Mother Naturia wore no clothes, yet she did not appear to be naked. From her shoulders to her toes, she looked draped in something that resembled regular clothing. 

     She looked beautiful, really...

     in spite of the fact that she looked entirely made of wood.

     "I've seen you on the web," Abby said.

     "Then you've heard my message."

     "Not really. I didn't know until an hour ago that Alison had become a botanical."

​     "Is that so?" Mother Naturia turned to Gramps. "You didn't know your granddaughter was living in a botanic commune when you came here today?"

     "I watched you come alive," Gramps told Mother Naturia. "Last year, at Kevin Klawmaker's."

​     "Did you?"

     "Yes. An entity called a Valtair..."

     "No human being ever has to starve again. That's because of me."

     "You were designed by The Fours to be the sixth talon, part of a seven talon pre-invasion plan."  

     "Why are they called talons?"

     "Because, once they've all been released, they'll get a grip on the...I don't know. I don't know why they're called talons."

​     "You prefer that people starve?"

     "I'd prefer it if you weren't a tool of The Fours."

     "I am my own entity." She took a step towards Gramps. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we became friends? I could talk to an Adam for hours and hours, I know I could, but I also know that can never be."

     "I intend to do everything I can to wipe you off the face of the Earth."

     "Fair enough. Let me say this, though. I love this planet and every single person on it. I swell with pride, and am also humbled, by the notion that I am able to feed them all."

     "The Fours is a cancer that intends to destroy all that exists. What's the plan that's been implanted in you? There's got to be one. My guess is that you're planning to hold the entire world's population hostage, threaten to poison or cut off their food supply, something like that. How close am I?"

     "I have good news for you. Another of your kind, another Adam, the one who was born into this timeline, is returning home."

     Gramps tried not to let it show just how much that information intrigued him. "Adam Forwarder's returning from Domitika?"

     "Soon."

​     "Where?"

     "There's a single portal to Domitika left on Earth."

     "You've got the portal. Adam's coming out in Naturia."

     "All I've done is good for the people of this planet."

     "They'll come to hate you soon enough."

​     "Perhaps it's you they'll come to hate."

     "Dad?" This from Abby. She looked worried. Alison, too. What Abby seemed to be asking with that, "Dad?", was, Gramps, do you really want to upset an entity that only looks human, but, in fact, is merely a fractional portion or what is, for the moment, the single largest sentient entity on Earth?

     And she was right, of course. Gramps was being stupid.

     "I need you two out of here," he said to Abby and Alison.

     "Please, Mother Naturia said.  "You're my guests. We're on our way to my home."

      "Not a chance." 

      "We're already in transit. We have been ever since you came into this room."

     "This room is moving? I feel nothing."

     "Adam Forwarder is returning to Earth, and he's got his baby daughter in his arms. Tell me you don't want to be there when he emerges from the portal."

                                                  CONTINUE