Down You Up You

Etoile releases the frogs.

They hop out of bed.

Au revoir, visiteurs, says Etoile's mother.

She opens the front door, and lets everyone out.

Vello calls for a taxi.

One comes. They get in.

Well! says Katherine. What sort of hospital do you suppose that was?

A pretend one, says Quiet-tartus. 

Why were you strapped in? asks Vello.

We ate the other patients, says the knowlesi.

Aha! It all makes sense now.

Give them their present, says Sirene. It will make them forget their cruel treatment.

Here, says Terence.

Quiet-tartus takes the paper bag. 

He takes out a shiny dark toadstone. 

Here goes! says Quiet-tartus. He swallows the toadstone.

Gluurp!

Croakey! says the knowlesi. Why'd you do that?

It's what you're meant to do, says Quiet-tartus. It remains in your head, as a source of wisdom.

No way! says the knowlesi.

Are you sure of that? asks Katherine. It's more likely to sink to your stomach.

And lower, says Vello. Then you'll be in strife.

No, says Sirene. The jewel sits in the head of the toad as an antidote to poison.

But he isn't a toad, says Vello. And he wasn't born with it.

How else was I going to get it down me? asks Quiet-tartus.

Up you, says Terence.

This remark is unhelpful.

I know! says Katherine. I'll call Gaius.

She calls Gaius.

Gaius's phone rings. It's a long time before he answers.

Hello? says Gaius. Katherine?

What time is it there? asks Katherine.

Ten thirty, says Gaius. I was in bed.

Sorry, dear, says Katherine. We just have a quick question. What do you know about toadstones?

Toadstones? says Gaius. Now?

Yes now, says Katherine. Quiet-tartus has swallowed one.

Squeeze his belly, says Gaius. It may just pop out.

But he swallowed it on purpose as a source of wisdom and an antidote to poison, says Katherine. He thinks it will remain in his head.

It won't, says Gaius. Get it out of him. And tell him I'm sorry. This is partly my fault.

Why? asks Katherine.

I wrote of the toadstone, long ago, says Gaius. When scientific knowledge was sparse. We now know that its power is mythical.

Thanks Gaius, says Katherine.

How did Team Philosophe do? asks Gaius. 

Didn't you watch it? asks Katherine.

No, too busy looking for gobies, says Gaius. 

They did the best they could do, at their age, says Katherine.

Nice to  know, says Gaius. Well, if there's nothing else.....

Nothing else, says Katherine. Goodbye, Gaius.

The call ends

Gaius says........begins Katherine.

But it may be too late. 

Quiet-tartus is swelling.