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So Seth!
He flailed toward the side of the pool The roilinghiht Kendra ran and seized the pool ski it at the relentless horde of fairies, never touching any of them no matter how dense the sware of the pool and threw his ar himself out of the water Kendra stooped to assist him but shrieked instead One arm was broad, flat, and rubbery No elbow, no hand A flipper coated in hu and boneless, a fleshy tentacle with li tusks curved down fro His eyes were glazed with terror
The frenzied fairiesin another pulsing succession of colored flashes Stea of this? Grandpa Sorenson hollered, hustling to the edge of the pool Lena followed behind him The water in the pool flickered a few more times Many of the fairies whizzed away A fe over to Grandpa
One fairy in particular chirped angrily She had short blue hair and silvery wings
He did what? Grandpa said
An unrecognizableon the flagstones The defor a hand on his side
He had no idea that would happen, Grandpa complained
It was innocent!
The fairy twittered her disapproval
Kendra gaped at the freakish for a lumpy scalp stippled with moles His face was broader and flatter, with sunken eyes and tusks the size of bananas protruding froh above his shoulders
On his back below the hus had united into a single crude tail He slapped the ground with his flipper arm The tentacle writhed like a snake
An unlucky coincidence, Grandpa said consolingly
Most unfortunate Can’t you have mercy on the boy?
The fairy chirped vehemently
I’m sorry you feel that way I feel terrible about what happened I assure you the atrocity was unintentional
After a final outburst of squealing sounds, the fairy zoo beside Seth
He arbled moan, then a second,mouthwash
Hush, Seth, Grandpa said You’ve lost the ability of speech
I’ll fetch Dale, Lena said, hurrying off
What have they done to hiri
He caught one?
He did
So they turned hiic against us!
He used potent ly opening the door for ic!
I’m sure it was accidental, Grandpa said Can you understand rasp what I astones three times
It was very foolish to catch a fairy, Seth, Grandpa said I warned you they were unsafe But I share some of the blain a career as a fairy broker
Seth nodded aardly, his entire bloated torso bobbing up and down
I should have specifically forbidden it I forget how curious and daring children can be And how resourceful
I would never have supposed you were capable of actually trapping one
What e of hysterics
If a captured fairy is kept indoors froes into an imp
What’s an imp?
A fallen fairy Nasty little creatures Imps despise themselves as much as fairies adore themselves Just as fairies are drawn to beauty, ie so quickly?
Their personalities remain the sae in appearance reveals the tragic side of that mind-set Vanity curdles intoin wretchedness
What about the fairies Maddox caught? Why don’t they change?
He avoids leaving the cages indoors overnight His captured fairies spend at least part of every night outdoors
Just putting the container outside prevents theic is accomplished by simple means
Why did the other fairies attack Seth? Why would they care, if they’re so selfish?
They care because they are selfish Each fairy worries she could be next I am told Seth even left a mirror with the fairy, so she could behold herself after she fell The fairies considered that act particularly cruel
Grandpa answered every question with great calrily Kendra asked it His peaceful de her calm down a bit I’orously, blubber jiggling
I suspect no malice It was an unfortunate mishap But the fairies have little interest in his hts to exact retribution
You can switch hiinal for, mournful bellow Kendra patted his hu!
Yes, Grandpa said He placed his hands over his eyes and then dragged them down his face This would be very complicated to explain to your parents
Who can fix hione
Though I hesitate, I can think of only one person who ht be able to undo the enchantments placed on your brother
Who?
Seth has met her
The witch?
Grandpa nodded Under the circuert
The wheelbarroayed as it buroaned He was naked except for a white torapped around his middle
Sorry, Seth, Dale said This is a tricky path
Are we almost there? Kendra asked
Not le file, Grandpa in the lead, followed by Dale pushing the wheelbarrow, and then Kendra in the rear What had begun as a nearly indiscernible trail near the barn had broadened into a well-trodden path Later they branched off onto a smaller track They had crossed no new paths since then
The woods seem so quiet, Kendra said
They are quietest when you stay on the paths, Grandpa said
It seems too quiet
There is a tension in the air Your brother comedy The retribution of the fairies was equally brutal Eager eyes await to see if the conflict will escalate
It won’t, right?
I hope not If Muriel cures your brother, the fairies could interpret it as an insult
Would they attack hiain?
Probably not At least not directly The punishment has been administered
Can we heal the fairy?