Bleating And Screaming Are Different

Dash it! says Gaius. I should have brought a torch.

I can see in the dark, says Terence. Look. There's a tree.

I can see that, says Gaius. It's the small things, in the dark corners, that I can't see.

Let's be quiet, says Terence, and maybe we'll hear them.

They've stopped screaming, says Gaius. Which must mean that they're near.

I know! says Terence. Let's say interesting things, and they'll hear us and come even nearer.

Worth a try, says Gaius. I'll start. Well now, Terence, did you know that the Slender Bleating Tree Frog and the Screaming Tree Frog were once thought to be one and the same?

How could that happen? asks Terence.

Carelessness, says Gaius. 

So now there are two of them, says Terence. Are they married?

Interesting that you should ask that foolish question, says Gaius.

Why? asks Terence. Aren't they married?

You ask as if you think there are only two of them, says Gaius.

You said it, says Terence. There was one frog that was careless and split into two frogs.

Two different species, says Gaius. And as you know, or perhaps you do not know, being an infant, that two different species cannot mate and produce viable offspring.

What's a viable offspring? asks Terence.

A Screaming Tree Frog, lurking nearby, is wondering the same.

Tadpoles, followed by froglets, that grow to maturity, says Gaius.

Babies! screams the Screaming Tree Frog.

Did you hear that? asks Terence.

I could hardly miss it, says Gaius. Show yourself, Screaming Tree Frog, we will not hurt you.

The Screaming Tree Frog shows itself, on the trunk of a slender eucalyptus. A male frog, lemon yellow, with a bright yellow vocal sac.

At last! says Gaius. May I take a photo?

No, says the Screaming Tree Frog. 

Did you know you can't ever get married? asks Terence.

That was not quite what he said, says the Screaming Tree Frog.

No it wasn't, says Gaius. But our ruse was successful.

What ruse? asks the Screaming Tree Frog.

To draw you out, says Gaius.

So that about Slender Bleating Tree Frogs was rubbish? asks the Screaming Tree Frog.

No that part was correct, says Gaius.

The part about no babies? asks the Screaming Tree Frog.

Correct also, says Gaius. But getting married, I imagine that is not something you aspire to.

No. Is it something you aspire to? asks the Screaming Tree Frog.

Certainly not, says Gaius. 

Me either, says Terence.

Ha ha, laughs the Screaming Tree Frog. You're too young to get married!

And you're too froggy, says Terence.

Oho! says the Screaming Tree Frog. That's not what you implied earlier.

I wouldn't bother trying to outwit Terence, says Gaius. 

The Screaming Tree Frog stiffens. He hears the shrill cry of a cricket.

Or pretends to.

He disappears into one of the many dark corners.