Page 75 of Blightfall

“Let’s move out,” I said. “We don’t want to keep Ivy waiting.”

Interlude

Naga hid inside the bag. Inside the bag, Naga was squished. Naga did not like to be squished.

Outside the bag, Arturo was worried. Naga did not like it when her friends were worried.

Naga hoped Arturo would give her scritches. Giving scritches made Arturo feel better. Naga provided this service to Arturo. Naga did not mind, because scritches felt good.

But Arturo did not give Naga scritches. Instead Arturo talked to Sadie.

Sadie walked near Arturo. Naga could see her through the dark bag. Sadie was nice. Sadie gave good scritches.

“Sadie,” Arturo said, “I need to talk to you for a minute.”

“Really?” Sadie said. Sadie sounded worried. Naga did not like it when Sadie was worried.

“Really?” Naga said. Naga hoped that Arturo would give her scritches, but instead Arturo said, “Shhh.”

“You and Nedd did a good job with Dayan,” Arturo said.

“We were so obvious they ambushed us in an alley,” Sadie said.

“But,” Arturo said, “you talked your way out of that situation and made an ally. I know I said back on Detritus that I was worried about bringing you along, but I’m glad I did. You’re an asset to the team.”

“Oh,” Sadie said. Sadie sounded surprised. Sadie should not be surprised that Arturo liked Sadie. Naga liked Sadie. Sadie gave good scritches. “Thanks.”

“So I’d like you to be the one to call Ivy,” Arturo said.

“What?” Sadie sounded scared. Naga did not want Sadie to be scared. Maybe if Arturo gave Sadie scritches, Sadie would not be scared. But Arturo did not give Sadie scritches.

“You’re the best of us when it comes to talking your way out of things,” Arturo said. “I could do it, but I don’t have that skill set.”

“Is it that I’m so good at talking?” Sadie asked. “Or that the rest of you are bad at it?”

Arturo was quiet. Arturo was worried. Naga would give Arturo scritches, but Naga did not have fingers.

“It’s the second one,” Arturo said. “Look, I wish we had a diplomat to deal with this, but we don’t, and you are by far the best of us for the job.”

Squeeze did not have fingers, but Squeeze had mindblades. Maybe Squeeze could give Arturo scritches with his mindblades. Then Arturo would not be so worried.

“Scud,” Sadie said. “Okay. But can you help me figure out what to say before we call?”

“Of course,” Arturo said. “Let’s talk it through.”

Naga thought there should not be talking. Naga thought there should be scritching. But Arturo and Sadie just kept talking.

Bob, Naga said, Arturo needs scritches. Can you ask Squeeze to give Arturo scritches?

Not here, Bob said. Here we hide.

Later? Naga asked.

Later, Bob said.

“Okay,” Sadie said. “I can do that. I will totally not get us killed.”

Sadie was sad. Naga did not want Sadie to be sad. Naga could not scritch Sadie. Squeeze could not scritch Sadie.