“Oakey-doakey! Let’s do it!” The cell narrowed toward the single door, leaving a space about four feet wide above the door where the walls closed in. Mucum leaned against one of the walls and lifted his right leg up, planting his foot firmly on the opposite wall. He tensed his leg muscles, hoping they could take the weight as he lifted up his right leg and planted his rubber-soled shoe firmly on the other side. Good. The wall was rough, gripping his sheepskin cote and preventing him from sliding back down. An inch at a time he crabbed his way upward until his bent body was balanced directly over the door frame. By now, his armpits and his back were damp with sweat and he could already feel the ache in his thighs.

“About now would be good, Shiv.”

“Now, what?” said Shiv, looking both evil and innocent.

“Oh, Diana help us. Now … please!” he said through gritted teeth.

“Oh goody!” said Shiv, opening her mouth impossibly wide and emitting a shriek that should have had Dendran mothers running to her aid from a ten-mile radius. There was a moment’s silence followed by the clump of boots.

“Remember your words!” whispered Mucum, feeling his body start to go numb.

The door grate slid open, revealing a single staring eye behind it. “Wot you screamin about, you little brat? Better be good, ‘cos you interrupted my kip!”

“He’s gone!” wailed Shiv with a convincing touch of terror in her voice.

Hidden above the door, Mucum smiled. Ark’s sister was a born actress.

“Gone? Who … where?” Alnus was taking a while to catch up.

“He was poorly and got thinner and thinner and thinner.” She paused for effect, then began wailing again.

Alnus slammed his hand against the door. What was it with children? “Can yer spell it out in simple Dendran?”

“Course I can!” Shiv sang. “He got so thin, he vanished. Just like that!” She threw up her arms to indicate the empty cell.

The single eye went wide as it roved around the empty space. Alnus got the message and did not like its contents. “Oh, that’s not good, that is. I’m in trouble now!” The key grated in the lock, and the door swung open. “Sure he’s not under the bed?”

Mucum wasn’t. There was no room and Alnus knew it. What he didn’t know was that the prisoner was about a foot above him, trying very hard not to breathe. A drop of sweat fell from his forehead and landed on the guard’s tunic. Instinctively, Alnus moved his hand up to his shoulder to feel the patch of wet.

Don’t look up! was the only thought in Mucum’s head. That, and hoping his legs wouldn’t unclamp themselves. If he fell, it would be straight into the welcoming arms of his jailor.