24. Two Angry Parents

Hurriedly, Bodkin hid the Stone-That-Was-Encanzo’s-Heart in his pocket.

“QUICK! The Witches are coming!” cried Sychorax. “Encanzo can take all of you in the boat to safety! And—Oh, by mistletoe and all things dark, THE KINGWITCH!… As I thought, the Droods must have captured him!”

Sure enough, the ball of iron containing the Kingwitch came rolling out of the mouth of the cavern and halted as if waiting for something.

Hovering over the ball of iron was Squeezjoos.

In the terror of the moment of running away, they had forgotten about the little sprite, and this time he was too far away for Xar to grab him and put him in his pocket.

“Come here, Squeezjoos!” shouted Xar. But Squeezjoos did not seem to hear his old friend Xar. He had turned a very bright green indeed, and his eyes were a little feverish. “I iss with the Chiwgink…” chanted Squeezjoos. “I iss with the Chiwgink!”