Scientific Insouciance

All right, says Belle, I'd better go. Okay to leave Terence with you?

After destroying our control crab and distressing the two females with pepper, what more could he do? asks Gaius.

What do you want me to do? asks Terence.

I was speaking ironically, says Gaius.

What does that mean? asks Terence.

The opposite, says Belle. It means he thinks there are plenty of things you could do.

Yes, stop wasting the salt for one thing, says Kierkegaard.

It's a sword, says Terence. And these are the lights.

It's a salt cellar, says Gaius. And those are salt crystals. But it's an imaginative image.

AND, says Terence, stopping doing something isn't one of the things I can do.

Of course it is, says Gaius.

Terence means it's not ongoing, says Belle. Once he stops, he's got nothing to do.

Nothing, says Terence, putting the sword down to prove it. See?

What would you like to do, Terence? asks Belle. There's so much going on. Gaius must need help with something.

He could choose the new control crab, says Gaius.

Woop-doop, says Terence.

It's an important task, says Belle. You might have to ask them a series of questions.

I'll do it! says Terence

Yes, says Gaius. That would be useful. Kierkegaard, help Terence come up with some suitable questions. Meanwhile I'll make up the various brews for our crabs to be exposed to.

Are you still going to use tap water? asks Belle. If you are, don't forget to add salt.

We may as well use the sea water, says Gaius. Now that we've got it

Kierkegaard is surprised at Gaius's scientific insouciance.

Belle isn't.

Gaius sets about filling the containers with equal amounts of seawater.

I've got the first question! says Terence. Who's the strongest?

What a daft question, says Kierkegaard.