somehow the news is always about somewhere else . they watched how he spread a napkin on his lap , then , after a moment 's hesitation , did the same thing . he sighed as he climbed the ladder to his cab and muttered to himself . moving through the aisles , he headed toward me at a pace that would make a snail seem lively by comparison . but before he could get close enough to anything important , tentacles slipped around his throat and arms , pulling him away . 