He passed out the whistles. The ogre, being typically stupid, blew his immediately. But there was no sound.

Startled, the ogre looked up. "Me blow, hear no."

"That's because you aren't far or wide yet," Murphy explained. "We are all standing close and narrow, which is out of range. Try it from far."

The ogre charged to the horizon, knocking down a stray tree accidentally. He blew again. This time the sound was piercing.

Soon the parties were organized and heading out in every direction. "Grundy will go with you, Chex," Murphy said. "You can act as liaison between the search parties, so that you will be the first to know if your foal is found. Grundy will help you by questioning any plants or creatures as needed. First I think you should question the plants in the vicinity of the abduction; they must have seen something."

"Yes!" Chex said, feeling foolish because she hadn't thought of that herself. Murphy was doing a great job!

Grundy scrambled up on her back. He was a tiny man, easy to carry even without lightening. He had been a real golem originally, made of rag and string and wood, but now he was a real man, though still the original size. One other thing had not changed: he still had a big mouth and made enemies with an ease that left others awestruck. Chex flicked herself, spread her wings, and took off. She was glad to have such an efficient search proceeding; if anything could find Che, this would.

"Where's Rapunzel?" she inquired as they flew north. For Grundy had finally found in her a woman to his taste—or maybe it was the other way around. Rapunzel could assume any size she wished, being descended from both human and elven stock, but preferred small. She was a lovely lady, with—oh, yes—magically long hair. Chex didn't envy her the chore of brushing it! Normally Grundy and Rapunzel were together.

"She's seeing about a new house," he said.

"Oh? I thought you were satisfied with that birdhouse you converted."

"I am. But she says it's too small."

"Too small? But you haven't changed, and she can be any size she wants."

Grundy shrugged. "I don't understand women. Do you?"

Chex laughed. "No!" But then she got a faint notion, and began to understand. The two of them might remain small, but if the family changed sizes...

She glided down to the glade. It had been her home for several years, because she hadn't wanted to risk having Che fall off the edge of a mountain before he was able to fly. Now it seemed alien, because it had turned out to be unsafe in another way. Whoever or whatever had kidnapped her foal—would it have been possible had Che lived in a mountain retreat? Just how smart had she been to avoid the mountain?

She trotted into the forest where Che had been lost. "Here," she said, coming to a halt at the place.

Grundy talked to the plants in the vicinity. Chex heard only a faint rustling, but in a moment he had his report. "There was an awful smell, as of pastry baking, and—"