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Show 128 "I hate him!" both twins screamed together. Gast grabbed each twin by the hair and shoved their heads together, jaw to jaw, as the brother writhed and kicked. "We will have no more fighting," he said, staring into the eyes of first one and then the other. "You are my officers and I need your services more today than I ever did. Do you hear me! You will stop this quarreling at once!" The twins went limp under Gast's stare and then began to whimper. Slowly, Gast released his hold on them and they fell into each other's arms, their tears mingling with the blood on their faces. "I don't know why I did it...," Dietrich wept. "I don't know either," Damien cried, "it's just that I am so weary. Six nights without sleeping...." "Tomorrow you will all be much happier," Gast promised, his voice soothing. "Now let us begin to dance, it is time." Just before he raised his flute to play he murmured to me, "Keep an eye on them. We want no energy wasted in fighting. We have a long way to go." Gast was dressed in his fine colorful clothes, looking healthy and strong in contrast to the ghostly, worn children who straggled behind him. Hilde held onto the hem of Gast's cloak as though that was the only way she could stay on her feet. I'd hardly seen her for the past two days and I was horrified at her wasted appearance. She tried to dance in time to the music, but her feet seemed too heavy to lift and her face appeared numbed. None of the children looked much better - some of the smallest ones had to be held up by their older sisters and brothers. For once, Maria Gruelhot had left the baby behind, but she cradled her arms as though she were holding it. |