The Passage

Shake.

Danny and Netty have stood shock still during this enthusiastic interchange

between Billy and the amphibious octopus. Finally Danny finds his voice.

What's he saying?

Danny steps forward, tentatively at first, then with more confidence.

How do you hear what he's saying?

Billy steps back, having let go of the tentacle.

You hear him better when you shake.

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Danny hesitates for a minute.

Oh.

Danny spontaneously reaches out a hand to get wrapped in the pink worm. After

a moment he is having a conversation.

Yeah, we're all from the same place, just visiting.

You live on the rocks here?

Water can be heard lapping quietly nearby.

_______________________________

Billy comes into view, climbing over some rocks in a dry, rocky place. He is

talking to Netty who is following closely.

And you never know! One time I thought it was a rock,

and darned if it didn't move! ..

Netty is right behind him, with Danny lagging back so that his head finally

pops into view, looking around before he ventures forth. Seeing nothing

alarming, Danny closes the gap between them as they move on down the rock

tumble. Suddenly Billy stops short, Netty almost bumping into him, as they

both look forward without saying a word. Danny comes up behind them, slowly,

looking in the same direction. All are silent for a moment. Finally, Billy

breaks the silence.

These guys are new.

Two short hominoids with thorny plates like a turtle’s back covering their

bodies are standing before them, several arm's lengths away. They wear little

brown colored coats, are brown colored themselves, and are barefoot. One of

the pair is smaller than the others, shoulder height.

Suddenly a large Zeta materializes between the pair and the three visiting,

motioning to the pair to come forward, which they do. Netty seems to come

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alive, suddenly understanding what one of the pair, the female, is saying, the

Zeta translating telepathically for them. Netty is leaning toward her.

Only at night? How sad for your children! Do they ..

Netty falls silent as the female horned toad hominoid is grunting quietly.

Netty says,

Oh .. well .. that's true .. we treat fire that way ..

_______________________________

Inside the ship, a large living ball is almost filling the interior of the

ship. It has veins over its surface, but between the veins one can see liquid

in the center. It looks like a living water balloon. Inside can be seen what

look like jellyfish, very fine and fluttery, not the solid kind with a bell on

top that populate Earth's oceans, but more like a mass of spaghetti. Billy

steps forward and touches the side of the living water balloon, which presses

inward at his touch as our skin does.

Billy utters, almost beneath his breath.

Neat!

The jellyfish moves toward Billy's finger, and he gets an ecstatic look on his

face, in communication with the water creature. He looks over his shoulder and

says to Danny and Netty,

He wants me to come swimming with him.

Suddenly Billy disappears, his clothes falling to the floor in a heap. Netty

gasps and points at the living water balloon, seeing Billy nude inside the

living water balloon, peering out at Netty. His lungs are obviously working

in the water, breathing water. Netty faints to the floor as a dismayed Danny

lunges forward to catch her, breaking her fall.

_______________________________

The observation ship is designed to have the occupants crowded around the

glass floor and ceiling, but has private rooms as well. These circle the ship

on the perimeter, each with an archway without a door. The central observation

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room is bounded by a wall in front of the private rooms, so that no direct

view into any of the private rooms is possible from the observation room.

Danny has taken Netty to one of these rooms, so sparsely furnished that only a

table with a center post to support it stands in the room. Netty is stretched

out on this table, coming around. Billy has his pajamas back on, is toweling

his hair dry and running his fingers through his hair to put it into place,

like a comb. Billy looks up at Danny.

She's doing better than my mom. They had to send my

mom back.

Netty focuses on Billy, a confused look on her face.

I thought you were drowning .. I thought .. I ..

Without hesitating, Billy replies.