“I understand more than I let on,” the gnome said. “Follow me. Don’t stomp nothing.”
The gnome led them on a route past long rows of carrots, towering cornstalks, and winding grapevines. They roamed far from the path, pushing past oversized leaves, occasionally catching glimpses of other gnomes. Kendra noticed a huge striped cat watching them with interest from a distance. A leaner brown cat prowled their way, then retreated as if bitten. Kendra assumed it was reacting to her scent.
The gnome guided them onto a brick path that led to the back of the manor house. White wooden stairs accessed the back porch, each step a little taller than Kendra.
“The back door’s got a portal for cats,” the gnome said. “You should be able to wriggle through.”
“Thanks,” Kendra said. “What’s your name?”
“Oh no you don’t,” the gnome said. “My name is my business, thank you very much.” He gestured at the house. “Off to your doom.”
“The trellis will be easier than the stairs,” Warren said, indicating the flourishing grapevines along the perimeter of the porch.
Warren started up first. Kendra found the climbing fairly easy—the gaps in the trellis were not too big, and the grapevines added extra handholds. Warren helped her onto the porch, where she found a white wooden swing suspended by chains, dangling out of reach. The foursome gathered at the back door near a rectangular opening covered by a cloth.
“The old cat-door routine,” Warren said.
“Have you done this before?” Tanu asked.
“Not on this scale,” Warren said. “Usually the trick is getting your shoulders through.”
“The gnome got eager when I asked him to bring us here,” Kendra said. “I’m pretty sure he thinks we’re goners.”
Vanessa jogged away from the door and peered off the porch. “He is watching us expectantly.” She gave a little wave.
“I’ll go in first,” Warren said, holding up the gummy potion. “How much time do we have left?”
Tanu checked his wristwatch. “Just under eighty minutes.”
Warren shoved through the cloth. Kendra pushed in next. They entered an enormous kitchen with a cold tile floor. Kendra felt horribly exposed on the empty expanse. Vanessa led a dash to take modest cover behind a table leg.
“This place is gigantic,” Tanu whispered, panting slightly. “Where do we start?”
“Should we split up?” Warren asked.
“Only if somebody else ingests the repellent scent,” Tanu said. “A cat door means cats could be inside. And who knows what else?”
“What’s that box by the other table leg?” Kendra asked, pointing. The metal crate looked big enough to accommodate a human or two if they crouched.
“Let’s find out,” Warren said, leading the charge.
They reached the crate and ducked to peek inside. A raw steak sat on a tin plate.
“It’s a trap,” Tanu said. “This hatch at the front of the crate is rigged to slam shut.”
“If they had cooked the bait, I might be tempted,” Warren said, rubbing his belly.
Kendra heard growling, and she turned to find a pack of five wolves approaching from over by the pantry. They were not giant wolves, but regular-sized wolves were enough to make Kendra freeze. The intent canines showed teeth and hunkered low as they approached, but they stopped advancing about twenty yards away.
“The smell works to repel wolves?” Kendra asked.
“Yes,” Tanu said. “Can’t you tell they want to come closer?”
“The box might be a wolf trap,” Warren guessed.
“Right now they seem hungry for us,” Vanessa said. “Or maybe they’re being territorial.”
“Out!” called a rich soprano voice from high above. A giant woman padded into the kitchen, making the tiles tremble. She had gray, curly hair and wore a long housecoat and furry slippers. “Shoo! Out you go!”
The wolves began to whine and yelp as she used a broom to sweep them toward the door. Compared to the woman, the wolf pack seemed like mice or rats. Her efficient strokes forced them to the doorway and redirected any wolf that tried to make a break for it. She opened the door and whisked the whining pack outside.
“And stay out,” the woman said, nudging the door closed with her hip.
Kendra and her companions crouched low behind the wolf trap and the table leg. As the woman approached the table, only her bottom half remained in view, including the spidery veins on her legs above her slippers.
“I suppose you four think you’re hiding from me,” the giant scolded. “Enough nonsense. Come out from under the table.”
Warren held a finger to his lips. Kendra stopped breathing.
“Don’t make me move the table,” the giant woman warned. “I’ll be much more cross if you treat me like a fool. I know you’re there. I know you hear me. Come out. All four of you. I will count to five.” She reversed her broom and tapped the handle on the floor. “One.” She tapped it again. “Two.”
Vanessa gave a nod. Tanu shrugged.
Another tap. “Three.”
Kendra and her friends raced out from under the cover of the table. The farther they ran, the more of the giant came into view.
Tap. “Four.” Tap. “Ah, just in time.”
Warren, Vanessa, Tanu, and Kendra slowed as the giant’s face came into sight. In one hand she held the broom. In the other she clutched a bucket.
“Enter my private abode uninvited, will you?” the woman asked.
Flipping the bucket upside down, she crouched and used it to cover Kendra and her friends, shutting out almost all light. Vanessa placed a reassuring hand on Kendra’s shoulder.
“I’ll get to the bottom of this in no time,” the giant said, her voice somewhat muffled by the bucket. “Or my name isn’t Madam Ladonna.”
Seth and Virgil approached one of the smallish stone buildings situated in Arena Plaza Park. Each of the four buildings had a line of people that would pack the available space well beyond capacity.
“This must lead underground,” Seth said.
“You’re about to find out,” Virgil said.
They reached the back of the nearest line. “Just tell me! I’m sure I guessed it.”
“Then you don’t need confirmation,” Virgil said.
“Why the mystery?” Seth asked.
“I want to give you the full
