Suck On This Dead Husband

Awake! says Paco. It's eleven. Time to get moving.

Pauline is already awake.

Suck on this, Cedric (dead husband).

Sweezus too is awake.

Arthur isn't. Nor is Alexander von Humboldt.

Awake! says Paco, again.

Nuh, says Arthur. Where am I?

Boots on! says Pauline.

Alexander von Humboldt emerges from a cold dream.

Minutes later they are at the small lake where Paco ropes them together.

......

Alexander von Humboldt is a good talker.

So is Pauline.

But the air is thin and getting thinner.

After reaching this point, says Alexander von Humboldt, I saw the world differently.

Like Bólivar, says Pauline.

Not like Bólivar, says Alexander von Humboldt. He saw Chimborazo in terms of politics. For the first time, I saw the earth as one living organism, in which all is connected.

Like us, says Arthur.

Ha ha! laughs Paco. Yes, with ropes! Were you and your companions connected, Alexander?

No, says Alexander von Humboldt. It was each man for himself, in that sense.

They trudge upwards, through darkness and snow banks, passing various rocks.

Paco's torch flashes unhelpfully.

Ouch! says Alexander von Humboldt. No, it's nothing. Don't mind me.

What is it? asks Paco. If you have an injury, you must say.

No I don't have an injury, says Alexander von Humboldt.

He thinks of his jottings, to take his mind off his bothersome toe.

Jottings: Observed species at various altitudes. 1. Bamboo forests, orchids. 2. Palms. 3. Conifers, oaks, alders. 4. Alpine plants and lichens.  5. Ice and snow.

Yes, he still has an excellent memory

Trudge, trudge, flash, blur.

The water in my water bottle's frozen, says Pauline.

That happens.You just have to deal with it, says Paco.

How grim this is. Shall we go back to the bottom?

.........

Near the bus stop where Simon, Lydia, Tilly, Buzz and Gaius are camping under the stars.

Saint Roley is sleeping the sleep of the satiated, snoring.

Princess Pacchu is watching him sleep.

His belly moves up and down in a regular movement.

Every so often a shudder passes horizontally, ruffling his feathers.

Three times this happens.

Probably gas. She smiles fondly.

She thinks about why she is here.

Invaluable, Gaius called her. She knew the landscape.

What use is that now?

She looks across at the three froggy siblings.

The two new ones look like they are praying.

Gastro looks cross.

So passeth the night, at the bottom.