Chapter 6

Nimbus and Grum, in microspace

Compost

   Grum smiled, standing in the most odorous place in the yard. “Don’t you just love the smell of fresh compost?” A fly buzzed nearby.

   “Ugh, not really…” Nimbus was scraping repulsive globs of phlegm and doughnut from his wing feathers. He was covered from head to toe.

   “Look, you can see all those little wiggly things hard at work, decomposing everything.” All around them, fungi, nematodes, actinomycetes, and some larvae, were indeed diligently processing the organic matter of the compost pile. Bacteria spread their tendrils far across the pile of sawdust Grum dumped in a week ago. Protozoa bumped around in small puddles from a recent rain. A fly larva snacked on a fresh watermelon rind.

   “I’m getting out of here before I get tangled in the food web.” Nimbus stepped over a squirming maggot.

   “Too late, don’t move. I think that mouse is hungry.” Grum kept smiling, very still. The mouse’s nose twitched, whiskers batting. It smelled something fresh.

   “Grum, I know you love your bun. But maybe the mouse can have it? And we can get out of here alive.” The mouse inched closer. Another fly landed nearby. Very slowly, Grum removed his favorite bun, and stepped away from it. The mouse quickly snatched it up and began gobbling. Nimbus and Grum cautiously backed away.

   They started climbing towards the edge of the compost pile, able to cover more distance with their slightly increased size. Their journey continued over many foul, fragrant obstacles. A rotting apple core, sections of eggshell, an orange peel, two avocado pits, and one very moldy wedge of cheese. Descending a hillside of soggy oats and coffee grounds, Grum lost his footing and tumbled right into Nimbus. Both slid to the edge of the pile and fell.