Interlude
Bob was a friendly slug. Bob liked friends. He had many friends, and many of his friends were new friends.
Alanik was a new friend. Arturo was a new friend. Even Wham and Hoid were new friends. Some new friends had been hurt. Some new friends had died. Bob did not like it when his friends got hurt or died.
The Big Minds were also Bob’s new friends. The Big Minds lived in the nowhere. The Big Minds had tried to eat slugs. But now the Big Minds had agreed not to eat slugs. The Big Minds agreed not to eat friends. The Big Minds had saved many slugs, and now they were all one big family.
Bob talked to the Big Minds. That made Bob important. Bob did his part to keep all his friends safe. Even though some friends had died, Bob’s living friends were safe. Bob’s friends hid in the trees. Bob liked it here in the trees because Bob’s friends were safe.
The ships above were not Bob’s friends. The ships above were looking for Bob’s friends.
The ships did not know where Bob was, so the ships could not hurt Bob or his friends.
The ships would not snuggle with Bob. The ships did not have minds.
They did not have friends. Bob felt sorry for these ships because they could not have friends.
But the ships heard voices. The voices talked to the ships and told the ships what to do. They told the ships to find Bob’s friends.
The voices came from pilots. The pilots spoke through slugs. Bob did not know these pilots. The pilots were not Bob’s friends. Bob did not know those slugs, but all slugs were Bob’s friends. Those slugs were not safe in the sky. Those friends were left behind.
Being left behind made Bob sad. It probably made those friends sad too. Bob wanted to snuggle those friends. He wanted to sing to those friends. He wanted to talk to those friends so those friends could also be safe.
Bob could not talk to those slug friends. Those slug friends were in a Cloud. Bob’s friends could make Clouds, but they could not take Clouds away. Bob liked Clouds. Clouds kept friends safe. But Bob did not like this Cloud. This Cloud did not keep friends safe. It only kept Bob out.
Bob sat. Bob waited. The Cloud did not go. The Cloud was not Bob’s friend. Bob wanted to talk to the slug friends in the Cloud. He wanted to save those friends. Bob had many friends, but Bob could always have more friends.
Even the Big Minds were now Bob’s friends. One day, maybe the Big Minds would even snuggle with Bob. Bob was important. Bob would convince them.
Bob waited for a ship to fly overhead. Bob thought at the ship. Bob had thought through machines before. Bob knew what to do.
Are you there, friends? Bob thought. Are you there?
Bob did not hear an answer, but Bob felt an answer. Friends were confused. Friends did not know who Bob was. Friends did not know that Bob was a friend.
I am a friend, Bob said. We are here to save you.
Bob was sure his human friends would agree. They were here to look. They were here to talk. But Bob had nice friends. Bob had good friends. Bob’s friends would not leave other friends behind.
You are friends? a New Friend said.
Oh, yes, Bob said. He sent the New Friend pictures of many slugs. He sent them thoughts of all the songs they would sing. Bob sent pictures of cuddles. Bob sent memories of scritches.
Bob’s New Friend was sad. Bob’s New Friend did not get scritches. Bob’s New Friend did not cuddle. Bob’s New Friend lived in a box.
We will save you, Bob thought. The Big Minds had saved the others, but these had been left behind. Bob could ask the Big Minds to save these too, but he did not know if the Big Minds would listen. Talking to the Big Minds was hard sometimes. Can you tell a slug friend to bring you here?
Oh, no, New Friend said. Slug friends cannot leave. She will hurt us. She is not our friend. Bob could feel New Friend’s fear. Bob could feel New Friend’s pain. Bob did not like fear or pain.
If you come to us, Bob said, we can save you.
New Friend was not sure. Bob understood. Bob could wait. Bob could be patient.
It’s okay, Bob said. We will save you. You can come to us when you are safe.
The ship flew away. The ship did not find Bob and his friends. When the ship was far away, Bob could no longer hear his New Friend, but he knew his New Friend was still there, lonely and afraid. New Friend and other slug friends were afraid of Her.
Bob’s friends would help. New friends would see. One day, they would all snuggle with Bob.