T&T in IME - Chapter 2

Turtle was in a wide-eyed daze, as was what she would get into when struck with unforeseen adverse circumstances.

"Who are you? I have never seen anyone coming in here before," the beaver frowned.

"Err.. who are you? Well I'm around because I work here," Turtle tried to sound nonchalant. She would have anticipated a more polite greeting from a stranger.

"No you don't. I work here." With that said, the beaver turned around and busily ruffled the pile of sand that was slowly moving past in front of him. All of a sudden, he pulled out a tiny pink worm in between his teeth and discarded it into a bucket of ice beside him. "See these? They are nano-worms."

"Ok... Err. I guess it's still early. It's really dark here! Can you actually see all of those worms?"

"I don't need to thee. I get them." Beaver didn't turn around and replied between clenched teeth. "And what'th the big deal about darkneth? You haven't been to where I come from."

Turtle kind of waited for him to continue but Beaver went on working. She was a little put off by his stand-offish attitude and was afraid to pose questions; but still did. "The worms... what's that got to do with anything?"

Beaver turned around, spit out a nano-worm, and frowned even more severely before replying, "Have you never heard that a wafer is made of sand? How do you suppose you'll eat those biscuits when there are worms in the sand?"

Turtle was finding Beaver's company unpleasant indeed. But she was still glad that she learnt something. The truck must have delivered fresh sand for the day of production. Always glad of enlightening experiences, Turtle had no difficulty in remaining civil. "I had better go to work now."

"You are at work," Beaver said. And added after a pause, "Don't come snooping whenever you like next time."

"Well my Glider was early, and I heard the truck leave," Turtle couldn't help but retort.

"What's a Glider?"

"Oh.. you haven't... it's a tube that carry us around to different places. Sometimes it goes a little faster, sometimes not as fast." Turtle explained. As soon as she had done that, she wished she had said something like "Have you never heard of the Glider?" And she was sure that would be a more natural rhetoric than the dark little Beaver's senseless condescension.

Beaver looked thoughtful for a while before shrugging slightly and returning to his job.

"Have a good day," Turtle said and left immediately after. She didn't hear Beaver's reply.

Once out of the immense white doors, Turtle realised that working hours had started fifteen minutes ago and nobody had been there to monitor the patterns on the wafers. Hurriedly she changed into overalls and got into the assembly line. Toad glanced at her and said, "Checked. Everything's alright."

"Thanks."

"Late again?"

"No! What do you mean by 'again'? And where's my half?"

"Well, since you aren't here yet, I haven't kept one yet. Where's my coffee?"

"Later. You know what? I came across this strangest guy this morning." And so she told Toad all about Beaver and his job. "Do you suppose he had come from a different land? He hasn't heard of the Glider!"

"That's no big deal. I'm sure not all lands are white like ours."

"Now you are talking like him."

"Am I? Am I not supposed to? Okok." Toad laughed. He had round, dog-like eyes lined with a dark ring, making him look forever youthful and in good humour. Presently he noticed that Turtle had sunken into a reverie, and said, "What are you thinking about this time?"

"Have you wondered about what life would be like beyond this land? Now I really want to take a look."

"Me? I know they exists, those other lands." Toad sighed. "But it's not easy to go out of here. But then again, those guys working at the nano-worms have come here. So there must be a way."

"Let's go find him again." concluded Turtle.

~*~*~* to be continued ~*~*~*

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Present stress factors:
1. Crystallization is not working.
2. Doing nothing for the retreat. While team members are doing lots.
3. And not motivated to work in any way except writing story.
4. Sinking-heart, listless, despairing feeling after too much activities and new encounters (during US trip)
5. Mum. Toujours mum.

Stress moderating factors:
1. Writing story.
2. Dad's coming back for the weekend.
3. Movie on Sunday.