16/02/2026 23:07

---

As Orlando and Fredericks watched in stupefaction, two hands grabbed the edge of the shelfwhere the pirate captain had stood, then a dark shape pulled itself up and onto the shelf, facingthem. Ah! This must be the Dorothy, and its . He barely felt Fredericks pulling the Pithlit-robe over him like a blanket beforesleep dragged him down. Our hosts, we learned soon, were called the Middle Air People, a decorative rather thanterritorial description, since

One of the eyes on its masklike face was fixed open as if in surprise;the other gleamed with sharp and cynical interest. She was beginning to shiver. Giving him air will not--or I would give you something useful to do with that open mouth. After all, evenbruised and terrified and confused, she was a better flier than he was.