Cricket points out a few of the wildflowers along the trail as they walk, probably for the benefit of Hugh's bees. There's coltsfoot and rhododendron, dandelions and thimbleberries in bloom. And there are almost certainly bees around that are not Hugh's, including bumblebees, big clumsy carpenter bees, and tinier bugs that look like bees, but aren't.
"Hoverfly," Cricket says of one of them. "They'll land on you and drink your sweat, and then follow you around for another taste. Harmless, though."
He kind of likes hoverflies, actually. Sometimes they're decent company when there's no one human around to talk with.
As they get closer to the station, he begins to consider what to tell Hugh about his own bees. Apparently, the boy decides how to handle them before Cricket comes to a conclusion, and he watches with mild, wary curiosity as they fly back down the kid's throat. It's definitely weird. Weirder than watching them come out. He doesn't seem upset, though. Just bemused.
"Were you born with 'em in you?" He asks. "I mean, have they always been there as long as you can remember? Seems like otherwise it'd be hella hard to get used to."
He smiles as he takes Hugh's hand, though. If he's unnerved, he's not unnerved enough to change their plans.
He's relieved to see there are no unfamiliar cars at the Waystation. Forrest is the one that has to be told the truth here, if no one else. He's hoping to catch him in private. "Now," he tells Hugh softly, "Forrest's a little on the scary side, but don't you worry none. He ain't gonna hurt a kid. Or me, either, I reckon. He's always been good to me."
He waves when he sees the older man looking their way. Everything's perfectly normal here, Forrest. Cricket just plucked a kid out of the woods; no big deal.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2019-07-18 01:13 am (UTC)"Hoverfly," Cricket says of one of them. "They'll land on you and drink your sweat, and then follow you around for another taste. Harmless, though."
He kind of likes hoverflies, actually. Sometimes they're decent company when there's no one human around to talk with.
As they get closer to the station, he begins to consider what to tell Hugh about his own bees. Apparently, the boy decides how to handle them before Cricket comes to a conclusion, and he watches with mild, wary curiosity as they fly back down the kid's throat. It's definitely weird. Weirder than watching them come out. He doesn't seem upset, though. Just bemused.
"Were you born with 'em in you?" He asks. "I mean, have they always been there as long as you can remember? Seems like otherwise it'd be hella hard to get used to."
He smiles as he takes Hugh's hand, though. If he's unnerved, he's not unnerved enough to change their plans.
He's relieved to see there are no unfamiliar cars at the Waystation. Forrest is the one that has to be told the truth here, if no one else. He's hoping to catch him in private. "Now," he tells Hugh softly, "Forrest's a little on the scary side, but don't you worry none. He ain't gonna hurt a kid. Or me, either, I reckon. He's always been good to me."
He waves when he sees the older man looking their way. Everything's perfectly normal here, Forrest. Cricket just plucked a kid out of the woods; no big deal.