Should we go back to the house? Kendra asked.
I guess. It will be dark before long.
I'm tired. And hungry. We should look for food.
They left the barn. The day was waning.
You have a big tear in your shirt, Kendra said.
I ripped it while we were running from that ogress.
I have a pink one you can borrow.
This will work fine, said Seth, once it dries off.
The pink one would hide you just as well as the camouflage, Kendra said.
Are all girls as brainless as you?
You're telling me a green shirt will make you invisible to monsters?
No. Less visible. Less is the point. Less than your blue one.
I guess I should find a green one too.
An Unexpected Message Sitting on the floor in the dining room, Kendra took a bite of her second peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.
Scouring the kitchen, she and Seth had found enough food to last for weeks. The pantry contained canned fruits and vegetables, unbroken jars of preserves, bread, oatmeal, cream of wheat, crackers, tuna, and lots of other stuff.
The fridge still worked, even lying on its side, and they cleaned out the broken glass the best they could. There remained plenty of milk, cheese, and eggs. The freezer held a lot of meat.
Kendra took another bite. Leaning back, she closed her eyes. She had felt hungry enough for a second sandwich, but now she doubted she would finish it. I'm exhausted, she announced.
Me too, Seth said. He put a piece of cheese on a cracker and topped it with a sardine bathed in mustard sauce. My eyes feel itchy.
My throat feels prickly, Kendra said. The sun isn't even down.
What are we going to do about Grandpa?
I think the best thing we can do is get some rest. We'll think more clearly in the morning.
How long did we sleep last night? Seth asked.
About half an hour, Kendra guessed.
We've stayed up for almost two days!
Now you'll sleep for two days.
Whatever, said Seth.
It's true. Your glands will secrete a cocoon.
I'm not that gullible.
That's why you're so hungry. You're storing up fat for hibernation.
Seth finished the cracker. You should try a sardine.
I don't eat fish with the heads still attached.
The heads are the best part! You can feel the eyes pop when you- Enough. Kendra stood up. I need to get to bed.
Seth rose as well. Me too.
They climbed the stairs, passed down the cluttered hall, and mounted the steps to the attic. Their room had taken a beating, everything except the beds. Goldilocks strutted over to the corner and started clucking. Her feed was scattered across the floor.
You're right that the salt didn't seem to be working, Seth said.
It might only work in here.
They were jerks, but those goat guys were pretty funny.
They're called satyrs, Kendra said.
I need to find some C batteries. They said they'd give us gold.
They didn't say how much.
Still, trading batteries for gold! I could become a millionaire.
I'm not sure I'd trust those guys. Kendra flopped onto her bed, face in her pillow. What does Goldilocks keep clucking about?
I bet she misses her cage. Seth crossed the floor to the flustered hen. Kendra, you better come see this.
Can I look in the morning? she said, her voice muffled by the pillow.
You need to look now.
Kendra pushed herself off her bed and walked over to Seth. In the corner on the floor, more than a hundred feed kernels had been arranged to form six letters: I M GRAM You've got to be kidding, Kendra said. She gave Seth a suspicious glance. Did you write this?
No! No way!
Kendra squatted in front of Goldilocks. You're my Grandma Sorenson?
The hen bobbed her head, as if in affirmation.
Was that a yes?
The head bobbed again.
Give me a 'no' so I can be sure, Kendra said.
Goldilocks shook her head.
How did this happen? Seth asked. Somebody transformed you?
The chicken bobbed her head.
How do we change you back? Kendra asked.
Goldilocks held still.
Why didn't Grandpa change her back? Seth asked.
Did Grandpa Sorenson try to restore you? Kendra inquired.
Goldilocks bobbed her head and then shook it.
Yes and no?
The head nodded.
He tried but failed, Kendra guessed.
The hen gave another affirmative.
Do you know a way we can change you back? Kendra asked.
Another head bob.
Chapter Eighteen
Is it something we can do in the house? Kendra asked.
The head shook.
Do we need to take you to the witch? Seth tried.
The head bobbed. And then the hen flapped her wings, moving away.
Wait, Grandma! Kendra reached for the hen, but the flustered bird dodged her grasp. She's freaking out.
Seth chased her down. Grandma, he said, can you still hear us?
The hen made no acknowledgment of comprehension.
Grandma, Kendra said, can you still respond to us?
The chicken squirmed. Seth kept hold of her. The chicken pecked his hand, and he dropped her. They watched Goldilocks. For several minutes, she did nothing to suggest abnormal intelligence and offered no recognizable reaction to any questions.
She was answering us before, right? Kendra asked.
She wrote us a message! Seth said, pointing at the I M GRAM in the corner.
She must have had just a short window to communicate with us, Kendra reasoned. Once she got the message across, she left it in our hands.
Why hasn't she spoken up before?
I don't know. Maybe she's tried, but we never got the message.
Seth cocked his head thoughtfully and then gave a small shrug. Do we take her to the witch in the morning?
I don't know. Muriel only has one knot left.
No matter what, we don't undo the last knot. But maybe we could bargain with her.
Bargain with what? Kendra asked.
We could bring food. Or other stuff. Things to make her more comfortable in that shack.
I don't picture her going for it. She'll know we're desperate to fix Grandma.
We won't give her another choice.
Kendra bit her lip. What if she won't budge? She wouldn't for Grandpa. Do we set Muriel free if she will change Grandma back?
No way! said Seth. As soon as she gets free, what keeps her from turning all of us into chickens?
Grandpa said you can't use magic against others here unless they use it on you first. We never caused Muriel any harm, did we?
But she's a witch, Seth said. Why would she be locked up if she wasn't dangerous?
I'm not saying I want to let her go. I'm saying, we might be in an emergency situation where we have no other options. It might be worth the risk in order to get Grandma back to help us.
Seth thought about that. What if we can get her to tell us where Grandpa is?
Or both, Kendra said, getting excited. I bet she would do just about anything to be released. I'm sure she would do those two things at least. Then we might actually get out of this mess.