Ch9-Skunks or Weasels

CHAPTER NINE Skunks or Weasels? "Augusta!" whispered Jack. "She's—she's tiny!" "They must have shrunk her!" whispered Annie. "Hide!" whispered Jack. He crawled away from the door. Annie crawled after him. They pressed their backs against the grassy mound. "Why are we hiding?" asked Annie.

"We can't let them see us!" said Jack. "They might shrink us, too!" "But how are we going to save Augusta?" asked Annie. "I don't know," said Jack. "Hey, I just remembered something," said Annie. "Didn't Mary say the girl in her story would have become small if she'd gone inside the hollow hill?" "Yeah, she did," said Jack. "So maybe that means you can only get shrunk if you go inside." "Right," said Annie. "So let's go back to the doorway and call from outside. We'll be simple, direct, honest, and very polite, like Willy said.

We'll tell the king and queen we've come to take our friend back to her family." "But wait a minute," said Jack. "How can she go back to normal life with her family if she's only eight inches tall?" "Good point," said Annie. "This is so weird," said Jack. "Let's worry about her size later," said Annie. "For now, we just have to help her escape." "Right," said Jack. "Let's try it." Jack and Annie crawled back to the entrance of the hollow hill and peeked inside. In the pale-green light, a very small Augusta stood watching the dancers.

"Excuse us, please!" Annie called. The drumming stopped. The dancers froze. All eyes turned to Jack and Annie. The High King and High Queen looked startled. "Who are you?" the king called. "How did you find us?" "That's not important!" said Annie. "We are very sorry to bother you! But we've come to get our very dear friend Augusta! We have to take her home to her very loving family!" "Please! Thank you!" added Jack, trying to sound polite. Before the king or queen could speak, Augusta rushed forward. "No! I don't want to go home!"

she screamed in a high little voice. "I don't want to leave the Shee!" "Whoa," said Jack. That was a surprise. Maybe Augusta was under a spell! "Leave here at once!" the High King commanded Jack and Annie in a squeaky voice. "You were not invited! You have no business here!" "Yes, we are leaving right away. But Augusta has to come with us!" Annie called. "Thank you!" "She's right!" said Jack. "Augusta has to come with us, please. Thank you!" "No! I want to stay here!" said Augusta. "I'm not good for anything at home! Mary was right, I'm not happy there!"

Jack was amazed—Augusta wasn't under a spell. She really wanted to stay with the Shee! "The girl will stay with us!" the High King shouted. "Go, now! Now!" "No way!" Jack blurted out. "We won't leave without Augusta!" The crowd gasped. "What?" roared the High King. "Sorry, sorry," said Jack. "I meant—" "You will pay for this rudeness!" the king yelled. Before Jack and Annie could get away, the king thrust out his arm. Sparks flew from the tips of his