Snakefoot told himself not to gloat; let Screwtape be impressed. Be nonchalant. After thinking for a moment, he picked up the phone. Desiree answered. "Let me talk to the chief," he said. After a shorter pause than Screwtape normally made his minions wait, Screwtape's voice crackled through the ether. "Well?"
"Progress report," he said. After making Screwtape wait a few seconds and enjoying the tension on the other end of the line, he continued, "Subject approached with success." After another long pause, Screwtape broke in impatiently, "Is that all you've got! Are you going to make me beat it out of you?
Snakefoot was enjoying making his boss squirm. "She opened up, broke down. Told me everything. Cried on my shoulder. Won her complete confidence."
"And? What's next?" Screwtape wanted to know.
"It will require some finesse. I don't want to overplay my hand. But the road is open. We'll have to see where it leads."
Screwtape could sense that he wasn't going to get any more important details. "Don't be too cautious," he said. "You've got to push."
-----
Brother Holloway/Glubwart was seething. He could smell Screwtape in this "Brother Sebastian." It could be any one of millions of Screwtape's demons, but he was sure it must be none other than the infamous Snakefoot. "He's undermining my careful planning; trying to take all the credit." He wondered if he should confront Snakefoot directly or wait and see what he was up to. He decided he would be patient.
----
Joe's dreams would not leave him alone. He was walking along a secluded, beautiful beach. The ocean on his left was a brilliant blue. Out of the bushes steps a beautiful girl, who takes Joe's hand. They continue walking along the beach, not speaking a word. Suddenly, the girl is a giant octopus. She starts dragging him into the sea. Under the sea, the scene changes: now the octopus is holding a treasure chest in its tentacles. Joe dives in and tries to retrieve the treasure -- everything depends on it. He swims with all his might, but cannot catch up with the octopus receding into inky depths.
"She doesn't want me anymore. Who is the father? Why should I care?"
It was starting to affect his school work. Joe's mother couldn't help but notice. After a parental conference, they both decided it was time for a serious talk. Dad was assigned the opening. "Your mother and I are disappointed in your grades lately," he said. "We expect to see some major improvement soon. You know how important it is for your future."
"I know you're worried about your girl -- what's her name -- Demondra? Just give it time. These things have a way of working themselves out. There are mil--"
Joe stopped listening as his well-meaning parents droned on, never missing a cliche.
