The mice swarmed through the door. “Stop that!” said Rigg. “When you do that we end up stepping on some of you.”
“We don’t mind,” said a mouse.
“Much,” said another.
“Well we mind,” said Rigg. “It’s sickening to feel your little bodies crunch under our shoes. Especially since the one we step on might have been conversing with us a moment before.”
The mice swerved to the edges of the doorway, and many of them clambered up onto Rigg’s and Ram Odin’s clothing to ride them out of the room.
“What’s happening?” Ram Odin asked Vadeshex.
“Noxon is back,” said Vadeshex.
“Successful or not?” asked Ram Odin.
“When did he arrive?” asked Rigg.
“He arrived with the Visitors,” said Vadeshe
x. “He brought a blind girl with him, and they immediately came back to a time when the two of you were here in my starship. The flyer is bringing them.”
“Did they stop the Destroyers?” Ram Odin insisted.
“Of course,” said Vadeshex. “He wouldn’t have come back with that job undone.”
“Did the Visitors know they were bringing him?” asked Rigg.
“I don’t think so,” said Vadeshex. “But I wasn’t there when they arrived. Or rather, I’m sure I will be there, but I at this moment have no idea of anything except that they called for the flyer, and yes, they stopped the Destroyers.”
“Have you notified everybody else?” asked Rigg.
“The other expendables are spreading the word among those who care. The Odinfolders are celebrating. All the mice in Larfold are celebrating on the beach with the Larfolders as they come out of the water.”
“And Loaf and Leaky? Param and Umbo?”
“Ramex is heading for them right now, in his flyer,” said Vadeshex. “Give me credit for knowing my job.”
“All the expendables and all the ships’ computers were notified at once,” said Rigg. “You had nothing to do with it, right?”
“Well, true,” said Vadeshex. “But I think it’s significant that Noxon and the girl are coming straight to me.”
“To us,” said Ram Odin.
“To me,” said Vadeshex. “The girl is blind. Her eyes were burned out and she wants to try a facemask to see if it will restore her eyes.”
“She’s from Earth?” asked Rigg.
“Where else would he come up with a human girl?” asked Ram Odin.
“Will the facemasks work with people who aren’t part of Garden’s gene pool?” asked Rigg.
“She’s a cousin of Ram Odin’s,” said Vadeshex. He turned to Ram. “Apparently you had cousins named Wheaton. Arnold and Lanae’s daughter, Deborah.”
“Of course,” said Ram Odin. “They died in an accident. Wasn’t her uncle taking care of her? He had an odd nickname.”
“Georgia,” said Vadeshex.
“How do you know all this?” asked Rigg. “How long did you wait to come tell us?”