He took her into the woods and showed her all the wonders of nature that day. They talked of birds and creeks, trees and books. She seemed surprised at his having read books at first but then found they had read the same ones. After a bit, he suggested they go to his house for lunch.

Part way there, his father came running out of the woods and through a clearing. A look of panic crossed Justin’s face when he saw them in the woods on the other side.

“What are you doing?”, he asked in breathless surprise. “They are coming for her.”

Behind Josh’s father, Josh noticed birds leaving the canopy of trees. He had been enjoying talking with his friend so much he had failed to notice the eerie silence that had descended upon the forest.

The ‘bots’ entered the clearing and began scanning the woods in front of them but by then, Justin and his father, along with Susie had descended into a valley leading up to the field.

“We have to lead them away from your mother.”, Justin’s dad said. “Leave her here.”