah, cry the waxworms. Can't you ASK someone?

I would, says Saint Roley, but I don't have a phone.

Where did we come from? asks the head waxworm, who seems less agitated than the others.

Next door, says Saint Roley.

So, go next door, says the head waxworm.

No way, says Saint Roley. The first thing that would happen is that Flap and his parents would jump in through the window and eat you.

Perhaps that would be the best outcome, says the head waxworm. At least we'd have certainty.

Wah wah, wail the other waxworms.

Don't be defeatist, says Saint Roley.

All right. Close the window, says the head waxworm. Then go and ask the neighbour.

Saint Roley could kick himself for not having thought of this simple solution.

Well, not that simple.

He might break his beak. Or his toes. Depending.

He dithers.

A taxi pulls up outside.