Ch. 43.3 — After what seemed like hours, Janine heard the front door open and close. A white-bearded man leaned over and peered at her through his spectacles.
“Hello there, Janine.”
She blinked back her tears. “I’m so glad to see you, Mr. Dumfries.”
“Felix was very insistent. Seems this cat has developed a fondness for you. I wouldn’t want to deprive him of your company, now would I?”
“Of course not.”
“Grabberry vines, eh?” Mr. Dumfries knelt on the floor, took his mail pouch from his shoulder, and began to rummage inside. He pulled out a pair of scissors and beamed at her. “Given to me on my name day by the Fey. My old Ma thought it was a crazy gift to give to a baby who would grow up to be a postman.”
Careful not to touch the plant itself, Mr. Dumfries cut into the green vines. As soon as the metal scissors began to cut through the green flesh, they shriveled, snapped, and then fell harmless to the floor. Soon Janine was free. Mr. Dumfries carefully cleaned off the scissors and replaced them in his pouch. Then he carried her over to a chair in front of the fireplace and wrapped a blanket around her. Not long after, he had a cheery fire going.
Then Mr. Dumfries took a large metal bottle from his mail pouch. “This is called hot chocolate. Made from the beans of a cocoa plant that grows in a warm, far off country. Or so Felix tells me.”
Janine took a sip. “It’s delicious… and hot.” She drank some more. Warmth began to spread through her. When she could move, Janine hugged Mr. Dumfries. “Thank you so much for rescuing me. Thank you, Felix. This hot chocolate is amazing.”
The cat began to purr.
Janine noticed the donkey standing by the door, staring upward in mute terror. She went over and hugged him. “Bernie, it’s so nice to see you again.” The donkey kept his eyes on the dragon stature. “Don’t worry, he won’t hurt you.” Janine swallowed hard. Poor Jay. Poor Fritter. Her heart hurt for all the people and animals who were now only cold statues.
Felix snapped his front claws out and examined them. “I hate to interrupt, Princess, but you have a kingdom to save.”
Janine sighed. Felix was right. She was in charge now, and she had to think of a solution. “Felix, you’re the bravest, most talented cat I’ve ever known. Will you go to the castle, sneak around, see what’s happening, and report back to me?”
Felix put back his ears. “That would be very dangerous. What if I get caught?”
“I’ll make strawberry tarts for dessert.”
The cat vanished.
Janine led Mr. Dumfries into the kitchen, where they got the fire going again and began to peel vegetables for the stew. As they worked, they told each other everything that had happened.
“First we’ve got to get everyone unfrozen,” Janine said. “Do you know an antidote?”
“Can’t say that I do.” Mr. Dumfries gestured with the potato peeler to the door leading to the front hallway. “However, gnomes collect knowledge like squirrels collect nuts. I’ll finish the meal and make the tarts. You go take a look at Fritter’s records.”
Janine kissed the old man’s cheek. “You’re the best.” She dashed down the third corridor until she came to the small door that opened into Fritter’s room.
Carol Nicolas 