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  Lil Lone-Eye beat the handle end of the pitchfork on the floor and snarled.

  “Okay.” I sighed and sat Indian style. “I won’t go, but could I please have a drink?” I made like I had a cup and gulped. I probably looked like a guppy out of water. If I had known charades would be so handy, I would have practiced every day.

  Chapter 14

  Mindy

  As I watched Winnalea experience all these new things, I couldn’t help giggling. Upon entering the store, she stood gob-smacked in amazement. She delighted in everything, and became so engrossed at times that I needed to gently prod her into motion. Her happiness was infectious, and I felt like a rebel teenager, as I opened the two Nehis and the chips in the car. The radio blared on the way home, as the sunlight glinted off the cars in front of us. Her small stature attracted many children’s stares, but the etiquette-savvy adults politely looked the other way. I brought two couch pillows for Winni to sit on, while riding in the car. She reminded me of a happy terrier as she hung her head out the window, smiling into the warm winter’s day.

  “I’ll tell ya, this is lovely. The sweetest day I’ve ever known, I say!” Winni called out, over the wind flying through her hair, and the Gitchi, Gitchi, Ya Ya, blaring on the radio. I laughed and turned down Decatur St. with a little extra oomph on the gas, to make her whoop with pleasure. I parked and popped the Fury’s trunk to release our treasures. In the box with hole-punched sides, the new bird whistled. The French Market wasn’t selling white parakeets today and, in truth, Kee Kee had been rather boring. The blue and yellow parrot with its little zebra striped cheeks had all but flirted with me. I would be honest with Sammy and explain that Kee Kee had gone to another place, leaving out that it was a pot of boiling water that sent Kee Kee there. Sammy was too young and didn’t need all the details. I thought she would enjoy this bird sitting on her hand and letting her rub its face even more than I did.

  The apartment was silent. Mom retired four years ago and was happy to baby sit anytime. She taught school for over twenty years and loved playing with Sammy for hours on end. She promised to walk Sammy home from school after her hair appointment.

  I dropped the large package of toilet paper and the heavy paper sack before setting the bird carefully on the kitchen counter. I opened the paper box and lifted the pretty blue and gold feathered bird. Once settled on my wrist, he edged up my arm. I smiled and Winni tittered over his cuteness. Engrossed in the new addition to our little family, I hadn’t noticed the young, four-foot Cyclops sitting at the end of the island bar. Seeing him armed with a pitchfork, I froze, then took a slow step backward and motioned Winni to get behind me. I started for the small pistol strapped to my ankle when the Cyclops sobbed. I frowned, taking in the incredible hulk style britches that hung from his slim hips, but were held up by overall clips. I held the pistol at the ready by my side, pondering my next move. This was not the snarling, taloned, ferocious killer I woke up with yesterday, but what sounded like a much smaller, scared version.

  His eyes grew wide in surprise. “Mommmma!” he suddenly wailed.

  “You speak?” I asked, alarmed.

  “Mommma!” he continued in a steady cry.

  “Oh, dear!” Winni started. “Madam Cyclops will not be pleased. The prince is her first born. There will be hell to pay for if he isn’t returned.”

  “You know this Cyclops? A prince!” I sputtered, amazed, confused, and unsure how to proceed. “Winni, how old is he?” I asked as the Cyclops continued to cry, laying his head on the counter, and slobbering onto the Formica surface.

  “Let’s see...before the turn of the quarter’s solstice, a grand party was thrown in honor of his birth, so I would guess about eight double moons.” Noting my confusion, Winni supplied me with, “Just a little older than Sammy.”

  “Mom?” I called as I looked at Winni in horror.

  The Cyclops’ presence here meant it had to have changed places with someone nearby. The new parrot fluttered from my arm and fearlessly walked across the counter. The Cyclops finally took a break from his wailing and, with a swift swipe of his sharp-nailed paw, he consumed the bird in one bite. Long blue tail feathers floated softly down to the counter as the prince let out a solid belch.

  “More,” he exclaimed, but I wasn’t sure if it was a request or a demand.

  “Mom!” I again cried out. My heart pounding in my chest. What time was it? I looked at my watch. Was she still picking up Sammy? Maybe the Blink took another tenant in the building. I turned to search the apartment, but ran into my mother at the kitchen door.

  “What? I was just in the bathroom...”

  Her words trailed off as her knees buckled beneath her. I reached out and clumsily caught her, before she reached the floor. So much for minimizing collateral damage. Now Mom would have to be mind-wiped unless I could convince her this had all been a dream. Winni helped me to drag her to the sofa. I propped her head on a pillow and fanned her with latest copy of the Times Picayune. She slowly regained consciousness.

  “What happened?”

  I sidestepped the question. “Where is Sammy? Did you pick her up from school yet?”

  “Yes, I picked her up early, but it’s no big deal. The school nurse said she had a low-grade fever. We stopped by the drug store on the way home and got cough syrup and a coloring book. She’s in the kitchen coloring now. Go see for yourself. She’s fine,” my mother reassured me as she patted my hand and looked over my shoulder. She started to rise, to show me for herself, but I pushed her back down on the sofa.

  “Better not, Mom. You might have that virus everyone has been talking about. Hallucinations, headaches--” I paused, looking at Winni for help.

  “Oh! Yes, madam, it is too risky to get up. Better sit tight here, and let me get you tea.” Winni caught my wide-eyed head bob and walked around the sofa toward the kitchen. Before she could reach the door, the sound of crashing dishes came from the room. Mom sat up again, but I pushed her back. “Easy, Winni, we might need some of those for dinner later,” I said a little too loud.

  “Really Melinda, she is very nice, but if you need help, I can come ’round more.” Hope crested her voice.

  “Just stay here, Mom, and whatever you do, don’t go in the kitchen.”

  Chapter 15

  Jim

  Lil Lone-Eye froze in mid step. A dim, hazy white light appeared over his temple and illuminated his form. The one eye widened. Without a sound, he vanished, like an actor disappears behind the curtains. The light seemed to short out for a second, then brightened. A small palm appeared. I recognized the tiny scar on the webbing between her thumb and forefinger.

  “Sammy,” I whispered.

  The rest of her slid into view and she stumbled. When her entire body appeared, the light extinguished. Transfixed, I couldn’t speak.

  She regained her balance and stared. “Daddy?”

  I raced over and hugged her tight. As elated as I was, I hated she was in this crazy, topsy-turvy place. Wait, if she was here, was Mindy entertaining Lil Lone-Eye? The oxen stirred.

  I pulled back, and smiled eager for news. “Sammy, hey. How’s Mommy?

  “Mommy’s okay. She had to go to work last night, but Grandma and Winnalea stayed with me.”

  “Winnalea?”

  “Yes, she’s this little brown woman. We found her in the kitchen last night. She is very nice, Daddy. She showed me magic.”

  “Oh, crap,” I whispered.

  The door to the stables opened. Again, with language I didn’t understand, a soft query was issued, presumingly to the absent Cyclops kiddo. When no answer came, a scary-ass, one-eyed Cyclopette? Cyclopess? Cyclops? woman strolled into the barn. She took in the sight of me and my baby then glanced around for the missing stable boy. Not seeing him, her attention went back to me. From the combination of anger and distress on her face, this was no ordinary stable boy. She rushed me. I took a chance.

  “Stop! My daughter, and...your son? I think--”

  She slowed b
ut didn’t stop and shouted, “Grrlecc, where is my little Grrlecc?” Her eyes were wild with desperation and demand.

  That child might be considered little here, but I bet Mindy will consider him the Whopper King of Kiddieville. “I--I think he’s in my world.”

  Her hand grasped the sword at her side and she raised it overhead. “You bring him back now!”

  Sammy cowered behind me. I tried to remain calm so not to scare her anymore. Figured I would try Mr. Nice Guy. Mr. Nice Guy encounters large, strange lady so he...introduces himself! I smiled and tried to look harmless and innocent. “Okay, okay. Look lady, my name is Jim and this--” I drew Sammy forward, hoping to elicit some womanly compassion, “--is my daughter, Sammy. Could you please at least tell me your name before tearing me limb from limb?”

  She paused, eyes bouncing between Sammy and me before eventually grinning. Okay, thank the gods. A chick with a sense of humor. Hopefully she wasn’t grinning because she knew what was for dinner, Nichols Nuggets.

  She pointed to herself. “Fodjes.”

  I took a stab. “Fo-guess?”

  She threw back her head and chuffed. I think she laughed at me.

  She said her name again, only more slowly. “Fod-jes”

  I tried again. “Fo-jes?”

  “Fodjes!” Sammy and I jumped. I can’t speak for Sammy, but I almost wet my pants.

  “Okay, okay!” I took a deep breath. “Folgers?” Please, God, I prayed.

  She rolled her eye. I could tell she thought I was full of shit, but for her child she was willing to deal with my BS. Sammy sobbed. I could feel hot tears slide down my neck.

  The Cyclops lady dropped to her knees and more gently than I would have ever expected her capable of, patted Sammy’s back. “You need not cry, little one. No one will harm you.”

  Her accent was still evident, but she spoke much more clearly than her son.

  Chapter 16

  The Witch

  I sent word back to the Summer Palace, via an imp, advising that the livestock earmarked for my sister’s future meals needed replacing. While I attempted to comfort Queen Fodjes, the wretched man stole her oxen and cart. Cyclops royalty often have arranged marriages, and I swear she mourned the loss of the oxen and cart more than her husband. Good thing, because she has a better chance of getting them back.

  This Blink was the worst one ever. When Winnalea vanished, I knew I needed to make provisions for my sister until her return. I did not wish to expose anyone else to Rapunzel, so I took a wagon to the castle and stopped on the drawbridge.

  I wanted to make haste after Jim, but had to recompense and soothe Queen Fodjes’s ire. One of my most trusted, obedient servants stayed to tend Rapunzel. She was cautioned never to enter the tower or even speak to my sister. A basket below the tower window would be used to deliver my sister’s requirements.

  I told Rapunzel she must not interact with her temporary keeper if she wanted continuing sustenance. Oh, Rapunzel, how I wish you took after your namesake.

  A deer, tamed with one of my potions, bore me after Jim. While I am no tracker, I easily followed the trail and soon realized his final destination. The Cyclops guards were unwilling to let me through the gate without their queen’s express desire, but eventually, the word was given. The queen did not stand on ceremony at home because I was led to a smaller parlor instead of the Throne Room. This was the first time I was actually inside the village. Surprisingly, while the royal manse was much smaller than either our castle or Winter Palace, it was exceptionally well appointed and attractive. Mindful of my intrusion, I entered the room with my head bowed.

  “Thank you, your majesty for agreeing to see me at short notice,” I said raising my head. To my astonishment, Jim, a young girl, and the queen were playing some sort of card game. My finger furiously shook as I pointed to the thief. “You!”

  Jim waved and played a card. “Hey, Frizzy! How’s it hangin’?”

  “Snatz!” the queen howled and raked up the cards. “Well played, Sammy.” The queen patted the child’s hand. “This is the first time you have ever played Snatz and yet, you almost won!”

  The child beamed. “You’re a great teacher, Nia Fodjes.”

  “And...” Jim prompted.

  The girl looked puzzled for a moment. “Oh! Thank you so much for teaching us the game.”

  Jim nodded and both he and Queen Fodjes beamed at her.

  For two years, we struggled to build enough trust between the Cyclops and the Rhineguardians to have a peace treaty. Yet this...this outsider who stole the prize oxen is invited in and entertained! And this girl-stranger is calling the Queen of the Cyclops, “Nia Fodjes,” If I remember correctly, in the Cyclops language “nia” means “aunt.”

  “Be seated, Princess Phrysia of Rhineguard.”

  A servant brought another chair to the table and I awkwardly climbed up and perched on the end of the seat.

  “If I may make a query?” I barely managed to unclench my teeth. Queen Fodjes nodded. “Why are you so...” I struggled for the right word, “...solicitous toward this thief and scoundrel?”

  “Jim apologized for the theft. When he explained he had no trust of Rhineguardians, you and your sibling in particular, I understood his actions. After all, it has been a long arduous road to peace for our people. A fearful stranger from a strange land, wishing to find a more...” This time the queen paused searching for the right word. “...sympathique citizenry. We have also come to the conclusion that when Jim’s daughter, Sammy, Blinked, my son Blinked in her place.”

  I crossed my arms and then uncrossed them. Body language is so important and I dare not offend. “I similarly believe my Winnalea is where Jim originated.”

  The little girl climbed onto her father’s lap. “Oh, Winni is the very bestest!” She beamed at me then rambled on, to tell me all about losing her tooth, and Winni spinning it for her, but her mom was upset, though she really liked the cleaning. Apparently, their dwelling had never been so clean, and I empathized, since the castle kitchens were starting to show wear, from the lack of Winnalea’s attentions.

  “I see.” I nodded, steadily impressed by the wide, gap-toothed smile that was returned to me. The calmness in Fodjes’s demeanor with her firstborn so far away surprised me. Surely she realized what peril the child was in. Of course, this child knew of Winnalea, and this greatly interested me, since Jim seemed to know nothing about Winnalea before arriving. The small Sammy seemed to be full of information.

  “Sammy, is it?” I wanted to make sure I pronounced it correctly. The wee thing nodded in affirmation. “How long have you known Winnalea? How did you meet her?” I asked, trying to suppress the other thousand questions I had in order to get a feel for the answers she might have for the first two.

  “We met when the purple monkeys were tearing up my toys, and Mommy came to save me, then Winni opened the window, and they all flew out. I lost my donkey, but it wasn’t my favorite. Winni cooked brownies, though she got upset at me when I called them that!”

  Sammy rolled her eyes, as she reflected on Winnalea’s famous, delicious cocoa cakes. I smiled at the brownie taking offense to the Earthly name.

  “But then she asked for my tooth and showed me magic. Mom dropped Kee Kee’s cage, and the tooth dropped. It scared the magic away,” she finished with a frown.

  Apparently the little one was gifted. I wish I could ask Winnalea about her ability, and what power level she possessed.

  “When you appeared here, Sammy, where exactly were you standing?” I waited tensely as Jim explained the stables and the firstborn fading as the young Sam appeared. I took mental notes, as he also described his own appearance about a mile from the north wall, bordering the forest. Despite her young years, she tripled the information her father had given.

  “Now, if someone could tell me where Winnalea had been at the time of her disappearance, but I guess only she could say, since no one in the castle saw her that morning,” I said more to myself in frustration, since t
he question was still nagging me.

  “In the kitchen pantry,” Sammy said, as if anyone should know that answer. “She called it something else, but said she was going to make her cakes, so she went to get the cocoa, and found herself in our apartment. Mommy keeps our stuff for brownies in the pantry, so she must have been in the pantry.”

  Jim’s jaw gaped like my own. He smiled with pride and nodded to me, as if to say, “There, take that, Frizzy!”

  I abhor that name. I gave him a pointed look. “Quite impressive Sammy.” Apparently, the apple can fall far from the tree. Must take after her mother.

  Chapter 17

  Jim

  Frizzy and I were both getting educated. Surprising--and then again, not--that Mindy hadn’t let some air show through Winnalea. I knew about the .44 magnum she kept in the night stand. Mindy’s conscience bothered her. The inflexible indoctrination, “seek and destroy,” sounded unreasonable and unfair. However, with the exception of Sammy’s recount of the brownie baking brownies, all ORBs Blinking to Earth before now had immediately attacked. Mindy wouldn’t say much about them, except that the animalistic creatures terrified her.

  Sammy’s account relieved me. Mindy would never shoot a child, albeit a big-ass kiddo, and if she didn’t kill this Winnalea ORB, then it was a sure thing young Garlic was fine and dandy, and his mama wouldn’t be dumping a bucket of whupass on me.

  “Guess what else, Daddy?” Sammy grinned like the cat-that-got-the-cream, so no doubt this was something she was NOT supposed to know.

  I struggled to keep a stern expression. “Been snooping, Miss Samantha?”

  “I was thirsty, but when I saw Mommy and Winnalea talking so serious, I decided to wait until they finished,” she explained. An angel couldn’t have looked more innocent.