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Show The elderly Leland raised his eyebrows and nodded his head once. "Hmmmmmm," he said, and continued picking up cookies and piling them on the plate. Children among the group were helping two of the mothers pick up chairs and dishes. Sitchka, the whilst, had gotten a cup of iced greenberry tea and brought it back to Dr'Anya. "Drinkest thou this," she said firmly. She placed one hand on Dr'Anya's shoulder. "Marry,- and what a murrain that such a thing should happen on Janni's birthday!" "By the Saints," said Leland, hoisting himself up from his stooping position and placing a towering pile of cookies on the table. "Where is the child?" He looked around, frowning. "She be in the Hall!" cried one of the children. "Let us to the Hall and bring her out!" Three girls detached themselves from a group picking up Jack Apples and bolted across the terrace and into the scullery. "And where," said Sitchka, "is that devil's creation, Armand?" Her face settled into a sour frown. Dr'Anya sipping from the cup of greenberry juice, looked up at Sitchka helplessly. "Armand," she said faintly, "is i n . . . t h e fruit cellar." "What sayest thou?" asked Sitchka, leaning over Dr'Anya. "Aye, and the BauerBird, as well," Dr'Anya continued, full befuddled by then. "Plays he on the FoxChuck's exercise wheel all the livelong day..." "The BauerBird...?" asked Sitchka puzzled. Just at that moment, a loud cry drifted out from the Hall and the three children erupted, terrified, from the scullery door. "Merchant 233 |