She must have taken a wrong turn. The thicket twined into a thicker mass and any sign of life had dwindled. She was in the middle of a forest with no way out that she would find or compute. The sky wasn't like a normal sky. The sun and clouds continued to swap places until she grew dizzy. Time was forgotten in this place, as was location. Her eyelids sagged, and she decided to take a rest.

The grass was cool and tickling beneath her skin. She sat against a rough tree trunk and sighed. Simon had to be concerned. She'd surely be in trouble when she got home. Her thought was disrupted as a cough came on. She coughed and coughed, realizing that smoke curled around her face like a halo. It smelled like the cigars Jayne smoked. But Jayne was a dodo. Who was smoking?

"Who are you?" a voice called.

Her pupils dropped to a mushroom a foot from her knee. A tiny, blue caterpillar lounged there, cigar in hand. She dropped beside it, looking carefully. She recognized the eyes and the terrifying mass of hair.

"Shepherd Book?" she asked, although she knew he'd say he wasn't.

"No. And you are?"

"River."

"And what brings you here?"

"A rabbit in a vest."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Ah hmmm. I see."

"Can't find my way back."

"You're in luck. I used to be a shepherd. I lead all."

"With the broken book."

"What book?"

"The Bible," she answered, mindlessly plucking at the blades of green forage.

He made another low sound and said, "No. I lead with the Elbib."

"That's Bible backwards."

"No, it's Elbib forwards."

"That doesn't make sense. Do you know about Noah's Ark?"

The caterpillar laughed, exhaling a large puff of gray. "I think you mean Oah's Nark."

"Oah's Nark?"

"Oah spent a day taking apart a man that told Dog about Oah's plan to dry out the flood of the earth."

"No. Noah spent a day building an ark for when God flooded the earth."

"That doesn't make sense."

"I know! It's mathematically impossible to build an ark in a day large enough to support two of every species on the planet. It would be too dense to float when the water came."

"No, I mean that it doesn't make sense because that's all wrong! What book are you reading?"

"The Bible."

"It's the Elbib. One must have no faith in Dog to go down the right path."

"No faith?" she frowned. He always believed in faith. Everything he was saying was mixed up and backwards.

"Faith is a bad thing. Belief is wrong. Now, tell me why you're lost and I can help guide you with my doubt."

"You're not being logical. Doubt is no way to guide."

"It's the only way! Logic doesn't play a part here. You need to learn that."

"Without logic, nothing exists! Mathematical equations and physics formulas are the only way to comprehend!"

"Nonsense! You needn't comprehend anything! Just be as you are and are as you be. Be as are you and disbelieve as be you are. You see?"

He was even more outlandish here than he was when he was alive. She leaned on her hands and tried to read him. Nothing came to her. He blew a haze of smoke into her eyes and pointedly reminded her, "I'm waiting to help…"

"Got turned around. Can't find home. Simon will be worried."

"Well, just keep walking. I guess you'll maybe be able to find your way."

She scowled. Some help. He seemed pleased with his advice and suddenly began to crawl off his mushroom.

"Where are you going?" she asked, sad to see Book leave once again.

"I have more people to help. Goodbye for now, River."

He faded into a large barberry bush. She reluctantly stood and wandered further into the tangle of plants. They were a mess, piled-high like walls in a maze. She wove through them, anxiety rising steadily in her chest. Her legs broke out into a run and she darted with the bends and turns of the path until she came to another picket fence. This one was plain and broken, like some of the western towns the ship often landed in.

With some apprehension, she opened the latch and peered around the hedge of unkempt greenery in her line of sight. A decent home sat just around the corner. It intrigued her, so she moved stealthily to it. The ground was soggy and silent, un-answering to the pads of her feet. But then, a dull, and still striking, noise sounded behind her.

She found a stick and kicked into her hand, spinning on her heel to face the foe. A frog in a blue outfit held up its hands, peacefully hopping in reverse.

"There is no need for that," he said calmly. "We may talk like civilized amphibians. I will not harm you."

Chills scurried down her spine and the breath left her lungs. The Operative had returned.