Quack!

They found Professor Calculus still in the garden, tutting over his roses.

"No, not too bad," he observed when Tintin attempted to explain where they were going. "Nothing I can't fix, but it's too dark to start work now. I do appreciate your concern."

"What are you saying now?" the Captain demanded impatiently. "We're just going inside!"

"Oh, you don't understand, Captain," explained the Professor gently. "The storm could have ruined them completely! Fortunately, the Bianca Castafiore is an especially resilient variety. Ah, when I create a rose, I do it properly!"

"Your rose? We weren't talking about your rose!"

"Yes, as I've told you before: named after Bianca Castafiore. Such a charming lady!"

"You think so?" muttered the Captain.

"By the way," said Calculus as he turned away from his roses. "You haven't yet told me: when is the wedding taking place?"

This time, the Captain couldn't think up any words to curse with and instead spluttered unintelligibly.

"I…I told you," he finally managed to say in a strangled tone. "Thundering typhoons, the press made it up. We are not engaged!"

"Are you quite sure? Then may I suggest having it in June? I would gladly supply the bouquets – it goes without asking."

"Ten thousand thundering-"

Quack!

Professor Calculus cupped a hand around his ear. "I'm sorry – you were saying…?"

"What was that?" said the Captain in disbelief. "Did you hear it?'

"Of course not. As many as you like!"

The Captain promptly turned to Tintin.

Quack!

"Was that a duck?"

Tintin had put Snowy down and was squeezing some water out of his shirt. "A duck here? I doubt it. At the stream, maybe, but not here."

Quack!

The sound came from the bushes near the garden path. Tintin crouched beside them with Snowy sniffing cautiously. "I do believe it's a frog."

"A frog?" The Captain joined him at the bushes. "A frog made that noise?"

"Yes." Tintin cleared his throat. "I think Snowy's found it." Snowy had stopped sniffing and had jumped back in a startled manner. He reached out a paw, patted the ground tentatively, and jumped back again.

"Would you like to see it, Captain? It's over here."

Captain Haddock knelt at the bushes and moved his head slowly to where Tintin was indicating. Under the shadow of some leaves squatted a pale yellow frog, barely the length of his smallest finger.

"Have you lost something?" enquired Professor Calculus.

"Take a look at this, Cuthbert: it's a frog that goes quack!"

"It's right here, Professor." Tintin pointed. "Under this bush. You could see it in front of the Captain."

This made the Captain suddenly aware of how close the frog was to his face, and he quickly retreated his head to a safer distance. With his kind of luck, it would not be surprising if the frog decided to jump on him.

"If you insist, but I'm always happy to help," smiled the Professor.

Snowy sneezed again and resumed sniffing at the frog. Quack! said the frog.

The Captain sat up. "It's fantastic! Who would have thought that such a tiny creature could make such a loud noise?"

"Well," said Tintin. "I have Snowy here…"

The Captain frowned. Tintin's voice was starting to take on a rasping quality. "Blistering barnacles, I'd completely forgotten – You're supposed to be inside! You could have reminded me."

"It-" Tintin began before his voice caught in his throat. He coughed to clear it and continued. "I got distracted. You were having a conversation with the Professor and I didn't want to interrupt. I found it very interesting and I…" Tintin faltered at what was probably the expression that must have crossed the Captain's face and quickly changed the subject. "I'm…a bit hoarse…And cold...I think I should go now."

Captain Haddock tried not to look so scary.

"Hang on, I'll come with you." The Captain struggled to move his stiff knees from the bush. Snowy ducked out of his way and Tintin leaned over.

"Do you need help? Be careful; try not to disturb the frog."

"Is it still there?"

"Let me see…" The boy looked under the bush. "Yes, it's here. It's sitting under the leaves and – Don't eat it, Snowy!"

Snowy leapt back as the frog used his snout as a launching pad to fly towards the Captain.

"Thundering typhoons!" yelled the Captain as it bounced off his shirt.

"Wooah!" shrieked Snowy as he tore after the frog.

"Snowy!" Tintin called as he slipped and slid after the muddy ball of fur. "Here, Snowy!"

The frog leapt up the path and from bush to tree before landing on the oblivious Professor's shoulder. Snowy lunged towards the man but Tintin did the same and managed to catch him in time, almost overbalancing from the weight.

"Careful!" warned the Captain. "Mind the roses!"

Tintin steadied himself at the edge of the Professor's flowerbed. "Really, Snowy!" he scolded. "If this is how you behave at home, I don't know how we manage outside the country!"

"Hello…" remarked Professor Calculus. "A frog!"

The frog jumped off his shoulder, narrowly missing the Captain, who was already on his feet. The Captain called it a misshapen amphibious firecracker before turning to Tintin.

"Come along now, you've spent far too long outside."

"You're right. Just wait a moment, Snowy's getting fidgety – EEK!"

Snowy leapt out of his arms and Tintin lost his balance, landing with a yelp among the Professor's roses. Captain Haddock shook his head. That boy was clumsier than him, sometimes.

I like this chapter. Calculus is fun to write.