The turtle receives what can best be described as a skeptical look. They have had little and less chance to be alone in recent days, and they’ve been thwarted by a little creature that would, perhaps, best be an ingredient in a soup.

“How long has it been in there?” The words are hardly out of his mouth before he realizes that there’s no way she could know.

He peers into the box. “Anything else alive?”

What he sees are boots, and flasks, so he picks up a boot and is surprised to hear something rattling around in the toe.