the land on the other side of sleep

8/3/2019 The Land on the Other Side of Sleep

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THE LAND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SLEEP

Copyright by Craig S. [email protected] Tel:860 210-7864

1. THE JOURNEY ...... 22. THE EXPLORING BEGINS ....... 73. RHODA & RODNEY, CHITCHAT, BASIL BLACKBEAR... 134. SQUIGGLY RIVER & WARM POND.. 205. PENELOPE & TELLURIC THE TERRIBLE. 266. BLACK SWAMP & GARAWK.. 327. THE ANSWER & THE AGREEMENT.. 398. FREEDOM... 449. THE CELEBRATION. 5010.HOMEWARD BOUND?........................................................................ 56
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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I. THE JOURNEY

Its that time again, Francis.

What time, Dad?

That time.

You mean bedtime?

You guessed it.

Dad, I ate all my supper didnt I?

Yes you did.

And eating all my supper makes me grow up big and strong, right, Dad?

It surely helps.

Then I shouldnt need to go to bed now, because supper already took care

of that.

Why dont you hop up on my back while I explain it?

Are you going to be a horse, Daddy?

Not just a horse, Francis, but the finest horse in this whole house, said

Dad.

Giddyup, horse, the cowboy said.


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You see, Francis, just like this old horse needs both his front legs and his

back legs to go, you need both your supper and your sleep to grow.

But, Dad, sometimes you use only your back legs.

Well, that is true. But thats only when Im being your Dad, instead of ahorse. And since you reminded me who I really am, your Daddy says into bed

you go.

Daddy, would you tell me a story?

I would, Francis, except Im all storied out right now. Besides, where

youre going you wont need a story.

Are we going somewhere? Francis asked. You mean I dont have to go

to bed?

Thats just it, to get there you do have to go to bed. Thats the quickest

way to get to the land on the other side of sleep.

What land is that, Dad? Is the land on the other side of sleep very far?

If youre about to go to sleep, its not far at all, said Dad. In fact itsjust the other side of your eyelids - if youre asleep that is.

Whats it like there? Are there fireflies? Can you catch them?

Franciss Dad, who was almost as good at answering questions as Francis

was at asking them, explained, The land on the other side of sleep is a wonderful

land, Francis, a magical land. But the only way you can find out what it is like isto go there. And to do that you have to be asleep. So give me a hug and say good

night.

Good night, Daddy.

Pleasant journey, Francis.

That night, after his dad left the room Francis didnt get his flashlight out

to make the light run and jump on the walls, or to look at a storybook under the

covers where no one, not even robbers, could see him. He didnt decide he

needed one last drink of water. He didnt even invite Tigger to tell him how hisday had been. Francis just lay there with his eyes closed very tight, trying to see


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the land on the other side of sleep. But after a while his eyes started to get a little

tired. So he kind of forgot about magical lands and such, and let his eyes relax.

Just a little while later, or so it seemed, Francis felt a very long skinnyhand with sharp fingernails grab him, and then lift him from his bed. Francis was

very frightened to see the dark outline of a tall creature with fierce eyes and a

long, hooked nose towering over him. He thought he must try to get away, butjust then the creature gripped him even tighter with its skinny toed foot. It folded

its arms, which seemed to have long sleeves hanging down from them, and

quickly hopped with the other foot through the open window of Franciss second

floor bedroom.

Francis tried to scream for help. But his tummy was held so firmly that he

could not breath in enough air to let out the scream. He just closed his eyes and

squeezed his muscles tight, waiting for them to slam into the ground below. Butwhen they seemed to fall for a long time, finally Francis opened his eyes a squinty

little bit. Thats when he saw that they were not falling at all, but that the creaturewas carrying him up into the night sky.

Just then Francis felt himself dropped, or rather flipped into the air in front

of the creature. He took in a big breath to let out a big scream. But before thescream came out, Francis plopped right onto the big soft back of that creature.

When that happened, he just curled up as tight as he could, like a caterpillar does

when its frightened.

Francis could feel soft feathers with his face and fingers. And beneath the

smooth feathers he could feel powerful muscles working to make the big wings

on either side of him move up and down. It was then that he knew he was ridingon the back of a great big bird.

When Francis noticed how the soft feathers against his cheek felt a lot likea warm blanket, he started feeling a little less frightened and began to look

around. He saw the back of a large white head and strong neck in front of him.

Then, when he looked farther ahead, he noticed something else. The sky was

getting light. I know, Francis thought to himself, this great bird is flyingtoward the place where the sun sleeps at night. He is taking me to the land on the

other side of sleep. And sure enough, when they soared over the top of a steep

hill there was a big burst of light. Its the sun, thought Francis. Were catchingup with the sun.

Francis looked down. Climbing ever higher, they were way above the

trees and fields, houses and farms, the hills and rivers, and even above the puffywhite clouds. It wasnt the first time the roads and hills looked smaller than those


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he made in his sandbox. One time he had flown in a real airplane to visit

Grandma and Grandpa, and it had been almost the same.

But this is different, Francis thought as he looked at the big bird he wasriding upon. The birds tail was white, like its head. And the big wings that

moved up and down and up and down were dark brown, like its body. I know,

its an eagle, thought Francis. Wow, Im riding on an eagle!

Soon the houses and hills and roads and streams disappeared, as the land

below turned flat, sandy and dry. Then Francis noticed a white speck far, far

ahead. As he watched that white spot it grew ever larger; for the great bird wasmoving toward it very fast. The white thing in front of them grew and grew until

it seemed to cover all the sky. Parts of it were closer to them and parts farther

away. And it had puffy mountains and valleys which moved in and out, and

changed positions with each other. Francis realized that it was a huge cloud. Heknew the bird wanted to fly over that cloud, but he was afraid it could not.

Yet as the big wings beat faster and harder, like an arrow shot from a giant

bow Francis and the eagle climbed higher and higher. Soon towering walls of

white cotton candy surrounded them. Flying upward between the swirling

mountains of the great cloud, Francis felt like he was inside of a huge, openmouth that at any second might close around him.

But then suddenly he was struck by the bright blue of clear sky. The cloudno longer surrounded them. It lay only below. Francis took a deep breath. It felt

like his first breath in a long time. He gulped the pure air in until it seemed that

he might pop, like a balloon blown up too big. Then as he slowly let the air out,

he began to relax. The great bird must have relaxed too, for its wings finallystopped. The big eagle still moved through the air, only now it was beginning to

glide down toward the ground.

Francis looked ahead. Beyond the cloud he saw a snow-covered mountain

top. There were more snowy mountains too, which marched in a long, curved

line to form a huge circle of mountains.

As they glided slowly downward and sailed just over the top of the

nearest mountain, Francis saw a large valley inside the circle of mountains.

Francis could see a bright blue lake in the center of the valley, and a river thattumbled down a nearby mountain to flow like a squiggly snake to the lake. Then

the clear blue lake was all that he saw, for the great bird had sailed lower and

lower until they were just above the water.


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They sailed in a straight line toward the shore beyond. But the land

seemed far away. Francis thought that unless the big birds wings started moving

again they would surely end up in the lake. So he watched the water beneath

them very closely, so closely that he was surprised when the color suddenlyturned from blue to green. It was the green of grass. They had made it to the

land!

They glided through a small opening in a city of trees to a large clearing

with soft grass covering the ground. In the center of the clearing there stood a

tremendous tree. Unlike many trees, it didnt stretch this way and that. It rose

straight up for a great length, before the branches burst outward like an explosionof fireworks in the sky.

Underneath this prince of trees a large animal was lying on the ground. It

was there that the great bird settled to earth.


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II. THE EXPLORING BEGINS

When the great eagle finally landed and then stretched up very tall,

Francis found himself somersaulting backwards once, and then again. A trick hedidnt know he could do, and one which he didnt know he wanted to do. Once

he was right side up again, he heard a voice say, Good day to you.

Francis looked up to see two big brown eyes looking into his. Are you adeer? he asked.

You guessed it, said the deer.

I could tell by the branches on your head. My name is Francis.

I am called Quick Toes, the deer replied. And this great bird is HighFlight.

At that the eagle said, Good day to you, and good day, as he spread hiswings to fly away.

I like that big eagle, Francis said as High Flight flew into the distance.

But he doesnt talk much. I mostly like people, or, um, animals that like talking.Only I didnt know animals talked people talk. You did say something, didnt

you?

I said, good day to you.

Yes, I remember. Good day to you too. Do you live here? Is this a

United States?


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I do live here. But I havent heard it called a United States.

I know, this is The-Land-on-the-Other-Side-of-Sleep, Francis said. And

then, feeling a little hungry after his ride on High Flights back, he asked, Arethere sugar plum trees here, Quick Toes, or maybe a gingerbread house

somewhere?

There arent any houses, Francis, said Quick Toes, and I dont know of

any sugar plum trees. But there are many kinds of trees. For instance, this

handsome oak tree we are beneath has the tastiest acorns around. Wont you have

some with me?

Squirrels eat acorns, Francis insisted. Boys dont eat acorns. But if you

could find just a little sugar plum tree - it doesnt have to be too big - Im sure you

would like them much better than acorns.

Well, as I said, Im not familiar with those trees, replied Quick Toes.

But its a lovely day for a walk. So if you enjoy walking, maybe we can find

what you are looking for.

Hey, thats a great idea! I like going on walks, and I love exploring. Wecan go walking and exploring for a sugar plum tree at the same time.

So off they went, side by side on a wide path that left the clearing andentered a tall dark forest. Quick Toes walked slowly and gracefully, while

Franciss legs moved quite fast. This wasnt just because there could be monsters

hiding behind some of those big hide-behind-type trees. It was, as Francis might

have told you, mostly because Quick Toes was a lot bigger than Francis.

The dark forest was very quiet. And at first so was Francis, who politely

may have decided not to disturb any creatures that might be relaxing there. Butwhen they rounded a turn in the path and Francis saw a lovely tree with

shimmering green leaves and red and gold fruit on its branches, he yelled, Look,

Quick Toes, a sugar plum tree.

I dont think so, replied Quick Toes.

Oh it must be, Francis said as he ran ahead.

Some of the branches of the tree almost touched the ground. From the

nearest one Francis grabbed one of the large red fruit, and took a big bite. It

didnt taste like a sugar plum should. In fact, it didnt taste like anything ought to


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taste. And it did funny things to the inside of his mouth, which tried to wrinkle up

to nearly nothing.

Thats awful, squeaked Francis.

Yes, said Quick Toes. I tried to tell you.

Well I wish you did tell me. I thought it was a sugar plum tree. I really

did.

So I gathered, said Quick Toes. But dont worry. Well be to the edgeof the forest soon. The trees of the open land are different, and one may be your

sugar plum.

So off they went again, and sure enough, soon the trees began to standfarther apart. About that time Francis heard a noise, a low, drawn out, whoooo.

Whats that? asked Francis.

Whats what? Quick Toes said, not being too concerned about whoooo

sounds.

That noise. That whooo.

Oh, thats Who.

I know its a whooo. I want to know who is making the whooo.

Who is making the whooo, said Quick Toes.

Thats what I asked you. Who is making the whooo? repeated Francis,still confused.

Whoooo, went the noise again, which didnt help Francis at all.

Quick Toes patiently explained, Who is an owl. It is Who, who mainly

says whoooo, which is why he is named Who.

An owl? You mean that kind of bird with the big eyes? Oh, now I

understand, said Francis.


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By that time they were quite close to the whooo sound, so they both

stopped and looked up. Sure enough, in the tree above them there sat a big brown

owl with large yellow eyes.

Hello, Quick Toes, said the owl. I see you have a friend.

Good morning, Who, replied Quick Toes. Yes, this is Francis.

Hello there, young man, Who said to Francis. What brings you to our fair

land?

High Flight brought me here, answered Francis. But right now we are

exploring for a sugar plum tree. Have you seen any?

Who glided down to land on one of Quick Toes antlers before answering,A sugar plum tree you say? No, I cant say that I have seen any around here. In

fact, I must admit that although Im as wise an owl as any, Im not sure I knowwhat a sugar plum tree is.

Francis explained, Its a very nice tree with sugar plums hanging from it.

Theyre for eating.

This may have helped Who a bit. But if so, the bit that it helped was a

very little bit. Yes, of course, said Who. Let me see, he continued in a lowvoice. Well, different folks call different trees by different names. For instance,

this tree has berries with tender seeds. Birds call it the yellow-seed tree. Perhaps

you might call it the sugar plum tree?

Maybe, said Francis, while looking at the wrinkled limbs, the dark green

leaves and the little berries, all quite a bit above him. But I dont think so.

I thought not. But I do wish you good luck, Francis, in the search for

your sugar plum tree.

Thank you, Mr. Who, replied Francis. Quick Toes, lets go, because allthis thinking and talking about sugar plums is making my tummy even hungrier.

Im coming, Quick Toes said, as Francis started down the path.

But before he followed Francis, Quick Toes whispered to the large owl

still perched on his antlers, Who, maybe you can help me with another problem

we seem to have. I dont want to alarm Francis, and Im glad he seems to like ithere. Yet sooner or later he is going to want to go home, and need to go home


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too. But High Flight the eagle just dropped him off and then left right away. I

dont know how Francis will get home again. Do you think you could help when

the time comes?

I certainly understand your concern, replied Who. But, Quick Toes,

look at that boy. Hes even larger than me. It is true my wings are powerful, but

carrying Francis on my back just cant be done.

Yes, I can see you are right, replied Quick Toes softly. Well, it was

nice to see you anyway.

Thank you, Quick Toes. I do wish I could help. Good bye, my friend,

and good luck, the owl said, before spreading his wings to fly back up into the

tree.

Quick Toes rushed to catch up with Francis, who had been busy thinking

that although he liked going on exploring walks a whole lot, his legs sometimesdidnt like it nearly as much. Francis turned to mention that to Quick Toes just as

the deer arrived beside him.

Quick Toes, Francis said I really like walking. Im not tired at all. Inever get tired. Only my legs sometimes do get tired. And even though Im not

tired, they are. And I was noticing that you are a lot bigger than me; so maybe

that means you wouldnt mind if I ride on your shoulders?

I may not have wings, Quick Toes replied, which means I cant fly in

the sky with you on my shoulders like High Flight did. But I do have a strong

back, and four powerful legs. So if you would like to ride on my shoulders, Iwouldnt mind at all.

Really? Thanks, Quick Toes. Thats great. But how do I get there?

Here, Ill kneel on my front legs, and you just hop up on my back.

Are you sure you wont mind? asked Francis.

Im sure, said Quick Toes.

Am I too heavy? Francis asked, after Quick Toes got back up and began

to walk with Francis riding on his back.


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Im happy to report that you are not heavy at all, Quick Toes replied.

However, the way youre hugging my neck is posing a slight breathing

problem.

So Francis sat back and relaxed a little, in spite of sitting so high up. And

he found that he could see better, because now he was almost as tall as Quick

Toes. But best of all, his legs stopped bothering him about being tired. This isgreat, Quick Toes, he said. Its a great way to go exploring.

Yes, I like it better this way too, Quick Toes agreed, because I prefer to

walk just a little faster than you do. And now you dont mind if I do.

So the walking problem was solved. And since Francis and Quick Toes

liked four-legged walking together so much better than six-legged walking, they

went everywhere that way from then on.


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III. RHODA & RODNEY, CHITCHAT, & BASIL BLACKBEAR

The path began to head gradually uphill, toward the snow-covered

mountains that surrounded The-Land-on-The-Other-Side-of-Sleep. Quick Toes

was walking in his usual easy-moving way, while feeling good about having afriend to walk, or rather ride with him. Francis was feeling kind of the same way,

while he also noticed how some of the mountains looked like huge chunks ofchocolate cake with gigantic globs of vanilla ice cream on top. He was about to

mention this to his friend, when Quick Toes suddenly stopped and said, Good

day, Rhoda and Rodney.

Francis didnt see anything that looked like a Rhoda or a Rodney, but he

thought that if he waited a moment something might flutter down out of one of

the nearby trees. That moment was almost up when he heard a not very softwhisper say, Dont say anything, Rodney.

Good day, Rhoda, Quick Toes repeated.

Whats that on your back? asked a second voice, somewhat louder than

the first.

I told you not to say anything, the first voice said, still louder.

Thats Francis, who is a boy and a friend of mine, interrupted Quick

Toes. Hed be your friend too if you would stop hiding in that tall grass and hopout here to meet him.

Rodney, dont you do it! said the first voice even louder.

Rhoda, would you please be still? Rodney said, before hopping onto the

path. Or nearly onto it. For although his brown furry face and his long floppy

ears could be easily seen, his fluffy round tail and all the rest of him in betweenwas still hidden in the tall grass.


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As long as you showed yourself you might as well get all the way out,

Rhoda insisted.

Sure enough, out popped the whole of Rodney, first upside down, then

right-side up. And in the place where he had been, another head with long floppy

ears appeared.

Rhoda, you shove me again and see if I bring you any sweet clover when

you are lying with the little ones, Rodney said, before apologizing to Quick

Toes. Please forgive Rhoda, Quick Toes. She is due to have a litter of babiesafter the next full moon. It seems she has become a little timid, not to mention

impatient, of late.

Cautious is the word, Rodney Rabbit, and its lucky at least one of us hasthe sense to watch out for this family, insisted Rhoda.

I quite understand your feelings, Rhoda, interrupted Quick toes. But

let me introduce my friend, Francis. You dont need to be afraid of him.

Well, I will admit that out here in the open he does look friendlyenough, Rhoda agreed.

Im not just friendly looking. Im friendly being too, Francis said as heslid off of Quick toes back. And something else I am, he continued, is

hungry.

Hungry are you? asked Rodney. Well there is some fine sweet clover just over that small hill. I would be happy to show it to you and join you for a

little snack. But then I dont suppose your kind likes clover very much. How

about carrots? Up in three-tree meadow there is a patch of carrots Im quite fondof.

Oh stop your blabbing, Rodney, interrupted Rhoda, or you may find

out hed like a plump rabbit for lunch.

Actually, Francis said in a smaller voice than was normal, I was sort of

thinking of a sugar plum or two, you know, from a sugar plum tree.

A sugar plum tree, Said Rhoda with a small sigh. Yes, well, thats

something were not familiar with. Yet if you follow the path - Im not really

sure how far - Im sure that sooner or later youll find what youre looking for.


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In that case, I suppose we should be on our way, suggested Quick Toes.

But before you go, Rodney said to Francis, let me explain to you where

that carrot patch is, because the path passes right by it.While Rodney was telling Francis how to find the carrot patch, Quick

Toes bent his head down and said softly to Rhoda, Ive got a little problem,

Rhoda, that perhaps you could help me with.

Quick Toes explained how High Flight had just dropped off Francis and

then left without saying hardly a word. And how Francis would surely need to

return home sooner or later, but that he didnt have any idea how to get him there.

Isnt that just like High Flight, Rhoda replied. You hardly ever see him

in these parts. And then if you ever do, before you know it he is gone again. I

can see your problem. The little boys mother, and father too, will surely beworried if he is gone for long.

That is my thinking exactly, agreed Quick Toes, not to mention that

Francis will probably begin to get homesick before very long.

Let me see, Rhoda continued. Oh, what about Snow Feather the swan?She sometimes brings that little girl what is her name, Penelope? Yes thats it.

She sometimes brings Penelope here on her back. It is true that your Francis is

bigger than Penelope, but maybe Snow Feather could still manage to fly with himon her back, like she does with Penelope.

Why, youre right, Quick Toes agreed. And we are heading toward

Warm Pond, where Snow Feather lives. That might work. Thank you, Rhoda.

Quick Toes, are you ready? Francis asked just then. I know where we

can find some carrots growing.

Quick Toes winked at Rhoda, as kind of a thank you and a good bye, knelt

down on his front legs, and said, Okay, Im ready. Hop on, Partner, and well be

on our way.

When they got to where the carrots should be growing, Francis said to

Quick Toes, Now we need to look for something orange. Thats the color ofcarrots.

So as Quick Toes walked along the path, they both looked to either side

for something bright orange. But it turned out that Rodney Rabbit had forgottento explain to Francis that its only the part of the carrot that grows underground in


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the earth that is orange colored, while the top part is leafy green. So even though

there were some carrots big enough for eating, Quick Toes and Francis didn t see

them at all.

Francis was about to complain to Quick Toes about not finding anycarrots, when he saw something scurry across the path ahead. Look, Quick

Toes, a chipmunk, he exclaimed. Hello, Mr. Chipmunk.

Mumph mum muff muff, said the chipmunk.

What? said Francis.

Mumph mum muff muff, repeated the chipmunk

Chitchat, if youd drop what you are carrying we could hear what you re

saying, suggested Quick Toes.

Chitchat dropped one, two, three acorns and a hickory nut from his mouth,while his fat cheeks grew smaller as each one came out. Excuse me, Quick

Toes. Good day to you I said, and good day to you Ill say again.

Thankyou, Chitchat, and good day to you too, said Quick Toes. Thisis my friend, Francis. He and I are searching for a sugar plum tree. Are you in a

terrible hurry, or can you stop to chat for a minute?

A terrible hurry you ask, Quick toes? In a hurry I am, but terrible its

not. When youre carrying one, two.... hmm, I thought there were three. Yes,

there it is. When you are carrying three acorns and a hickory nut, you may be

hurrying, but its not really terrible. In fact, its pretty darn good. Three acornsand a hickory nut, but no, um, sugar plums was it? No sugar plums though. And

here I thought I knew all the trees in these parts. Sugar plums you say. Are they

good? Maybe I shouldnt spend so much time looking for acorns. Let me knowif you find that sugar plum would you, young man? I wouldnt mind trying one

myself.

Id like to stay and chat some more, continued Chitchat, but I reallymust hurry. Good luck, and good day.

Good bye, Francis said, in a voice almost as small as Chitchat. Happyacorn hunting.

Quick Toes could see that Francis was disappointed about not finding any

carrots, or any sugar plums yet either, so he said, Hey, Francis, do you want tosee how I zigzag skip?


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Zigzag skip, answered Francis. Whats a zigzag skip?

Well, for one thing, its one of my favorite tricks. First I skip on my twoleft legs, then zig and skip on my two right legs, then zag back to the other two,

and so forth.

Let me see it, Quick Toes, exclaimed Francis. Lets do it!

Okay, but youve got to hold on tight, Quick Toes insisted.

So away they went, zig skipping this way, zag skipping that way, zigskip,

zagskip, zigskip, zagskip....

Hooray! yelled Francis, even though he almost fell off at first, when hisbody was zigging while Quick Toes was zagging. Im a cowboy for Santa

Claus, and youre my reindeer.

They zigzag skipped around a curve and into a little valley, when suddenly

there was an oops by Quick Toes, followed by an ouch by Francis.

Im sorry, Quick Toes apologized to Francis on the ground. I forgot

this brook was here. Im not really sure how to zigzag skip over a brook.

Dont worry, Im okay, Francis said, from where he landed beside the

stream when Quick Toes had stopped short. Francis put one hand in the water

and splashed it on his face. Then, still excited from zigzag skipping, and

refreshed from the water, he said, Come on, Ill race you.

Francis jumped over the stream and ran along the path, which went up a

little hill. Quick Toes slowly followed. When Francis got to the top of the hill hesuddenly stopped. Then he made a little squeaky sound and tumbled back down,

to end up in a rather unusual position between Quick Toes legs.

Quick Toes, Francis said as softly as he could, while scrambling to hisfeet, theres a bear up there.

A bear you say? Said Quick Toes.

Yes, a huge one.

Was it perhaps black? asked Quick Toes.


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Yes, a huge black one, replied Francis. Lets get out of here.

Get out of here? Whatever for? Lets go see.

But I already saw, said Francis.

Come on, hop up on my back where you can see better, Quick Toessuggested.

Only if youre careful.

Well of course, said Quick Toes.

Quick Toes walked slowly up the path, while Francis hugged his neck and

stared ahead. When they arrived at the top of the hill, Quick Toes stopped.Looking around, all they could see on both sides of the path were thick bushes.

I know I saw one, Francis whispered softly, when suddenly he saw one

again. It loomed up out of the bushes right next to them. It was black and huge,

and stood even taller than the tops of QuickToes antlers.

Why hello, Quick Toes, said the bear.

Good day, Basil, Quick Toes responded.

I see you have a new scarf, said Basil.

Nooo, I dont, said Quick Toes.

Well then, whats that hanging around your neck? asked Basil.

Oh, thats Francis. Francis, meet Basil Blackbear.

I dont want to. Im afraid to, whispered Francis.

Afraid? Dont be afraid of me, said Basil. I wont harm you. I

wouldnt dream of it.

You wouldnt? asked Francis. Are you sure?

Of course Im sure, said Basil. Why Im just like a big puppy.

But I thought bears were dangerous, Francis insisted.


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Some can be, admitted Basil. Except not here in The-Land-on-the-

Other-Side-of -Sleep. Ill tell you what, Ill even share my blueberries with you.

These bushes have the biggest, juiciest berries I know of anywhere.

Blueberries? You mean like the blueberries Mom puts on pancakes?

Exactly, said Basil. Would you like some?

Sure. I mean, yes thank you, said Francis. And in little more than the

time it takes to say blueberry-gooberry, he was right there beside Basil among theblueberry bushes.

Francis and Basil ate and they talked, and they talked and they ate, till

their tummies were just about as big as they could be. Then they decided to lie ontheir backs in a grassy spot, just to see what kinds of shapes the puffy clouds were

making. They saw a cloud that looked like a tree, and one like a bird, and anotherlike a lion - which was something Basil had never seen.

At that point, Francis said, Basil, Im really glad the animals here in The-

Land-on-the-Other-Side-of-Sleep are friendly, and that they can talk to me. Butare all the animals here friendly?

Yes indeed, said Basil. Well, that is all except Telluric The Terrible.

Telluric The Terrible! What is a Telluric The Terrible?

Telluric is a dragon, my friend, and a nasty one at that. He lives down inLost River Gorge, where he blows fire and smoke at anyone passing by. But

dont worry, he cant harm us, because terrible Telluric cant get out of the gorge.

He is trapped in it.

A dragon! exclaimed Francis. A real live dragon! They dont have

dragons in the zoo you know.

Francis closed his eyes and tried to imagine what Telluric, the terrible

dragon, might look like. Yet the more he tried to imagine the less sure he was.

He was about to ask Basil, but noticed that the big bear with the big tummy wassoftly snoring. So Francis kind of hopped on one of those snores as it came by,

and fell sound asleep like Basil.


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IV. SQUIGGLY RIVER AND WARM POND

Before Francis fell asleep he had tried to imagine what a dragon named

Telluric might look like. But when Francis woke up from his nap, he foundhimself thinking about something entirely different. He was thinking that even

though he loved having animal friends who could talk to him, it would be nice ifhe had a person to play with too. Basil Blackbear was still practicing his snoring,

so Francis looked for Quick Toes

Hi, Francis. I bet youre feeling better now that youve had someblueberries and some rest, Quick Toes said when Francis walked up to him.

I feel great, Francis said. But Ive been wondering about something.

What sort of something, Francis?

Well, um, people. I was wondering if there are any people here in The-Land-on-the-Other-Side-of-Sleep?

People, you say? No, not for the most part. Except that sometimesPenelope does come to visit.

Penelope? What is she like?

Penelope is a little girl, Quick Toes explained, who in my opinion is

lovely as a princess, and also very nice. Snow Feather, who is a swan, sometimes

brings Penelope to visit with her at Warm Pond.

Is it very far to Warm Pond? Francis asked. Can we go there?

It is within the circle of mountains and clouds. So even though it is onthe other side of the Squiggly River, it cant be too far, said Quick Toes. Then


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he added, And I happened to have been thinking that we should visit Snow

Feather. So lets go.

They invited Basil to come too. But he chose to stay with his blueberries,which he preferred to Warm Pond, Snow Feather the swan and almost everything

else.

The way is mainly downhill to the Squiggly River, Quick Toes said, so

running might be fun. Shall we run?

Yes, that would be fun, Francis agreed. Lets run!

So run they did, for Quick Toes was called Quick Toes for good reason.

He was simply the fastest animal in the land. They ran so fast that although

Francis could count quite well, they passed by the trees so quickly he could notcount them at all.

Yet there was one thing that came into view now and then that Francis

could see clearly. The first time, as they zoomed like a race car over the top of a

hill, Francis could see it far ahead, like a silver ribbon in the valley below. Then

as they sped through a big downward sloping field, Francis saw it again. It waslarger now, like a shiny winding road leading from the mountains to the lake.

Finally, when they zoomed out of a small forest, it looked exactly like a wide

river playing with the sun on its way to the lake.

Quick Toes, yelled Francis, I see the Squiggly River.

Yes, Francis, and soon well do more than just see it.

Are we going to swim in it? asked Francis

Im afraid we must, replied Quick Toes.

Great! Im a good swimmer. Ill show you how to dog-paddle. Can you

dog-paddle, Quick Toes?

Well I can deer-paddle, answered Quick Toes, and I hope that will be

good enough.

Just then they whizzed by some rocks and bushes, and next there was

nothing but river - all the way to the other side. Its wide, isnt it? Francis said.

Yes it is, said Quick Toes.


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And Ill bet its deep.

It surely is, Quick Toes said.

Well, like I said, Said Francis. Im a real good swimmer. I really am.

But Im not a real far swimmer. So maybe we should just swim on this side. Ormaybe we should not swim at all. Theres a cloud up there in the sky that might

rain on us. And my mom says you should never swim in the rain, because there

might be thunder and lightning too.

The problem is, Francis, if you want to see Penelope weve got to cross

to the other side.

Oh, thats right. I forgot. But maybe theres a bridge. Is there a bridgesomewhere, Quick Toes?

No, there is no bridge, Francis. But maybe I can be a bridge.

AAre you going to stretch yourself into a bridge? asked Francis. ACanyou do that?

No, I cant do that. But I do have a plan. I have swum the Squiggly

River many times. Its not difficult for me. And just as I can run with you on myback, perhaps I can swim with you there too.

Do you think you can, Quick Toes?

Yes, I think so. But lets conduct a test just to make sure. Lets only go

in up to my shoulders, or maybe a bit more, and Ill swim along the near shore. If

it works okay, well be on our way. And if it doesnt, well know before we go.

Thats a good idea, Francis agreed. Lets try it.

So Quick Toes waded into the Squiggly River. In a moment the river hadmet Franciss toes. Soon it was up to his knees, and then to his waist.

Hey, this water is kind of cold, Quick Toes. Maybe Ill get too coldwhen we get in deeper and youre swimming, Francis protested.

I wouldnt worry about that, because Im swimming right now, QuickToes said.


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You are? Yea, that means youre going to be my bridge.

Ill certainly try, Quick Toes replied. But the river moves very fast in

the middle, so it may be hard to get to the other side.

You can do it, Quick Toes. I know you can, said Francis.

At first it seemed that Francis was right, for as they moved away from theshore the swimming was easy. A little while later the swimming was still easy,

but the river was taking them sideways almost as much as they were going

forward. Then the water got so fast and bumpy that the swimming became very

difficult and they moved only sideways without going forward at all.

Were not doing very well, said Quick Toes as the water rushed them

downstream toward some big mean-looking rocks. If only we could get through

this fast water we would be okay.

What we need is some more power, said Francis.

Francis, hang on! yelled Quick toes, as he felt Francis suddenly slip

from his back.

I am hanging on. But Im giving us some more power too, Francis said

as he hung on to Quick Toes antlers while kicking his feet in the water to help

them go.

That must have been just what they needed. For soon they were beyond

the worst part of it. And next they were climbing onto the shore on the other side.

Wow, that was fun, and scary too, said Francis. Look, Quick Toes,

there are some really big rocks down there in that Squiggly River.

Yes, I noticed them, replied Quick Toes. Anyway, if youre ready, its

on to Warm Pond now.

Im ready, Francis answered as they started off. But the swimming gotmy pajamas wet. And how can I go meet Penelope with wet pajamas? She might

laugh at me.

I dont believe youve seen my twirly-bounce trick, said Quick Toes, as

if he didnt hear Francis complain.

Let me see it! Francis said, forgetting all about his wet pajamas.


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Hang on, here we go, said Quick Toes.

Quick Toes jumped into the air. When he came down again he landed on

all four feet at the same time, but pointing backward where they came from,instead of forward where they were going. Before Francis could figure out about

being backward, they bounced into the air again, to come down facing forward.

Quick Toes four feet bounced again, and they came down backward, thenforward again. Backward and forward they went in long half-circles through the

air, into a valley and across a brook to a hill.

Quick Toes changed to running for going over the hill and then stopped onthe other side to ask, Did you say something about your pajamas being wet?

Hey, you tricked me, Francis said as he felt his pajamas. You twirly-

bounced and speeded my pajamas nearly dry, because theyre barely wet now.

They are? Thats good, because soon well be at Warm Pond.

Once they continued their swift journey, it seemed to Francis that gliding

over the hills and through the gathering of trees was almost like being inside of a

beautiful movie. He enjoyed it so much that he thought he wouldnt mind ifWarm Pond was still quite a bit further. But just then he saw something rising

into the sky from a thick forest ahead, which actually meant that Warm Pond was

nearby.

Look, Quick Toes. There must be a fire, Francis yelled. I see smoke.

That isnt smoke, Quick Toes said. That is just the fog that rises fromWarm Pond. Just beyond those trees and well be there.

The trees around them began to be very close together, like they werethrown into a giant salad bowl and mixed up with a big spoon. Francis thought

they might not be able to get through them. But always when there didnt seem to

be anywhere to go, Quick Toes found a small hole to take them a little further.

The air and the leaves grew damp, like after it rains. Soon warm fog

surrounded them, as the air grew damper still. Francis could barely see beyond

Quick Toes nose. And it seemed harder to breath, almost like being under water.

But after they passed some places where warm water bubbled up from the

ground, the fog finally started to grow thinner. Francis noticed that they were

walking along the edge of a pond. Then he saw something moving through thefog out on the water. He watched it closely, but couldnt tell what it was.


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Francis thought it was a rowboat, but then thought it was not. He thought

it might be the top of a submarine, but then thought it wasn t that either. Finally

he thought, If only we could get out of this fog, I could see what it is.


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V. PENELOPE & TELLURICTHE TERRIBLE

As Francis and Quick Toes walked along the edge of Warm Pond, the fogcontinued to grow thinner. Francis could now see that the thing in the water had

the shape of a duck, or a goose, only much, much larger. Then he noticed its longgracefully curved neck and the large wings that rested slightly raised along its

sides.

I know, he suddenly realized, its Snow Feather. Seeming to float onthe thin blanket of fog that skimmed across the top of the water, the large swan

began moving toward them. She is beautiful, thought Francis. But where is

Penelope? he wondered, as he stretched higher on Quick Toes back. Oh, maybeshe is not visiting now.

Good day, Snow Feather, Quick Toes said, in a voice that seemed far

away to Francis.

Hello, Quick Toes. What a pleasant surprise, Francis barely heard the

swan reply.

Snow Feather, this is my friend, Francis, Quick Toes said.

Hello, Francis, said Snow Feather.

Francis managed to say hello in response. He was going to ask where

Penelope was, when suddenly he heard a giggle. He said, Hey, who did that?

No one answered. But as Snow Feather turned sideways in the water,

Francis saw a beautiful girl in a long nightgown lying on her back. Her big brown

eyes sparkled like laughter as she smiled at Francis, and her black hair seemed to


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shine, like a river on a moonlit night. Quick Toes had said Penelope was lovely

as a princess, and Francis thought that maybe she really was a fairy princess.

He quickly slid off Quick Toes back, and all in a row asked, Are youPenelope? Are you a fairy princess? Can I make a wish?

Yes, I am Penelope. And I just might be a fairy princess. So you better

be nice to me. Even boys can be nice if they try.

If you are a fairy princess, I get to make a wish, Francis said as

Penelope stepped onto the shore. I wish for a, um.... I wish for a sugar plum

tree.

Now wait a minute, Penelope said. Its not all that easy. I mean,

wishes are special. You cant just say, give me a wish. First you have to... Well,

you have to answer a riddle.

Answer a riddle, Said Francis. Okay, what is it?

Now remember, Penelope said, you must answer the riddle to get your

wish. Let me see? Okay, here it is. What is bitter but sweet and fun to eat?

What is bitter but sweet and fun to eat, repeated Francis. What is bitter

but sweet and fun to eat?

Francis couldnt think of anything at first. So he thought some more, and

then some more, until a picture popped into his head. It was of Mommy mixing

things together to make cookies, and then putting little chocolate chips into the

cookie mix.

Chocolate chips, yelled Francis.

What? said Penelope.

Chocolate chips, like what goes in chocolate chip cookies, Francis

explained. Theyre sweet, but they are a little bitter too. And theyre fun to eat.

You may be right, Francis. Im not saying youre wrong. But thats

not the answer. The answer is, a sugar plum. Im sorry. I really thought youmight guess it.

Thats not fair, said Francis, because we have been looking for a sugar

plum tree. And besides, I didnt get to ask you a riddle.


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It certainly is fair, Penelope insisted. But just because Im nice, Ill let

you ask me a riddle. If I cant guess the answer, Ill show you the sugar plum

tree.

Okay, said Francis. AIm going to think of a real good riddle.

But it turned out that Francis only knew one riddle. He just hoped it was a

good one. He asked, What has a hump on its back, looks like a camel and lives

in the desert?

After thinking for a minute Penelope said, Im probably wrong, but the

only thing I can think of that has a hump on its back, looks like a camel and lives

in the desert is, well, a camel.

Did you say a camel?

Yes, a camel. Thats the only thing I can think of.

Oh, Francis said. AHow did you know? I guess its fair. Only it doesnt

seem fair. Youre supposed to think its something other than a camel, and giveup. Besides, Ive been looking for a sugar plum tree.

Actually, said Penelope, all this sugar plum talk has made me hungry.

So I guess I will take you to the sugar plum tree after all, even though you didntwin.

Yea, thats great. Quick Toes, did you hear? Penelope is going to show

me a sugar plum tree, Francis exclaimed. Then he and Penelope started walking

along the edge of the pond, while Francis felt about as happy as he could be. He

had a new friend, and very soon he was going to eat some real sugar plums.

Quick Toes, on the other hand, was still concerned about something else.

As Francis and Penelope walked away Quick Toes told Snow Feather how High

Flight had just dropped Francis off, and how he was worried that Francis wouldn thave any way to get home. Snow Feather, do you think you could fly with him

on your back, like you do with Penelope? Quick Toes asked.

Quick Toes, I dont want to disappoint Penelope, so I havent told her

yet, Snow Feather said. She is growing bigger. It is already difficult for me to

fly while carrying her. Soon I wont be able to anymore. And your Francis is

bigger and heavier than Penelope; so I just dont think I could manage.


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Yes I see what you mean, said Quick Toes. Its too bad I dont have

wings, or Francis wasnt a little smaller.

He seems happy now, Snow Feather said. But when its time to takePenelope home I expect Francis will want to leave too. So I do understand your

concern.

Meanwhile, Francis and Penelope were concerned about nothing other

than sugar plums. They walked to where the water in Warm Pond left its home to

wander like all streams in search of an ocean. On the other side of that stream

Francis saw a beautiful tree. Its shimmering green leaves danced in the sunlight,and fruit of red and gold hung from its branches. It looked just like the tree that

Francis had discovered at the beginning of his sugar plum search - the one whose

fruit was bitter and made the inside of his mouth wrinkle up.

One thing for sure, Francis said, even though that tree looks great, its

fruit are too awfully bitter to be sugar plums.

Yes, said Penelope, bitter, but sweet, and fun to eat. Dont you

remember my riddle? That is the sugar plum tree, Francis. Its only the outside

that is bitter, like the outside of an orange. The inside is very sweet.

Gee, I wish I knew that before, Francis said.

Francis and Penelope jumped across Warm Stream and ran up to the tree.

Penelope picked the nearest sugar plum and said, You just push your thumb in

where the stem was, and peel the outside off like this.

Then she handed the peeled sugar plum to Francis. Even though it looked

perfect for eating, he thought he would take only a little bite, just in case it was

bad tasting. But as his hand brought the sugar plum closer, his mouth got biggerand bigger. And after juicy sugar plum filled every corner of his mouth, Francis

could only say, Ish goo, sounding a little like Chitchat did when he had all those

acorns in his mouth.

Francis ate three sugar plums, one right after the other. Then he lay back

on the grass while Penelope sat next to him. AHey lets look for animal shapes in

the clouds, Francis said, remembering the fun he and Basil had doing that.

Penelope saw one first. She said, Look, I see a dragon cloud.

Thats a dragon cloud? asked Francis. You know there really is a

dragon here in The-Land-on-the-Other-Side-of-Sleep.


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You mean Telluric, said Penelope. Everyone knows about Telluric

The Terrible.

Yes, Telluric The Terrible. Thats the one. Have you seen it?

Sure I have, answered Penelope. Telluric lives not far from here.

He does? Does he blow fire and smoke at you?

Well, of course. Dragons are supposed to do that.

Can we go see it, Penelope? I have never seen a real dragon.

I guess I could show you Telluric. But let me tell Snow Feather first,Penelope said. Then she called, Snow Feather, Francis and I are going to look at

Telluric.

Okay, children, Snow Feather said. Just be careful near the edge of the

gorge.

Whats a gorge, Penelope? Francis asked as they started off. Is it some

kind of trap?

Its a deep valley with steep cliffs on both sides, explained Penelope.

The water from Sparkling Lake falls down into Lost River Gorge, and then

disappears beneath a mountain at the other end. Telluric is trapped in the gorge,

answered Penelope as she and Francis began walking uphill. It wasnt longbefore they reached the top of the hill and the edge of the gorge. Then Penelope

sat down on the top of the cliff that dropped down into the gorge, and a moment

later Francis crept up beside her.

Penelope, I dont see a dragon. Maybe it died or went away, Francis

said, not sounding very disappointed.

Oh he has not, Penelope said. He must be in his cave there. You just

have to call him.

You mean me?

Yes, just call him. Hell come out.


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There didnt seem to be any way out of it. So Francis moved back a step,

took hold of the trunk of a small, crooked pine tree and stood up. Then he took a

deep breath and yelled as loud as he could: T E L L U R I C.

His yell bounced back and forth and back and forth off the walls of the

gorge: TELL-Tell-Tell,UR-ur-ur,IC-ic-ic. When the echoes died away, they

heard some rumbling noises down in the gorge. Then the rumbling grew into aroar as a cloud of smoke rushed out of the cave. The cloud was filled with sparks

that became fire. Then in the middle of it all, Francis saw a mean looking head,

like the head of a giant snapping turtle. He could see that the rumbling and

growling and the smoke and fire were all coming from the creatures mouth.Soon Francis could see a neck, long and green. Then he saw great big

wings stretched out wide. Finally, there was a long tail that looked like a big

angry snake as it whipped back and forth.

Tellurics head stopped moving and his red eyes looked right at Francis.

The correct title is, he said, and then he roared his name, TELLURIC,TELLURIC, Telluric, Telluric - THE, THE, The, The - TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE,

Terrible, Terrible.

The echoes of Tellurics terrible roar shook the very walls of the gorge,sending Francis tumbling to the ground. Come on, Penelope, Francis yelled as

he scrambled to his feet. Then he quickly started to down the hill that they had

just climbed up.


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VI. BLACK SWAMP & GARAWK

Francis, where are you going? Penelope called. Wait for me.

Im going back to Warm Pond, Francis said as he stopped to wait for

Penelope, because I dont like that Telluric the Terrible. Not one bit.

So the two of them began walking down the hill, until going downhillmade them feel like running. In no time at all they were back by the sugar plum

tree where they flopped on the ground out of breath.

Well, did you see Telluric? How was that old dragon? Quick Toes

asked.

He was terrible, just terrible, answered Francis. Its just lucky hesdown in that gorge. If he ever got out, there could be big trouble. Then, feeling

less frightened now but still angry about being frightened before, Francis added,

And you know what, Im going to fix that dragon. Im going to conquer him.Thats what Ill do.

Youre going to conquer Telluric? Quick Toes said

Yes, said Francis. That means like win against him, or beat him up, or

something like that. Maybe Ill chain him up or put him in a trap, or lock him in

his cave.

Oh, Francis, youre silly, Penelope said. You cant trap Telluric The

Terrible, or conquer him.


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I am not silly, Francis insisted. I just have to figure out a way to do it,

thats all.

And what way do you think that might be? Quick Toes asked.

Well, I havent figured that out yet, Francis said. But it could be

dangerous, because he might fly up at me. Why doesnt that dragon fly out of thegorge? Hes got big wings.

The walls of the gorge are too steep, Penelope said. He cant just fly

straight up. Hes got to run to get started. I have seen him try.

Thats good, said Francis. That helps our side. Now if I could just

figure out how to conquer him...

You know who might be able to tell you? interrupted Snow Feather.

Garawk would probably know.

What is a garawk? asked Francis.

Garawk, said Quick toes, is a very large old frog who lives in themiddle of Black swamp. And although he says very little, he knows just about

everything.

About the only thing he says, added Penelope, is gaaraawk, gaaraawk

all the time.

And, Snow Feather said, on a clear night when the breeze is right, youcan hear him right here at Warm Pond.

Lets go ask Garawk then, Quick Toes. Is it very far?

Black Swamp is nearby, Francis. But I cant go with you. The branches

of the bushes and trees along the path to the middle of Black Swamp are too low

and thick. I cant fit beneath them and my antlers would get all tangled up inthem.

Okay, then Penelope will go with me.

No, Sir. Im not going, Penelope said. My mom got me this

nightgown for my birthday, and Im not going to get it all messed up in that old

Black Swamp. Im sorry, Francis, but Im not going.


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Youll have to go alone, Snow Feather said. Just follow Warm Stream

until it is joined by another stream. That one comes from Black Swamp. If you

walk along that stream youll see a path on the left side that leads to the middle of

the swamp.

Well, okay, Francis said. If no one else will go with me, Ill just go by

myself.

Be sure to stay on the path, Snow Feather insisted, because the mud in

Black Swamp is very thick. And if you get into that mud it might not let you go.

Okay, but are you all sure that no one else wants to come?

No one answered. So Francis slowly turned, looked back once to wave,

and began walking along Warm Stream.

Soon Francis came to the other stream. Shortly after that he noticed manytall trees ahead, with tops that bumped into each other to form a thick roof.

Beneath them he saw quiet pools of black water, slimy mud, clumps of grass and

the thick bushes of Black Swamp.

Francis might have been scared about going into that dark swamp if he

wasnt thinking hard about something else. He remembered that the path to the

middle of the swamp was on the left side of the stream. And he knew that the leftside is opposite from the right side. Only he couldnt remember which side was

the left and which was the right. But it turned out not to make any difference,

because there was only one path and it was right in front of him.

Francis walked onto the path and right into Black Swamp. But a few

moments later he stopped short. It was like he went into a dark room at night and

somebody closed the door behind him. Everything was black. Not just the waterand the mud, but everything. Even the air seemed black.

Francis felt a pounding begin in his chest and spread throughout his body.

Then, as he waited for the pounding to stop he noticed something. It looked like agolden string stretched from the treetops to the swamp below. It was a tiny ray of

sunlight. Soon he noticed other skinny threads of light too. Then he began to see

the dim shapes of bushes, clumps of grass and yes, also the path.

As the pounding of his heart began to grow softer, Francis noticed another

pounding. It seemed to come from far off in the dark middle of the swamp. It

was a sound that went over and over, gaaraawk-gaaraawk, gaaraawk-gaaraawk.


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Its Garawk! Hes here! thought Francis. He began to move forward

along the path. But then not many gaaraawks later he stumbled into something.

It surrounded him and grabbed him. Francis fought to get free, but could not,

until finally he fell to the ground. He lay there hiding his head with his hands,trying to become part of the path. Nothing happened.

Francis peeked above. There were dark twisty arms all around. They arewaiting for me to move, and then theyll grab me, he thought. But soon he

noticed that the arms came out of the mud, and that they had leaves on them.

Oh, its only some bushes, he sighed, remembering that Quick Toes saidthe bushes grow very low over the path. Francis looked ahead and thought he

could see the other side of that bush-monster. So he began to crawl forward.

When Francis got beyond the bush, he got to his feet and carefully beganwalking again, toward the sound of Garawk. The next time he came to one of

those bush-monsters, Francis got to his knees before it could grab him and made itthrough with barely being touched.

Francis began to wonder what other animals besides Garawk lived in

Black Swamp. He especially wondered about alligators. And just then he sawone, out beyond the mud, lying low in the black water. An alligator!

Francis stopped and stood very still. He didnt move a muscle as hewatched the alligator. It must have been doing the same thing, because the

alligator didnt move either.

Maybe its asleep. Maybe I can sneak by it, thought Francis. He startedto move. It moved. He stopped. It stopped. As Francis watched it, he noticed

that the alligator looked a lot like some clumps of grass in a row. So he started

forward again. Sometimes the thing in the water looked like an alligator moving,and sometimes like clumps of grass staying still. Until finally it didnt make any

difference, because it was way behind him.

Garawks call was getting louder now. I must be getting close, Francisthought. Sure enough, a few minutes later the path ended at a large flat rock.

Now Garawks steady call seemed to be all around Francis, and to bounce off of

him, like the pounding of his own heart. But he could see nothing except a bigpool of black water beyond the rock.

Then, as Francis moved closer, he noticed a ray of sunlight shining down

on a clump of grass in the middle of the water. There, bathed in the light on that


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throne of grass, sat the frog of frogs. It was green and gold and seemed to grow

bigger, then smaller, bigger, then smaller, as that same call came again and again.

The call stopped, and all was silent. Then Garawk spoke: Young man,what is it you seek?

Hello, Mr Garawk, Francis said. I need to know how to conquerTelluric, the terrible dragon. Can you tell me?

The way to conquer the dragon is to free him.

What? said Francis. Conquer him by freeing him? How can that be?

The way to conquer the dragon is to free him, repeated Garawk.

But how can Telluric be freed? Francis asked. Hes way down in the

bottom of the gorge.

The way Telluric was trapped shall be the way he is freed, said Garawk.

But what way is that? asked Francis.

The way Telluric was trapped shall be the way he is freed, repeated

Garawk once more.

Is that a riddle? Im really not very good at riddles. Couldnt you just

explain how to free him? Francis begged.

Good day, and good luck, Garawk simply said, before jumping with a

plop into the black water.

Wait, Mr Garawk. Come back, called Francis. I need to talk to you

some more.

Thats not fair, thought Francis. Ill just wait for him to come upagain. Then Ill find out what he means.

But there are more pleasant places for a boy to spend time than alone inBlack Swamp waiting for a frog to come up for air. It wasnt long before Francis

started to think about Quick Toes, Penelope, Snow Feather and bright sunlight.

So Francis started back down the path. He walked fast, and didnt evenslow down when the call of Garawk again filled the air.


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Francis did start thinking about that old frog though, and what he had said

about conquering Telluric by freeing him. How did Telluric get trapped in Lost

River Gorge? he wondered. Did someone push him in? But that would meansomeone would have to push him out. Because Garawk said the way he got

trapped is the way to get him un-trapped. Maybe he flew in. But that would

mean he would have to fly out, and Penelope says he cant do that. I wonder, Ijust wonder how that Telluric The Terrible got trapped?

Francis wondered so much that he forgot to pay attention to where he was

going. Suddenly he bumped into a branch of a tree. The branch bent a little andthen, like a spring, bounced back, knocking Francis flat on his back. That

wouldnt have been so bad, except that when he went to get up he found that he

was stuck up to his knees in the black mud of Black Swamp.

Francis grabbed a root of the tree and pulled to get free. But the black

mud of Black Swamp pulled back. Francis pulled harder, and the mud pulledharder still. If anything, he seemed to be stuck worse than before. Then Francis

remembered what Snow Feather had said: If the mud of Black Swamp grabs you

it wont let go.

Francis became very frightened. He felt like crying because he imagined

himself, like the root of that tree, stuck forever in the black mud of Black Swamp.

But after a while the mud didnt seem to be grabbing him so much. So he

pulled very hard, and again was stuck very hard. After Francis stopped pulling,

the mud again didnt seem to grab him so tight. This time Francis didnt pull. He

just thought about pulling, and maybe pulled just a tiny bit, but ever so gently.

As it turned out, Francis happened to find the secret of getting out of the

black mud of Black Swamp. If you didnt fight it, it wouldnt fight you. In alittle while - that seemed like a very long while - his feet were nearly out. He

gave a quick tug, and was finally free.

Francis jumped to his feet and his feet wanted to run, but Francis didnt letthem. Soon he saw light ahead, and his feet grew more impatient, but Francis

walked slowly, until suddenly he was in the bright sunlight, warm happy sunlight.

Then he ran. Down Black Swamp Stream and along Warm Pond Stream heraced.

When Francis saw Quick Toes, Penelope, and Snow Feather by the sugar

plum tree, he wanted to go slower - to just walk up ho-hum like. But his legswent even faster.


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Look, its Francis! yelled Penelope.

Whats the matter? Francis, are you all right? Quick Toes asked asFrancis ran up.

Ive got to know, panted Francis. Ive got to know how Telluric got

trapped.


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VII. THE ANSWER & THE AGREEMENT

Now just a minute, Francis, Penelope said. Here were all getting

worried about you and you come up without even saying hello, wearing boots that

you didnt have before, and start gibbering about how Telluric got trapped. Why

dont you just start all over again?

Im sorry, Francis said, but Ive just got to know how Telluric got

trapped. And besides, Im not wearing boots. Thats just the black mud of BlackSwamp, from when I got trapped in it. Then he told the whole story about his

journey to the middle of Black Swamp: about what Garawk said and what he

didnt say, about being trapped in the mud, and why he had to know how Telluric

got trapped in Lost River Gorge.

So you really did talk to Garawk, Penelope said. Maybe we can figure

out how Telluric got trapped. But first, why dont you sit on the edge of WarmStream and Ill help you wash that mud off.

When Penelope and Francis were finished, Quick Toes said, Francis, Ive

been trying to remember a story that my father told me a long time ago. If Iveremembered it correctly, and I think I have, it may tell us how Telluric got

trapped.

What is it, Quick Toes? How did he get trapped?

Well, my father said that long ago you could go in and out of Lost River

Gorge. Telluric used to roam the land, and he was even friendly then. I think my


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father said Telluric got trapped by a big avalanche that blocked the path that used

to lead to the bottom of the gorge.

An avalanche. I know what that is, Francis said. I saw one in a movieonce. Its when a whole bunch of big rocks go tumbling down a mountain. But if

thats how he got trapped, thats how he has to get free. And how can that be?

I was trying to figure that out, Quick toes said. Ill admit it doesnt

seem to solve the problem.

Yes, because if an avalanche blocked the path to Lost River Gorge,another one ought to super block it, Francis agreed.

Maybe so, or maybe not so, Penelope said.

What do you mean, maybe not so? Francis asked. If youve got a big

pile of rocks and you put another pile on top of it, its going to be even harder toget over it.

Ive seen what looks like a path, which is blocked at the bottom by a big

pile of rocks, Penelope said. The rocks make it too steep at the beginning to getup the path. But what if a second pile of rocks was in front of the first, instead of

on top of it? That might change things.

You mean like the second pile might make it so it wasnt straight up at

the beginning, so Telluric could climb over it? That could happen, Francis said.

Do you think it would work?

Garawk said the way Telluric got trapped is the way to free him,

Penelope said. So it has to work. Isnt that right, Snow Feather?

Yes, your plan sounds like it could work, and poor Telluric has suffered

too long down in Lost River Gorge. But since Telluric has been The Terrible

for such a long time, helping him get free might not change that. It could be

dangerous for everyone in this land.

I know, said Francis, well make him promise to be friendly. Or else

we just wont set him free.

Thats a good idea. I think that should be done, Snow Feather agreed.

Lets go explain it to him then, Quick Toes said Francis. If he doesntpromise to be nice, he can just stay right where he is down in that gorge.


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Okay, said Quick Toes. What about the two of you, Penelope and

Snow Feather? Are you coming with us?

Well stay here for now, Penelope said. Maybe well come along a

little later.

All right, said Quick Toes. Do you want to ride on my back, Francis?

After Francis climbed on Quick Toes back, Penelope and Snow Feather

wished them good luck and told them to be careful. Then Quick Toes begantrotting up the hill toward Lost River Gorge.

Quick Toes, do you think Telluric The Terrible will promise to be nice?

Francis asked.

I dont really know, Francis, but well soon find out, said Quick Toes.

Quick Toes was right, for in almost no time Francis could see the edge of

the gorge ahead. I dont think I would fall off your back and tumble into that

gorge, he said. But still, Id rather walk the rest of the way.

Thats a good idea, said Quick Toes. You should have both feet on

firm ground when you visit a dragon.

Francis slid off Quick Toes back, and the two of them carefully walked to

the top of the gorge. Telluric may have heard them coming. Or he may have just

been looking beyond the walls of the gorge, like he had so many times before,wishing he was free. With his tail twitching slowly from side to side, and little

puffs of smoke coming out of his nose, he was standing directly below them.

Look, Quick Toes, there he is, Francis whispered. Telluric The

Terrible is right there.

So I am called, the voice rumbled up from below. Why have you cometo MY gorge? he demanded.

Um, said Francis, surprised that Telluric had heard him. Well, uh, wehave come to free you.

You have what? snarled Telluric, becoming angry at such a cruel joke.

Really, we have come to free you, Francis said.


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Telluric roared with laughter. Terrible fire shot from his mouth and the

echoes of his laughter shook the walls of the gorge, just like the first time. But

soon the horrible laughing stopped and the echoes died away.

Thats right, Francis then said, feeling brave since this time he wasn t

knocked over by Tellurics roar. We are going to free you. Or I should say,maybe we will. Its really up to you.

I am mighty Telluric, the terrible one. I can set the land afire with my

breath. I could, if I were not trapped, fly to the four corners of the land. I fearnothing. Yet I cannot get free. And you, little two-foot, you say you can free

me.

My name is Francis, Francis said, beginning to enjoy the fact that inspite of Tellurics fire breathing and his terrible roar, he was still trapped down in

the gorge, while Francis most certainly was not. And we can free you, that is ifwe choose to.

And how, may I ask, do you expect to free Telluric? the dragon asked.

Garawk said that the way you were trapped is the way you will be freed,

said Francis. And Quick Toes said you were trapped by an avalanche that

blocked the path out of the gorge. If we make another avalanche in front of thefirst one, it wont be so steep, so you can climb out.

And what if, when I get out I eat you? Telluric said, letting his terrible

side get the best of him.

Francis gulped. He could only think of being toasted and roasted by that

fire-breathing dragon, and gobbled up. He even forgot there was an answer toTellurics question.

So Quick Toes said, Telluric The Terrible, we cannot set you free unless

you promise that you will harm no one, and that you will be friendly towardeveryone.

Tellurics tail moved slowly back and forth, and smoke puffed from hisnose. But he said nothing at first. Then his tail stopped moving, and he took a

deep breath. I give you my word, he said amidst sparks and smoke I will harm

no one.


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And be friendly to everyone, said Francis, finding his voice and his

courage again.

And be friendly to everyone, slowly repeated Telluric.

Well, good. Now thats settled, Francis said. Come on, Quick Toes,

lets see about making an avalanche.


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VIII. F R E E D O M

Francis and Quick Toes walked along the edge of the gorge until theywere above the huge rocks that blocked the path out of the gorge. When they got

there Quick toes said, Francis, I really dont know much about avalanches. Doyou know how to make one?

Francis said, What we have to do is find a big rock, and then push it over

the edge. It falls down and bumps into other rocks. They start falling andbumping into more rocks. Pretty soon a whole bunch of rocks are falling and

bumping all the way down to the bottom. Thats how to make an avalanche.

Francis pointed to a rock that was about as big as he was. Look, theres a

good one, he said. Lets try that one.

After they walked over to the rock, Francis looked down into the gorge.Way down there, directly below them, Telluric stood looking up. You better

move back, Francis called down to him, unless you want to get avalanched on.

Then youd never get free.

Once Telluric had moved back, Francis put his shoulder against the rock

and Quick toes put his shoulder against it. They pushed, and then they pushed

some more. But the rock didnt move at all.

It must be stuck. Maybe this one will go, Francis said, pointing to a

smaller rock next to the first one.

When they pushed the second rock, it moved. One more push, and it

rolled over the edge. It bounced off one rock and bumped into another. It

bounced high off another rock and slammed into others, until finally it landedwith a splash in Lost River. None of the other rocks followed.


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When the rock splashed into the water, Telluric looked up and roared,

You will pay for tricking Telluric... tricking Telluric... tricking Telluric

Again the echoes came bouncing up, and again the earth shook. When the

echoes died away, Francis stood up straight and said, You have to be patient,

Telluric The Terrible. We just need a bigger avalanche starter. Thats all.

Quick Toes, he said, did you see that big rock over there? It moved

when Tellurics roar shook the ground. Maybe we can push it over.

They walked over to the rock, which looked like a giant egg resting on one

end, and was even bigger than Quick Toes. They leaned against the rock and then

pushed very hard. They shoved and they pushed, and made shoving and pushing

noises. But the rock did not roll.

Its no use, said Quick Toes. Its too big.

It moved, Francis said. I felt it move a little. Lets try again.

So they tried again. And again they stopped. It may have moved,Francis, Quick toes said. But its got to move a lot more to fall down into that

gorge.

What we need is a pole, Francis said. In the movie that I saw they used

a long pole to start the avalanche. They put one end under the rock and pulled

down on the other end of the pole, like a seesaw. Thats how to make the rock

start rolling down.

But we dont have a pole, Francis.

Hey, what about that dead tree over there? Francis said. Maybe we can

knock it over.

They walked over to the small tree whose top had broken off in a stormsome time ago. What was left was about twice as tall as Quick Toes. When they

pushed against the tree, it bent. Then it bounced back. The second time they

pushed harder. The tree bent again, and then went S-N-A-P.

Hooray, we did it! yelled Francis.

How about if I put my antlers under one end to lift it up, said QuickToes, and you can carry the other end.


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When they got to the big rock, Quick Toes held his end of the pole up in

the air, while Francis placed the other end under the rock. There, were all set,

Francis said. Now we just push down on the end thats up in the air, and like aseesaw the other end pushes up on the rock, to roll it over the edge. But let me

just check on old Telluric The Terrible first.

Francis peeked over the edge. Telluric had moved further back. His tail

was doing what it always seemed to do, and the smoke came in slow puffs from

his mouth and nose. Francis noticed that his head was turned to one side, like he

was listening to something.

Francis turned to Quick Toes and whispered, I think hes listening to us.

I bet he can hear us from way down there. I bet he can hear as far as a telephone

can.

Well, lets get going, Francis said in a louder voice. Lets get thisavalanche started.

Francis grabbed the end of the pole that slanted up into the air, and Quick

Toes put his front feet on it. Then they pulled down hard. The end beneath therock moved up a little, and the rock rocked forward. Then it rocked back. They

pulled twice more, and twice more the rock tilted, and then rocked back.

Let me grab it at the very end, suggested Francis. When I say go, you

push down and Ill hang from the pole.

One, two, three, GO.

Francis pulled his feet off the ground and hung by his hands. Quick Toes

pushed hard. The rock moved more than before, but then it rocked back. Theytried again, and again.

That rock just doesnt seem to want to go, said Quick Toes.

And I dont blame it, Francis said, as they sat down for a rest. I

wouldnt want to go tumbling down into that gorge either. But its just got to go

if we are going to free Telluric.

Just then Francis looked up to see Snow Feather flying toward them with

Penelope on her back. Snow Feather looks even more beautiful in the air than

when she swims in the pond, thought Francis. Hi, Snow Feather, he called.

Hi, Penelope.


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We brought something for you, Penelope said as she slid off Snow

Feathers back. Heres a sugar plum for each of you. Whats going on, Francis?

Youre supposed to be freeing a dragon, not just sitting in the sunshine. Whatsthe matter, didnt Telluric agree to be nice?

Were just resting. Thats all. A lot has been going on, and Telluric didagree to be nice. Between bites of his sugar plum Francis explained what had

happened and the problem they were having with the rock.

If you can move it that much, there must be a way to topple that rock,Penelope said. Why dont you get somebody to help you?

Okay. Come on, Ill show you what to do, Francis said.

Me? Oh, no. Im not big enough, or strong enough, Penelope said.

What about Basil Blackbear?

Basil isnt here, Francis said. But you are. Come on, Penelope. You

can climb on Quick Toes back, then just slide off to sit on the end of the pole.

I knew we should have waited a while longer, Snow Feather, Penelope

said. Oh, all right. Ill try it. But if I rip my nightgown or get hurt, youll be in

big trouble, Francis.

Great, Francis said. Youll see; itll work just like a seesaw. You sit

on the pole. Ill hang from the very tip, and Quick toes can jump up and land on

it with his four feet all at once. Can you do that, Quick Toes?

If I cant, I ought to give up zigzag skipping and twirly-bouncing, Quick

Toes said.

So Quick Toes bent down and Penelope got on his back. Then she slid off

onto the pole and held tight to what was left of a broken branch. When Francis

had a good hold on the end of it he said, Okay, Quick Toes, I hope its a goodtrick.

Here I go, Quick Toes said, before leaping off the ground.

As soon as Quick Toes jumped, Francis pulled his feet up to hang from the

pole. Quick Toes, of course, landed just right. The pole bent down and the

bottom of the rock was pushed up. The top of the rock tilted forward, and thenthere was a loud C-R-A-C-K. The pole broke.


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Francis and Penelope and the pole fell to the ground. The big tilting rock

slowed down. But this time it didnt rock back. It slowly rolled over the edge,

and then began crashing down into the gorge. Bam, crash, slam it went as itsmashed into one rock, then another, then more and more. All the rocks began

crashing and bashing into each other as they roared to the bottom of the gorge.

As the great wave of rocks rushed down it sounded like a whole mountain wasfalling.

Francis and Penelope scrambled to the edge. The rocks had stopped

tumbling yet dust was still everywhere in the air down there. And something wasmoving through that dust that hung low over the floor of the gorge. It was

Telluric. He did not wait. He could not wait. Telluric raced toward the pile of

rocks. His legs moved faster than Francis could imagine. Great bursts of smoke

and fire exploded from his mouth. And his wings thrashed at the murky air.

By the time Telluric reached the bottom of the pile of rocks, his feetseemed barely to touch the ground. Part running, part scrambling, part flying, he

roared up the rocks that had just roared down.

Hes going to make it, yelled Francis. Hes going to make it!

As Telluric came closer, Francis saw nothing except that great beast

charging up toward them. Tellurics neck stretched way out in front of him andfire poured from his big open mouth, around the long teeth that flashed like

pointed knives. The claws on Tellurics feet stretched and grasped at the rocks as

he sped over them. And his tremendous wings flapped up and down so wildly

that their red undersides looked like fire too.

When Telluric got closer, Francis saw that his eyes were glowing red, like

the whole inside of him was on fire. Those fierce eyes looked straight ahead,toward where Francis and the others were. Yet they seemed to look right through

them, or over them, to the sky beyond.

In a moment Telluric was upon them. His enormous wings were rightover them, and they felt the blast of heat from his fiery breath.

Telluric The Terrible had reached the top. But he did not stop. Nothing, just nothing could stop Telluric now. With a great leap of his powerful legs he

was in the air, and his wings beat harder still. His neck stretched straight out in

front of him and his tail straight behind, as he climbed up into the sky. Telluric

The Terrible was free!


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Leaving a trail of smoke and fire, he flew toward the sun that hung low in

the Western sky. Telluric grew smaller and smaller, until like a fly he was just a

tiny speck in the sky.

Then the speck stopped growing smaller. They all noticed. The speck

was growing larger. Telluric The Terrible was flying back toward them.


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IX. THE CELEBRATION

Hes coming back. Hes coming back. Come on lets hide, Penelopeyelled. Then she ran toward two nearby large rocks, with Snow Feather close

behind.

Hey, wait a minute, called Francis. Wait a minute, Penelope. SnowFeather, wait.

But neither of them seemed to hear Francis. So he ran after them. ThenQuick Toes followed. When Francis got to Penelope and Snow Feather they were

already crouched down low.

Get down, Francis, Penelope said.

Why? asked Francis.

What do you mean, why? Didnt you see? Hes coming back.

Yes, but he said he wouldnt harm anyone.

I know what he said, Francis. But what if he changes his mind? Or what

if he forgets?

He gave his word, Penelope. I heard him.

Oh thats just wonderful, Francis. Thats really just wonderful. Now

will you please get down. Didnt you see how terrible he looked charging up


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those rocks? Anyway, he probably wants to enjoy his freedom for a while before

he meets anybody.

Well maybe he changed directions, Francis said. Maybe hes notcoming back here right now.

Francis leaned against the big rock he was behind, and peeked around thecorner. It took just an instant to see that Telluric was coming right toward them

and was a lot closer than before. Francis quickly pulled his head back, only to a

moment later jump right out in the open and start waving.

The huge beast flew right at Francis. Soon he was almost upon him.

Then suddenly Telluric swerved and landed with a thump right beside Francis.

Well, well, well, chuckled Telluric after he drew his wings in by hisside, sat down and wrapped his tail around him. You certainly are a brave one,

coming to meet me while your friends hide behind the rocks. And Im lucky youare brave, Francis. I do thank you. I do indeed thank you. Being a trapped

dragon was about as terrible a thing as there could be.

How come youre not breathing fire and smoke? said Francis. Andyour color has changed. Your green is so bright.

That comes from being free. A dragon has got to be free you know.Otherwise the colors grow darker. And the fire and smoke come all the time,

instead of just when one needs them.

Look, ev

the land on the other side of sleep

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