“Ask the old woman” was all they would tell him. “The old woman will explain everything.”

“All right,” he said, when his hunger was sated. “Take me to this old woman, will you please?”

“We can’t take you,” said the boy. “You’ll have to go on your own. We can only show you the way.”

Justin walked through the forest, following the path the children had shown him. The trees were too thick here for him to spread his wings, which annoyed him, because the path was steep, and his legs were beginning to grow tired. He wanted to fly again. Where did this old woman live, anyway? A tree house, like the children? That didn’t seem likely. Maybe a cottage in some woody grove or beside a stream? Maybe even a cave. After all, he did seem to be climbing fairly high up the mountainside.

It turned out that all his guesses were wrong. The path turned a corner, and when he came out from between two trees he found himself at the edge of a large clearing, where there stood a huge, beautiful house.

The door was open. Even so, Justin knocked and called out.

No one answered.

Folding his wings against his back, he stepped through the door.

“Old woman?” he called.

He felt strange using the words instead of a name, but that was the only thing the children had called her.

“Old woman?”

“Up here!” called a voice. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Justin climbed the stairs, flight after flight of them, going far higher than the house had looked from the outside. At each level he called, “Old woman?” And at each level the voice replied, “Up here! I’m waiting for you!”

At last the stairs ended. Before him was a silver door. He put his hand against it, and it swung open.

“Come in,” said the old woman.

She was sitting before a blue fire, which cast not heat, but a pleasant coolness into the room. Her hair was white as cloud, her eyes blue as sky. A slight breeze seemed to play about the hem of her long dress.

“Come closer,” she said, beckoning to him.

He did as she said.

She smiled. “I’m glad you’re here. Do you like your wings?”

Justin reached back to touch one. “They’re the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me,” he said softly.

The old woman nodded. “I’m glad. It’s not easy getting them out there, you know. I can’t do nearly as many as I would like.”

“Who are you?” asked Justin.

She shrugged. “Just an old woman with time on her hands, trying to do a little good. Now listen carefully, for I have to tell you what happens next. The wings will only last for one more day. However, that will be long enough for you to fly home, if you should wish.”

Justin snorted. “Why would I want to—”