What About Taddy?

The newly-freed frog hops back to Terence's tent.

You got out! say his brothers.

I was pushed from behind, says the newly-freed frog.

Who by? ask the brothers.

The Kroombit tinker, says the newly-fred frog. And once I was out, I learned the future.

Our future? ask the brothers. What will it be?

We'll be taught to ride bikes, says their newly-freed brother. And we get a captain. And green wheels made of o-rings.

What are o-rings? ask the brothers.

I don't know, says the newly-freed brother. But my guess is they're round.

Terence comes back to his tent, with Nerida.

Look at them! says Terence.

Wow! says Nerida. They metamorphosed kind of fast.

Because of my method, says Terence. Next they'll learn how to ride bikes.

Frogs don't ride bikes, says Nerida.

What about Taddy? asks Terence.

I thought Taddy was a person, says Nerida.

Okay, better not tell them, says Terence.

Luckily his frog team aren't listening. 

They are exercising their legs.

Lying on their backs and doing cycling movements.

That's so cute, says Nerida. It looks like they already know how to do it.

Terence is pleased. Yes it does.

The frog team stops exercising.

Hey! When do we get our own bikes? asks the newly-freed one.

How do they even know what bikes are? asks Nerida. A few hours ago they were just tadpoles.

How should I know? says Terence.

I'll ask them, says Nerida. Hey guys....

Bonk-bonk! say the brothers.

What do you know about bicycles? asks Nerida.

The brothers are stumped. 

At this stage they know very little.

Future Wheels

Gaius is interviewing the Kroombit tinker.

None of us feel we fit in, says the Kroombit tinker.

That is understandable, says Gaius. 

Terence comes up, with his springwater bottle.

Guess what? says Terence.

Your tadpoles have turned into frogs, says Gaius. And the last one is stuck in the bottle.

Yes, says Terence. How did you know?

He can see it, says the Kroombit tinker.

I can, says Gaius. 

He can't get out, says Terence.

I'll get him out, says the Kroombit tinker. He's already bigger than I am.

Put the bottle down, says Gaius. Not like that! On its side.

Terence does as requested.

The Kroombit tinker enters the bottle.

Stuck in here are you?

Bonk-bonk!

Go to the opening, I'll push.

Bonk! Woo!

The last frog shoots out of the bottle, followed by the Kroombit tinker.

Nice big back legs you've got, says the Kroombit tinker.

That's because I kept shaking the bottle, says Terence. My frogs are going to be on Baby Pierre's team.

Which is what? asks the Kroombit tinker.

Nothing at present, says Gaius. But Terence hopes, I presume, to teach them to cycle. After which he assumes Baby Pierre will see the benefits of leading a team.

Yes, he will, says Terence.

First I've heard of it, says the newly-freed frog.

That's because you were in the bottle, says Terence.

And how will Baby Pierre provide them with bicycles? asks the Kroombit tinker.

Easy peasy, says Terence. He makes them himself.

He made his own bicycle, says Gaius. With green fluoro-elastane o-rings for wheels.

Bonk-bonk! says the newly-freed frog.

The newly-freed frog can't wait to get back to the others and tell them about their future green o-rings.

He hops away, on his soon-to-be powerful legs.

A Persuasive Manner

Someone does have a plan, says Vello.

What is it? asks Sweezus.

Young Terence, says Vello. 

No way! says Sweezus. He's in Queensland.

Nonetheless, says Vello. He has come up with one. And it involves you.

Yeah? says Sweezus. Are there any more of those donuts?

I'll see, says Belle.

Okay, yeah, what's the plan? asks Sweezus.

A team of frogs, says Vello. Terence is training them. Your job is to convince Baby Pierre that he needs them.

Lucky Sweezus isn't eating a donut right now. It would have gone down the wrong way.

Scheisse! says Sweezus. 

As a fellow team captain, with a persuasive manner, says Vello.

Me? says Sweezus. I don't have a persuasive manner.

Belle comes back into the office with the last chocolate donut.

Here you are, Sweezie, says Belle. Last one.

He eats it thoughtfully.

Maybe he does have a persuasive manner. He did get the last donut.

Okay I'll give it a whirl, says Sweezus. Next time I see him.

Great, says Vello. Was that really the last donut?

Yes it was, says Belle.

...... 

Meanwhile in Kroombit Tops, Terence is trying to ease his frog team out of the springwater bottle. 

Help us! cries the first frog. Our gills have stopped working!

I am! says Terence. Get the others to push you.

He holds the bottle upside down as the last of the water drains out.

The first frog sucks in his stomach. The other two push his back end from behind.

Plop! He is out. Now for the others.

The second frog plops out the same way.

But the last frog has no one behind him.

One of you has to go back in, says Terence.

Never! say the first two. They start hopping about testing their legs and their airways. Bonk-bonk! It's so good with no tail!

The third frog peers out of the opening sadly.

Terence goes to find Gaius.

He always knows what to do.

Slow The Little Shit Down

David comes into the office.

Is there a donut for me?

I suppose so, says Vello. 

David takes a donut, and bites into it.

I was just speaking to Gaius, says Vello.

How is he? asks David.

He is in Kroombit Tops wherever that is, says Vello. Interviewing a tinker.

Oh yes, one of those endangered frogs, says David. He'll be pleased that he found one.

He did sound pleased, says Vello. He said Terence found it. And he asked if we needed a rider for Team Philosophe.

What did you answer? asks David.

I said yes, says Vello, because we haven't heard back from that other chap.

That Italian chappie? says David. Pity. I heard he was fast.

And a real philosopher, says Vello, which Gaius is not.

But Gaius is an excellent domestique, says David. And he does provide a different perspective.

So he does, says Vello. And that reminds me. Terence has had an idea.

Ha ha! laughs David. What is it?

You'll be surprised, says Vello. It's an idea to thwart Baby Pierre.

I'm listening, says David.

Terence is developing a team of strong-legged pobblebonks, says Vello. And the idea is they'll join Baby Pierre as his team.

A Baby Pierre Team? says David. Isn't that a recipe for more chaos?

Well, yes, says Vello. But Gaius believes a team will give him more responsibility. Which might slow him down.

I see, says David. 

The tricky part will be to convince Baby Pierre, says Vello. Have you seen him this morning?

No, says David. But Sweezus may have. And he'll be in soon.

Sweezus comes in.

Sorry I'm late boss. Training. Hey! Donuts! Did you save one for for me?

No, says Vello.

Yes, says Belle, coming into the office with two more donuts. 

Sweezus wolfs them both down.

Have you seen Baby Pierre this morning? asks Vello.

That little fucker! says Sweezus. Nearly toppled me on the Gorge Road. Someone should come up with a way to slow the little shit down.

Imagine The Chaos

Gaius calls Vello.

Ring ring.

Hello? says Vello. What is it?

I'm well thank you, says Gaius. 

Gaius! says Vello. Forgive my snappish manner. I'm just back from training.

Training already? says Gaius. Do you...

David's idea, says Vello. 

I'm in Kroombit Tops at the moment, says Gaius. But I could...

Ah yes, looking for frogs, says Vello. How's that going?

Fascinating, says Gaius. Terence found one of the newly released Kroombit Tinkers. I've been interviewing her. And she's promised to introduce me to some of the others this evening.

Very nice, says Vello. But why are you calling?

Wondering if you need me in Team Philosophe this year? says Gaius. Because I'm...

Aren't you with Team Condor? asks Vello.

No one has asked me, says Gaius. But I...

That's because you're always away, says Vello. But yes, we could use you. I had invited... but never mind that, have you begun training?

Hardly, says Gaius. I don't have a bike here. Oh and by the way...

What is it? says Vello. I'm dying for a coffee. Oh Belle's just come in with one, and a donut! Thank you, my dear. That looks yummy.

Do you ever see Baby Pierre? asks Gaius.

More often than I'd like to, says Vello.

Terence has come up with a ruse to make him less of a danger to everyone, says Gaius. It involves him having a team. He would of course be the captain.

That's an excellent ruse, says Vello. I'm surprised Terence came up with it. Who are these potential team members? Are they pebbles?

Not at all, says Gaius. They are, or will be, pobblebonks with powerful legs.

Pobblebonks! says Vello. In other words, frogs?

At the moment they are in the process of becoming frogs, says Gaius. Yes, perhaps it's all too far-fetched. I shouldn't have mentioned it.

No, says Vello. It's a great idea. Even if it doesn't come off. Imagine the chaos! 

It's not intended to cause chaos, says Gaius. 

No, of course not, says Vello, biting into his chocolate donut with cream in the middle.

That's the best sort of chaos.

Pest Team

Gaius has come down to the creek and seen Terence shaking the bottle.

That won't do your prize tadpoles much good, says Gaius. 

Wrong! says Terence. Their legs will grow faster.

Nature must take its course, says Gaius.

What does that mean? asks Terence.

Wait for things to happen, says Gaius.

Like Arthur, says Terence.

Perhaps not the best example, says Gaius.

But he happened, says Terence.

He turned up eventually, says Gaius. As I knew he would. But it's not the same thing.

And we waited, says Terence.

True, says Gaius. Perhaps you are right. Why do you want your tadpoles to grow legs in a hurry?

It's a secret, says Terence.

A secret? says Gaius.

Yes, says Terence. Do you want to know what it is?

Indeed, says Gaius. You can trust me to keep your secret.

Okay, says Terence. If they grow big legs by the end of the month they can be in Baby Pierre's team.

His team? says Gaius. Baby Pierre doesn't have a team. He's a loner.

He could have a team, says Terence. It's way better.

No need to convince me, says Gaius. 

See, says Terence. 

I don't see, says Gaius.

It doesn't matter, says Terence. Baby Pierre will see.

Gaius thinks about it. He can't quite see that Baby Pierre will see that having three untrained tadpoles in his team will be better.

On the other hand, Baby Pierre is a pest. 

Always darting in and out between wheels and causing accidents with impunity.

A team would give him extra responsibility.

Did you say the end of the month? asks Gaius.

Arthur did, says Gaius.

I must call Vello, says Gaius. He's probably forgotten where I am. 

Ask him, says Terence.

No need to ask him, says Gaius. I shall tell him. And I'll mention your idea about Baby Pierre.

Yippee! says Terence.

He shakes the bottle again, sending his tadpoles into a spin.

They paddle madly, with their fast-growing frog-legs,

And now their tails feel kind of funny.

Like they might fall off soon. 

The Future Is Legs

Terence carries the bottle of tadpoles back to his tent.

He sits down and stares into the bottle.

Are they growing their legs yet?

He brings his face up close so the tadpoles will hear him.

The tadpoles swim up to his nose.

What is he saying? asks one of the tadpoles.

Move, says another.

We were, says the third tadpole. We only stopped to hear what he's saying.

He didn't say 'move', says the second tadpole. I did.

Why should we? asks the two others.

So I can see his mouth, says the first tadpole.

But the others won't move.

So none of them know what Terence is saying.

Which is: Guess what? You guys need to grow legs in a hurry. Big strong ones.

Terence stops talking. He doesn't want his tadpole children to get too excited. But they need shaking up.

Shaking up! That might help, anyway.

He shakes the bottle.

The water becomes cloudy and bubbles rise to the top.

The tadpoles swim wildly, 

Ee! Ah! Oo!

Tiny particles of vegetation are up for grabs if they can just focus.

Their little tails swish this way and that.

Teeny legs....yes....teeny legs start to paddle.

It's a very good sign.

Terence stops shaking the bottle.

The tadpoles calm down.

They look at one another. Woo! Legs! 

Our future is coming!