Leo went to Baines and tapped his arm. “He clinks,” Leo whispered. “Like metal. I think he’s solid gold.”

“Don’t worry, Leo,” Kat said. “I can break the spell later.” She paused and added in a low voice, “I hope.”

“What can we do about Miss Gumble?” Amelie said. “Is there a spell you can use to help her?”

Kat shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she said. “I think she’s too far gone.”

“Where’s Colin?” Leo said. “Has anyone seen Colin?”

“Not for a while,” Kat said. “Under the circumstances, between this storm and the wards and the changed Gumble, we all ought to stick together.”

“Willow?” Amelie called.

Willow appeared with a pop.

“Can you find Colin?” Amelie paused. “And maybe check in with Lark?”

Willow snorted. “She’s a flower. We’re a blob.”

“But you’re a lovely blob,” Amelie said. “Please?”

Willow sighed and said, “Only for you, Amelie,” and popped away.

Isaac returned to Secrets of the Vault, turning the pages, and then paused as he looked across the library at the other three, who were conferring about poor Miss Gumble.

Miss Gumble, who’d been transformed into a monster.

*   *   *

Isaac’s grandfather had talked about the making of monsters on one warm summer afternoon after the Nazis had arrived. The two of them sat on a bench in the tiny park before the Old-New Synagogue, shooing summer bugs and watching birds flit from tree to tree.

“You remember the story, Isaac, about the golem?” his grandfather had asked, staring into the distance with rheumy eyes.

Isaac nodded.

Isaac’s grandfather pointed to the topmost part of the Old-New Synagogue where the golem was rumored to be, albeit in pieces.

“The good Rabbi Loew who made his creature out of clay, eh? Would that Rabbi Loew were here today. With his creature, his golem alive, yes?” Isaac’s grandfather shook his head. “That would take care of them, those Nazis.”

“But wasn’t the golem a monster?” Isaac asked. “A creature without a soul?”

“Of course. But the rabbi kept it from becoming wicked because he created it to protect the people of our ghetto. Such a thing we surely need today.” Isaac’s grandfather sighed, then stood and rubbed his hands together.

“But, how did Rabbi Loew stop it from becoming wicked?”

“Ah. Interesting question, Isaac. Very thoughtful.” His grandfather scratched his chin. “I think the rabbi might have had to make a choice at some point, yes? To keep the monster at bay by breaking it was right in the end, even if that was hard. Because the right thing is not always the easiest.” His grandfather stretched. “But it’s time to find something to eat.” He took Isaac’s hand and leaned close. “I think a strudel.”

A few days later, alone in his rooms, while Isaac was at school, Isaac’s grandfather died suddenly and without a goodbye.

*   *   *