Be Daring And Taste It

Now, says Gaius, we need one sand crab to act as control.

What does the control crab do? asks Alexander-Times-Roman.

The control crab acts as an experimental control, says Gaius.

Doing what though? asks Alexander-Times-Roman.

In this case, says Gaius, the control sand crab will be placed in normal sea water.

Have you got any normal sea water? asks Alexander-Times-Roman.

Good point, says Gaius. Have we?

He looks enquiringly at Kierkegaard, who is scraping an unidentified brown crust from his shorts.

Yes? says Kierkegaard. What do you think this is?

Something of Arthur's, says Gaius.

Kierkegaard thinks it looks like dried sauce. Should he be daring and taste it?

What did you do with the water in the bucket? asks Gaius.

It's still in the bucket, says Kierkegaard. But it's mixed with crab mucous, will that matter?

Yes it will matter, says Gaius. What a nuisance. I shall have to obtain more sea water.

Let's set up the rest of the experiment, says Alexander-Red-Hook.

Yes, says Alexander-Curly. We want to get started.

Very well, says Gaius. Kierkegaard, will you assist them?

Me? says Kierkegaard. You'd better leave me detailed instructions.

Of course, says Gaius. Fill all bowls but one with tap water. Add one teaspoon of microplastics to the first one, two teaspoons to the second, and so on. Then add the crabs.

This seems clear and simple to Kierkegaard. What can go wrong? Nothing.

I'll be back in an hour, says Gaius, picking up the bucket of seawater, tears and crab mucous.

He pours it down the sink, and leaves for the bus stop.

Kierkegaard is left with the bowls, microplastics and sand crabs.

Alexander-Red-Hook and Alexander-Yellowsun have bagged the two breakfast bowls.

They are both females. Kierkegaard wonders if this matters. Too late now. They have climbed in.

We want  to be next to each other, says Alexander-Red-Hook. Because we are friends and one of us has had a bereavement.

O yes, says Alexander-Yellowsun. That was ME! Where are my eggs?

Wrapped in paper, says Kierkegaard. I'll look for them later.

The two female sand crabs wait for their water.

Alexander-Times-Roman comes over.

Curly, Groovy, and Retro have voted me control crab, says Alexander-Times Roman. That okay with you two?

 Fine, says Alexander-Red-Hook. You can look for the eggs.

You don't tell a CONTROL crab what to do, says Alexander-Times-Roman.

But you've got nothing to do until Gaius gets back, says Alexander-Red-Hook.

This is true. He may as well look for the eggs.

And Kierkegaard won't miss him.

Kierkegaard has just discovered a problem.