Page 74 - Folio Only

Damiano stopped stamping and put his hands on his hips, thinking. So
much for surprise. What else, what else? Could I free the two lads and the
three of us attack him?

“Nothing?” said Kinderslüka.

“I'd like your eyes, please,” said Damiano. Oh no! Why did I say that?
Kinderslüka's right, I should have some weapons. I should just back out and
come back another day with Elder Damiano and a group of men with spears
and torches. Now that we know where the monster lives, we could --

“My eyes? What do you want with my eyes? You want me to be a blind
man for the rest of my life? What a cruel little child you are.”

“I want your eyes so your goats can't find us and you'll stop eating us.”

“My goats? I don't have any goats.”

“Yes, you do. You have two goats. One who sees everything, and one
which can travel anywhere. One's the Goat of the Winds, and the other is...I
forget his name, Goat of Foresight or something.”

“Goats. There are no goats here, little boy. Do you see goats?”

“Don't lie to me. I know you. You're Kinderslüka the Monster. You take
out your eyes and turn them into goats who pull a chariot.”

“Come now. When was the last time you ever heard of eyeballs turning
into goats? Does that ever happen in your village?”

Damiano felt his sense of urgency fading. “No, it doesn't.”

“Then why would it happen here?”

“Because you're a monster and that's how you --” It suddenly occurred
to Damiano what was happening. He was being lulled. Kinderslüka was

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