I should be scared, like the rest of them.

I should be at home with the doors and windows barricaded. But no. I'm out on the streets, walking and walking, sure my mind is about to burn out. The last thing I need is to run into a snot-nosed kid with a stolen alien artifact. Both seem to have something to do with the vines invading the city, but why should I care? If my mind burns out it will take care of the problem on my end permanently.

Unfortunately for me, the vines care.

A science fiction short story. This edition includes the complete BONUS story, "In the Cauldron"