Ten minutes is long.
Terence is sinking.
What if he's down here forever, turning slimy and green?
Something slimy and green floats towards him.
And sticks to his face.
Yeerk! Bluh!
A fish comes by, and nibbles at the slimy green thing stuck to his face.
Another fish joins the first fish.
This is new, says the first fish.
They both swim away.
Bumhole!
Terence would have liked to ask them a question.
But he can't talk underwater.
What's this though?
Two legs with feet at the bottom. Two hands grasp Terence by the waist.
Squelch! Pop! He is rescued by Gaius.
Yikes! says Terence. That was close.
How did you happen to be in the water? asks Gaius.
The ground wasn't there, says Terence.
Come and sit down with Prawny, while you dry off, says Gaius.
Okay, says Terence.
Gaius puts Terence down beside Prawny.
Did you find a bell frog? asks Prawny.
No, says Terence. Two fish tried to eat me.
They were probably trying to eat that green algae stuck to your face, says Gaius.
How did you know where I was? asks Terence.
Prawny told me, says Gaius. You can be grateful to him.
I heard you fall in, says Prawny.
I didn't FALL in, says Terence.
Never mind, says Gaius. I wonder how Margaret is going.
He calls Margaret.
Gaius! says Margaret. I think I've located some of the frog saunas.
We'll join you, says Gaius. How far away are you?
About ten minutes walk from where we parted, says Margaret. In the direction I went.
We're sure to find you, says Gaius. But it might help if you whistle.
Margaret does not normally whistle.
She's not sure if she can.
I'll cooee, says Margaret.
Fine, says Gaius. We'll listen out for your cooee.
Is she going to cooee? asks Terence.
What's cooee? asks Prawny.
When someone goes COO-EE! says Terence.
I hope she doesn't frighten the frogs, says Gaius.
They'll just think it's lame, says Terence.
I hope you're right, says Gaius.
If I was a frog I would, says Terence.
Are you dry yet? asks Gaius.
Yes, let's go! says Terence.
They set off, ears peeled for lame cooees.
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