[Definitely sounds like bee-killing to me.]

[Mmmhm. They're very mechanical about it. They run up to the first un-smashed hive, punch it for a minute, then run past all the others who've gone beyond them to get to the next un-smashed hive.]

[I'm finding references to bee-killing as a prelude to apocalyptic rituals,] he says. [Although usually it would be the future participants in the ritual who would kill the bees. How many did you say there were? Six?]

[I count six. There could be more I can't see from the road. I could drive into the grove if you need an accurate count.]

[I don't think that information would be worth the risk you'd take to get it.]

[Yeah, I'm not sure I could time it to not get in their way, although they do seem to quite ignore anything that doesn't get in their way and isn't a beehive.]

[The overall conclusion in the literature is that bee-killing is not a powerful activity by itself, but amplifies the power of certain kinds of malevolent magic.]

[Maybe I should just see if I can follow them home. I have more than six squares on me, if they turn on something other than the hives.]

[...I shouldn't feel the need to tell you to be careful, and yet.]

[I will be careful. I no longer expect to be able to maybe punch them into submission.]

[Good. Thank you.]

[...One way, you risk losing them; the other way, you risk spending a square you'll need later. How's your supply?]

[I've got hundreds. Shell Bell was here for a while. But only thirty on me right now.]

[I'm not sure,] says Giles. [I'm really not sure.]

[...Well, I just saw a sign saying the next rest stop is in twenty miles, so, I think I'll go with wishing some gas,] says Bella. [In the tank and I may as well fill up the back of the truck with cans of the stuff while I'm at it, if I can get it all on one square. If I head for the stop I'll lose them anyway. But I'll wait till I'm a little lower on fuel than this in case they're about to make a hard right and lead me to where they're going before I even need the fillup.]

[...All right,] he says. [Where are you exactly?]

Bella looks out for the next mile marker, names it. [On the Five.]

[And at what point should I contact emergency services if I don't hear from you?]

[Mmm, ping me by brainphone every ten minutes, if I don't answer you with even a "still alive" twice in a row I'm in some kind of trouble.]

[Will do.]

[Thanks! Also, consider asking directly for my dad - Chief Charlie Swan, "it's about his daughter" should get you past the dispatcher.]

[I'll remember that.]

[Where, exactly, do they go?]