Chapter 5
Tom faced Baxter.
“Give it up, there’s no place in the world that will take you in once everyone learns what you
planned.”
“Oh, I think you overestimate the blob-loving population.” Baxter sneered, stroking his frog.
“And what’s with the frog?”
“Ribbit,” the frog said, on cue.
“It was going to be a cat, but the pet store owner wanted too much for it.”
“So you chose a frog instead...wait a minute, it can’t be that simple!”
“Well, actually, it was. The store had this white cat, straight out of James Bond, but they wanted
two hundred dollars for the damn thing!”
“Not the cat, you nitwit! My God, it’s all about choice!”
“Well, the guy did have a selection of frogs, but I liked Fred here the best!” He brought the frog
up to his face for a kiss, but the amphibian hopped away.
“Now see what you did?!”
“It’s so clear now! The Puppeteers can’t tell us what to do because then we wouldn’t have a
choice in the matter. Without choice there is no freedom!”
“Hey, try to pay attention.” Baxter had drawn a gun. “I mean this is the point where I’m
supposed to tell you my evil master plan.”
“Oh, shut up and give me a moment!” Tom said, turning away. “So I’ve got to tell everyone
about the Leet so they can choose for themselves...”
“Look. I’m about to get really pissed off, and since I’m the one with the gun...” Tom shot the
weapon out of Baxter’s hand with his octogun. “...the one who had a gun...” Baxter amended,
running to pick it up.
Does this make sense to you?
Very little. Don’t you think we should worry about Baxter first though?
Oh, right.
At that point, however, Baxter came face to barrel with his missing gun. The frog had it.
“What the?!”
“It can’t be!” Tom said, squinting at the frog.
The frog’s back turned silver, shedding the camouflage.
“Fred! How could you? After all those flies I bought for you?”
“It’s special agent Franz-the-frog to you...ribbit.”
“I guess it just goes to show: time flies when you’re having frog!” Tom waited for the laughter
but all he got were blank stares.
“Ribbit.”
* * *
“So you understand, don’t you?”
It was later that day as Tom, Mike, Alice and Rex stood (floated, really) in the Elder’s room.
“Actually I think it’s a really bad idea.”
“But I thought we had to be the ones to make the decision?”
“Couldn’t you just wait a little while?”
“Like how long?”
“A few decades?”
“You call that a little while?!”
“Well, geologically speaking...”
“No” Tom objected, “we’ve got to tell them now. Besides, it’s just a matter of time before
everyone finds out on their own.”
“But what happens if every human being decides that they’re through with us?”
“My guess is that some people will always want you to stay. Besides, you always have us.”
“That’s comforting, coming from someone who wants to get rid of his blob as soon as the
mission is over!”
Gideon gaped at the Elder.
“What? I’m the Elder, I can say ‘blob’ if I want to!”
“I’ve decided to keep mine.”
Everyone turned to Tom.
“What?!”
“I kind of like having the lockpick and besides, it’s the only way I can keep the car...”
Chapter 4
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