The wolves jump forward and Rose grabs hold of the rope and hurls herself out of the window. Hati pushes the snarling wolves aside and jumps onto the window frame. Then she climbs down after Rose. The wolves fight to follow her, but the window must be too high for them to contemplate jumping. Whining with frustration, they dash past me and back onto the deck.

I run to the window. I’ve got to get to Rose before the wolves find a way off the boat.

I slip and slide down the rope. The fog has almost gone and I can see Rose running across the ice with Win at her side. Hati is following them, but she’s not running. She strides along, hands shoved in her pockets. She knows her wolves are coming.

I jump onto the ice as the wolves rush around the side of the Alisha. They’re barking, loving the chase. I’m about to run when I see something in the distance. Crowky is running toward us. I can’t see the rest of the scarecrow army—they must have been left behind—but the Box is clutched in his hands. There are no shining letters, but I know that will change when he reaches us.

I hear a scream and turn to see the wolves closing in on Rose and Win.

“Rose, I’m coming!” I shout, as a huge gray wolf separates from the rest of the pack and leaps at her, paws outstretched. It lands on Rose’s back, slamming her down on the ice. Then Rose and Win disappear in a knot of wolves.

I run forward. I can’t see what’s happening, but Hati is clearly enjoying herself. She’s watching with a smile on her face. When I skid to a halt I see that Win is fighting like mad, but Rose is curled in a ball.

“Get up, Rose,” I shout. “GET UP!” Then I wade into the mass of wolves, grabbing hold of their fur and trying to pull them off.

With one whistle from Hati, two of the wolves spin around, knock me down, and pin me to the ice. I twist and turn, trying to escape, but they are so heavy I can barely move. Rose wraps herself into an even tighter ball.

A thud comes from underneath me. Mitch is smashing against the ice with her fists and tail. She looks furious, and as she pounds the ice again and again her hair tangles around her face and arms.

Hati walks over to Rose and the wolves fall back. They watch, jaws quivering, as Hati decides what to do next.

With a smash Mitch breaks through the ice. She pulls herself through the hole, taking huge gasping breaths, then she spins around, using her tail to smack the wolves off me. They skitter backward and Mitch and I lunge toward Rose.