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"NoI didn’t mean it that way," he stammered "It’s justyou’re so tall"

"Yeah, methinks we established that"

"And"

"Lanky Co now, have we?" She pointed down at hily Mothball is tall and lanky"

Tick wasn’t sure he’d heard her right "Mothball?"

The woed her bony shoulders "It’s me name A bit unfortunate, I’ll admit it Me dad didn’t have much time to think when I popped out aboo soldiers tryin’ to break in and all Fared better than h life with a nah There was soa-what soldiers? Where are you from?"

"Born in the Fifth, I was, but lived in the Eleventh for a season Ruddy rotten ti onme knees Not fun, I can proer there"

Every word that flew out of the woman’s mouth only confused Tick even more As hard as it was to believe the sheer size of the lady standing in front of him, the conversation was just as bizarre

"The Fifth?" he asked "What’s that, an address? Where is it? Where’s the Eleventh?"

Mothball put her gigantic hands on her hips "By my count, you’ve done asked me several questions in a row, little er than yers, but you’re workin’ it a bit much, don’t ya think?"

"Okay, then," Tick said "Just answer one"

"Ain’t it in the Prime where they say ‘Patience is a virtue’? Looks like you hed despite the craziness of it all "Mothball, I’m more confused every time you speak How about you just tell me whatever you want, and I’ll shut up and listen" He rubbed his neck, which hurt fro up at her so much His scarf was crusted in snow

"Now that’s h I must admit I don’t knohat to say now" Mothball folded her ar up into a serious frown as she stared down at Tick "No harm in tellin’ that you’re from the Prier’s froent, old Rutger--looks a little like a ball of bread dough, he does The poor bloke is short as a field swine and twice as fat You’ll be ht directly if he’s about his business"

"Wait," Tick said, forgetting his promise to be quiet, at which Mothball rolled her eyes "You sound like you knoho I aot in the mail, isn’t it?"

"What else, little ot the notes fro like the snowflakes that swirled around his body This giant woman had obviously come to talk to hi "Look, Mothball, ?"