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softly luminous globes, drifting among the branches. As Ruskin turned, Max s
eyes looked like two points of light floating in blackness, behind his
visor. The Logothian spoke before Ruskin could ask.  I believe we are in the
right place.
A cloud of what looked like fireflies floated over their heads and
alighted among the branches. The cloud coalesced into a glowing man-shape,
sitting in the tree.  Welcome, it said.
 How may I help you?
Ruskin took a deep breath.  Well 
And Tamika finished,  We were told that there was a laboratory here, and that
a Dr. Daxter could examine Willard and find out what s wrong with him. Are you
E rik Daxter, or can you tell us where he is? Impatience was plain upon her
face.
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The shape answered without expression.  I am E rik Daxter. Whether
or not I can help remains to be seen.
 Then excuse me, but what s all this
? Tamika gestured around them.
The glowing shape seemed to solidify further, until an identifiable
face appeared, narrow and bony, with real-looking eyes. Daxter
chuckled, the first sign he had shown of human emotion.  If you had
three hundred seventy years behind you, you might be more relaxed
about the urgencies of the moment, too. Please excuse my foibles.
He was interrupted by a hiss from Max. The Logothian had drawn
away from the tree nearest him.  Max? Ruskin asked, and at once saw the
answer. A small creature in the tree, about the size of a large squirrel,
was peering at Max with great interest. It had glistening black fur, two eyes
on each side of its head, and a tapered snout that gaped open,
displaying long rows of gleaming teeth. It was panting slowly.
 What the hell? Ruskin said, allowing Max to edge past him. The creature
seemed to have eyes only for the Logothian.
Daxter s eyes followed the movement.  Oh dear 
He was interrupted by another hiss. Now Ali Maksam was backing away from
another tree.
Peering out of this one was a red, oblong thing that looked as though it were
made of gelatin. It was full of eyes, and it was oozing forward toward Max.
 Terrakells! the Logothian whispered, drawing into a crouch.
 What are they? Tamika asked.  They re creepy.
Ruskin realized that his own hands were clenched a reaction to the others
fear. Or was it just that? He felt a strange tingling at the back of his neck.
What were these things?
 They are terrakells quite harmless, really. Daxter muttered something that
was a mix of squeaks and guttural hiccups.  But they are curious. I m afraid
they have a tendency to fixate on those who are most wary of them.
One after another, the creatures twittered and drew back into the trees.
Ruskin could have sworn he saw the flutter of a silvery wing on the
first. The second extended a rubbery pod backward, then recoiled out of
sight.
Max slowly rose from his crouch.  I & apologize.
 Quite all right. My fault, Daxter said.
Ruskin felt an almost physical sense of relief where the uneasy tingling had
been.
 My fear is quite irrational, Ali Maksam explained quietly.  It is their
empathic faculties. I
cannot, for some reason they do not mesh with my own, without  The
Logothian was uncharacteristically at a loss for words.  Well, I find them
upsetting; that is all I can say.
 Terribly sorry, Daxter said.  They are excellent company to me.
But I will try to keep them out of your way.
Max bowed slightly.
 Would someone explain to me
? Tamika demanded.
 The terrakells are empathic shapechangers. Marvelous companions, if one
has a rapport with them, Daxter said.  But they can be rather alarming
otherwise, I suppose. He turned his glowing head.  Ali Maksam, I did not
realize that Logothians were shy of terrakells.
 They are not, generally, Max said.  It is my own & foible.
Ruskin recognized the embarrassment in Max s voice. Defensively, he
interrupted:
 Perhaps now you could let us in on the meaning of all this, Dr. Daxter.
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 My forest? Why, that s simple enough & 
Daxter s voice suddenly became indistinct, as did the woods.
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