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There been peoples here, she accused in a husky, accented voice Where you peoples be?
The satyr placed a finger against his lips Kendra held perfectly still, trying to breathe softly despite her alarm
She tried to plan which direction she would run
The ogress luh and low I heared peoples I smelled peoples And I sain You co his throat with a finger for emphasis Seth slid a hand into a pocket The satyr touched his wrist and shook his head with a scowl
The ogress had already closed half the distance to the bush You peoples like my stew so e to bolt The ogress would be on the He held up a hand, tacitly signaling for the through the bushes about twenty yards to their right The ogress pivoted and stuait
The satyr nodded They scrambled out of the bush and started down the hill Behind the after theled patch of thorns and bounded over a fallen log Kendra and Seth sprinted after him
Propelled by her doard er steps than she wanted Each tiround became a fresh opportunity to lose her balance and tumble forward Seth stayed a couple of steps ahead of her, and the swift satyr was gradually increasing his lead
Heedless of obstacles, the ogress pursued theh branches She breathed in da to her unintelligible native tongue Despite her curess was rapidly gaining
Chapter Sixteen
The slope leveled out Behind Kendra the ogress fell, branches and deadfalls snapping like fireworks Kendra glanced back, catching a gli to her feet
The satyr led them into a shallow ravine, where they found the wide entrance to a dark tunnel This way, he said, dashing into the tunnel Although it looked spacious enough for the ogress to enter, Seth and Kendra folloithout question The satyr appeared confident, and he had been right so far
The tunnel grew darker the deeper they ran Heavy footsteps followed theress filled the subterranean passageway, blocking out
It beca narrower Close behind Kendra, the ogress gasped and coughed Hopefully she would have a heart attack and collapse
For a space, the darkness becahten The tunnel continued to shrink Soon Kendra had to crouch, and the walls ithin reach at either side The satyr slackened his pace, looking back with a rin Kendra checked over her shoulder as well
The panting ogress crawled and then scooted forward on her belly, wheezing and choking When she could worm no farther, she roared in frustration, a strained, throaty cry
After that it sounded like she voe slanted upward They eap into a bowl-shaped depression A second satyr stood waiting for thehtly longer horns He motioned for theed recklessly through the woods for a fewwith a tiny pond, the redheaded satyr stopped and faced the others
What was the idea, ruining our operation? he asked
Clureed
We didn’t know, Kendra said We thought it was a well
You thought a chimney was a well? the redhead complained
I suppose you soons for outhouses?
It had a bucket, Seth said
And it was in the ground, Kendra added
They have a point, the other satyr said
You were on the roof of the ogress’s lair, explained the redhead
We get it now, Seth said We thought it was a hill
Nothing wrong with pinching a bit of soup from her cauldron, the redhead continued We try to be free with our assets But you need to use some delicacy A little finesse At least wait until the old lady falls asleep Who are you, anyhow?
Seth Sorenson
Kendra
I am Newel, said the redhead This is Doren You realize we’ll probably have to construct a whole new rigging?
She’ll rip the old one down, Doren explained
Al our own steel huffed
We can’t ift, Newel agreed
We’re sorry, Kendra said We were a little lost
Doren waved a hand Don’t worry We just like to bluster If you spoiled our wine, that would be another story
Still, Newel said, a guy has to eat, and free stew is free stew
We’ll try to find a way to repay you, Kendra said
So e, Newel said
You don’t happen to have any batteries? Doren asked
Batteries? Seth asked, wrinkling his nose
Size C, Newel clarified
Kendra folded her arms Why do you want batteries?
They’re shiny, Newel said, nudging Doren with an elbow
We worship theods to us
The kids stared at the goatmen in disbelief, unsure how to continue the conversation They were obviously lying
Okay, Newel said We have a portable television
Don’t tell Stan
We had a mountain of batteries, but we ran out
And our supplier is no longer eement Newel spread his hands diplo our stew siphoning- Then we can trade for htly Of course, ould need to keep our arrange the tube, said Newel
You know our Grandpa? Seth asked
Who doesn’t? Newel said
You haven’t seen him lately? Kendra asked
Sure, just last week, Doren said
I ht
No, why? Newel said
Haven’t you heard? Seth asked
The satyrs shrugged at each other What’s the news?
Newel asked
Our Grandpa was kidnapped last night, Kendra said
Your grandfather is a kid? Newel said
They mean he was abducted, Doren clarified