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Bell pulled himself shakily from the swampy muck of the pond beneath the fig tree. He dove for cover behind an upright of fence and snapped his eyes to the sky in wild search. But there was no spotting Drip amidst the chaos of the above.

“Hey, stranger!” There stood Marilyn, holding a bucket. “Are you alright?”

“You! Marilyn!” Bell said, breathing fast and clutching his shoulder. “And bucket!”

He sprung in her direction, knocking the bucket, drippingly, and pulled her down by the shoulders. “Do you see that bird? Is he gone?”

Her eyes turned toward his, her face a potluck of retirement home puzzle pieces. There was a splotch of what looked to be grease on her jawline. Under her left cheek.

“I think so.” Her mouth gaped momentarily. “W-what uh… just happened?”

Bell's heart began again slowly to beat. He flexed his fingers to force the flow of blood. He exhaled medicinally. He had just caused a scene; he needed to break the tension.

“I got wet,” Bell said, pouting his lower lip and flopping his sopping arms like an oilslicked penguin.

The subduing film of adrenaline which coated Bell's brain started slowly to corrode, leaving him fuzzy. Parts of him throbbed.

“Sorry,” Bell said, cheeks flush.

“Er… alright.” Marilyn's voice dropped to a gossipy whisper. “Are we safe here? That… bird...” Her eyes wandered skyward.

“We're safe here,” Bell said. He thought about it. “Well, we're here, at any rate. Hello, Marilyn.”

The branches above them rustled in a nameless breeze. Pearl daylight was receding to opal. Marilyn shivered visibly.

This, even more so than his amazement at finding another human, caused Bell to stare. He blinked several times. He couldn't remember the last time he had shivered. He tried to make himself shiver, but only managed to slightly wobble. He stared.