After what seemed like hours, he saw a small group of rocks which gave some amount of shade. He walked over and sat down to rest. A desert fox was also resting there.
“Hello,” said Socks.
“Hello,” said the fox. “And why are you out here, a-wandering all alone?”
“I am looking for my marble,” Socks said. “It was shiny and yellow and sparkled in the sun. Have you seen it?”
“I saw something roll along that way,” the fox sniffed. “But you don’t want to go that way, that’s where Nothing lives.”
“Nothing? Who is he?” Socks asked.
“Keeeeh! Foolish rabbit!” the fox cried. “Nothing is the fiercest Monster Under the Bed that there ever was! He’ll eat you for dinner!”
“I am not afraid,” Socks said (although this was not quite true, as his stuffed legs were wobbling) “and I want to find my marble. If Nothing has it, then that is where I must go.”
“You are a crazy rabbit,” the fox said. “But I will tell you one thing. If you find a well in the desert, draw up some water.” And with one last cackle—kekekeke—he disappeared.