#C4 ,! ,>RIVAL ,( ,! ,WIZ>D

  ,! DOORWAY (! GLASS PALACE 0 Q BIG 5
=! HORSE & BU7Y 65T]1 S ,ZEB DROVE
/RAI<T "? X &! *N F.D !MVS 9 A L(TY HALL
T 0 V B1UTI;L4 ,! P AT ONCE FOLL[$ & =M$
A CIRCLE >.D ! SIDES (! SPACI\S ROOM1
L1V+ ! HORSE & BU7Y &! MAN )! /> 6O3UPY
! C5T] (! HALL4
  8,-E 6U1 OH1 ,GWIG60 CALL$ ! MAN1 9 A
L\D VOICE4
  ,9/ANTLY A CL\D ( SMOKE APPE>$ & ROLL$
OV] ! FLOOR2 !N X SL[LY SPR1D & ASC5D$
96! DOME1 4CLOS+ A /RANGE P]SONAGE S1T$
^U A GLASS ?R"O J 2F ,JIM'S NOSE4 ,HE 0
=M$ J Z 7 ! O!R 9HABITANTS ( ? L& & 8
CLO?+ ONLY DI6]$ F _!S 9 2+ B"R YELL[4
,B HE _H NO HAIR AT ALL1 & ALL OV] 8
BALD H1D & FACE & ^U ! BACKS ( 8 H&S
GREW %>P ?ORNS L ^? F.D ON ! BRAN*ES (
ROSE-BU%ES4 ,"! 0 EV5 A ?ORN ^U ! TIP (
8 NOSE & HE LOOK$ S FUNNY T ,DORO?Y
LAU<$ :5 %E SAW HM4
  ,! ,SORC]]1 HE>+ ! LAU<1 LOOK$ T[>D !
LL GIRL ) COLD1 CRUEL EYES1 & 8 GL.E
MADE H] GR[ SOB] 9 AN 9/ANT4          #B
  8,:Y H Y D>$ 69TRUDE YR UNWELCOME
P]SONS 96! SECLUD$ ,L& (! ,MANGABOOS80
HE ASK$1 /]NLY4
  8',CAUSE WE CDN'T HELP X10 SD ,DORO?Y4
  8,:Y DID Y WICK$LY & VICI\SLY S5D !
,RA9 ( ,/"OS 6CRACK & BR1K \R H\SES80 HE
3T9U$4
  8,WE DIDN'T10 DCLD ! GIRL4
  8,PROVE X60 CRI$ ! ,SORC]]4
  8,WE DON'T H 6PROVE X10 ANSW]$
,DORO?Y1 9DIGNANTLY4 8,IF Y _H ANY S5SE
AT ALL Y'D "KN X 0 ! E>?QUAKE40
  8,WE ONLY "K T YE/]"D CAME A ,RA9 (
,/"OS ^U U1 : DID M* DAMAGE & 9JUR$ "S (
\R P4 ,TD CAME ANO!R ,RA9 ( ,/"OS1 &
SOON AF X Y APPE>$ AM;G U40
  8,0! WAY10 SD ! MAN )! />1 LOOK+
/1DILY AT ! ,SORC]]1 8Y TOLD U YE/]"D T
"! WD N 2 A SECOND ,RA9 ( ,/"OS4 ,YET "O
HAS J O3URR$ T 0 EV5 WORSE ?AN ! F/4
,:AT IS YR SORC]Y GD = IF X _C TELL U !
TRU?80
  8,MY SORC]Y DOES TELL ! TRU?60 DCLD !
?ORN-COV]$ MAN4 8,I SD "! WD 2 B "O ,RA9
( ,/"OS4 ,? SECOND "O 0 A ,RA9 (      #C
,P-&-,HORSE-&-,BU7Y4 ,& "S /"OS CAME )
!M40
  8,W "! 2 ANY M ,RA9S80 ASK$ ! MAN )!
/>4
  8,NO1 MY ,PR9CE40
  8,NEI /"OS NOR P80
  8,NO1 MY ,PR9CE40
  8,>E Y SURE80
  8,Q SURE1 MY ,PR9CE4 ,MY SORC]Y TELLS
ME S40
  ,J !N A MAN CAME RUNN+ 96! HALL &
A4RESS$ ! ,PR9CE AF MAK+ A L[ B[4
  8,M WOND]S 9 ! AIR1 MY ,"L10 SD HE4
  ,IMMLY ! ,PR9CE & ALL ( 8 P FLOCK$ \
(! HALL 96! /REET1 T !Y MI<T SEE :AT 0
AB 6HAPP54 ,DORO?Y & ,ZEB JUMP$ \ (!
BU7Y & RAN AF !M1 B ! ,SORC]] REMA9$
CALMLY 9 8 ?R"O4
  ,F> UP 9 ! AIR 0 AN OBJECT T LOOK$ L A
BALLOON4 ,X 0 N S HI< Z ! GL[+ /> (! SIX
COLOR$ SUNS1 B 0 DESC5D+ SL[LY "? ! AIR
--S SL[LY T AT F/ X SC>CELY SEEM$ 6MOVE4
  ,! ?R;G /OOD / & WAIT$4 ,X 0 ALL !Y CD
D1 = 6G AWAY & L1VE T /RANGE SI<T 0
IMPOSSI#2 NOR CD !Y HURRY XS FALL 9   #D
ANY WAY4 ,! E>? *N 7 N NOTIC$1 2+ S NE>
! AV]AGE SIZE (! ,MANGABOOS1 &! HORSE _H
REMA9$ 9 ! ,H\SE (! ,SORC]]1 ) ,EUREKA
CURL$ UP ASLEEP ON ! S1T (! BU7Y4
  ,GRADU,Y ! BALLOON GREW BI7]1 : 0 PRO(
T X 0 SETTL+ D[N ^U ! ,L& (! ,MANGABOOS4
,DORO?Y 0 SURPRIS$ 6F9D H[ PATI5T ! P
W]E1 = H] [N LL HE>T 0 B1T+ RAPIDLY )
EXCITE;T4 ,A BALLOON M1NT 6H] "S O!R
>RIVAL F ! SURFACE (! E>?1 & %E HOP$ X
WD 2 "S "O A# 6ASSI/ H] & ,ZEB \ ( _!
DI6ICULTIES4
  ,9 AN H\R ! BALLOON _H -E NE> 5 = H]
6SEE A BASKET SUSP5D$ 2L X2 9 TWO H\RS
%E CD SEE A H1D LOOK+ OV] ! SIDE (!
BASKET2 9 ?REE H\RS ! BIG BALLOON SETTL$
SL[LY 96! GRT SQU>E 9 : !Y /OOD & CAME
6RE/ ON ! GLASS PAVE;T4
  ,!N A LL MAN JUMP$ \ (! BASKET1 TOOK
(F 8 TALL HAT1 & B[$ V GRACE;LLY 6! CR[D
( ,MANGABOOS >.D HM4 ,HE 0 Q AN OLD LL
MAN & 8 H1D 0 L;G & 5TIRELY BALD4
  8,:Y10 CRI$ ,DORO?Y1 9 AMAZE;T1 8X'S
,OZ60
  ,! LL MAN LOOK$ T[>D H] & SEEM$ Z   #E
M* SURPRIS$ Z %E WAS4 ,B HE SMIL$ & B[$
Z HE ANSW]$3
  8,YES1 MY DE>2 ,I AM ,OZ1 ! ,GRT &
,T]RI#4 ,EH8 ,& Y >E LL ,DORO?Y1 F
,KANSAS4 ,I REMEMB] Y V WELL40
  8,:O DID Y SAY X WAS80 :ISP]$ ,ZEB 6!
GIRL4
  8,X'S ! WOND];L ,WIZ>D ( ,OZ4 ,HAV5'T
Y HE>D ( HM80
  ,J !N ! MAN )! /> CAME & /OOD 2F !
,WIZ>D4
  8,SIR10 SD HE1 8:Y >E Y "H1 9 ! ,L& (!
,MANGABOOS80
  8,DIDN'T "K :AT L& X WAS1 MY SON10
RETURN$ ! O!R1 )A PL1SANT SMILE2 8&1 6BE
H"O/1 ,I DIDN'T M1N 6VISIT Y :5 ,I />T$
\4 ,I LIVE ON TOP (! E>?1 YR HONOR1 : IS
F> BETT] ?AN LIV+ 9SIDE X2 B YE/]"D ,I
W5T UP 9 A BALLOON1 & :5 ,I CAME D[N ,I
FELL 96A BIG CRACK 9 ! E>?1 CAUS$ 0AN
E>?QUAKE4 ,I _H LET S M* GAS \ ( MY
BALLOON T ,I CD N RISE AG1 & 9 A FEW
M9UTES ! E>? CLOS$ OV] MY H1D4 ,S ,I
3T9U$ 6DESC5D UNTIL ,I R1*$ ? PLACE1 &
IF Y W %[ ME A WAY 6GET \ ( X1        #F
,I'LL G ) PL1SURE4 ,SORRY 6H TR\#D Y2 B
X CDN'T 2 HELP$40
  ,! ,PR9CE _H LI/5$ ) ATT5;N4 ,SD HE3
  8,? *1 :O IS F ! CRU/ (! E>?1 L YRF1
CALL$ Y A ,WIZ>D4 ,IS N A ,WIZ>D "S?+ L
A ,SORC]]80
  8,X'S BETT]10 REPLI$ ,OZ1 PROMPTLY4
8,"O ,WIZ>D IS WOR?
?REE ,SORC]]S40
  8,AH1 Y % PROVE T10 SD ! ,PR9CE4 8,WE
,MANGABOOS H1 AT ! PRES5T "T1 "O (! MO/
WOND];L ,SORC]]S T "E 0 PICK$ F A BU%2 B
HE "S"TS MAKES MISTAKES4 ,D Y "E MAKE
MISTAKES80
  8,N"E60 DCLD ! ,WIZ>D1 BOLDLY4
  8,OH1 ,OZ60 SD ,DORO?Y2 8Y MADE A LOT
( MISTAKES :5 Y 7 9 ! M>VEL\S ,L& (
,OZ40
  8,NONS5SE60 SD ! LL MAN1 TURN+ R$--AL?
J !N A RAY ( VIOLET SUNLI<T 0 ON 8 R.D
FACE4
  8,-E ) ME10 SD ! ,PR9CE 6HM4 8,I WI%
6MEET \R ,SORC]]40
  ,! ,WIZ>D DID N L ? 9VIT,N1 B HE CD N
REFUSE 6A3EPT X4 ,S HE FOLL[$ !       #G
,PR9CE 96! GRT DOM$ HALL1 & ,DORO?Y &
,ZEB CAME AF !M1 :ILE ! ?R;G ( P TROOP$
9 AL4
  ,"! SAT ! ?ORNY ,SORC]] 9 8 *AIR (
/ATE1 & :5 !
,WIZ>D SAW HM HE 2GAN 6LAU<1 UTT]+ -ICAL
LL *UCKLES4
  8,:AT AN ABSURD CR1TURE60 HE EXCLAIM$4
  8,HE MAY LOOK ABSURD10 SD ! ,PR9CE1 9
8 QUIET VOICE2 8B HE IS AN EXCELL5T
,SORC]]4 ,! ONLY FAULT ,I F9D ) HM IS T
HE IS S (T5 WR;G40
  8,I AM N"E WR;G10 ANSW]$ ! ,SORC]]4
  8,ONLY A %ORT "T AGO Y TOLD ME "! WD 2
NO M ,RA9 ( ,/"OS OR ( ,P10 SD ! ,PR9CE4
  8,WELL1 :AT !N80
  8,"H IS ANO!R P]SON DESC5D$ F ! AIR
6PROVE Y 7 WR;G40
  8,"O P]SON _C 2 CALL$ ,8P10'0 SD !
,SORC]]4 8,IF TWO %D -E \ (! SKY Y MI<T
) JU/ICE SAY ,I 0 WR;G2 B UN.S M ?AN ?
"O APPE>S ,I W HOLD T ,I 0 "R40
  8,V CL"E10 SD ! ,WIZ>D1 NO4+ 8 H1D Z
IF PL1S$4 8,I AM DELI<T$ 6F9D HUMBUGS
9SIDE ! E>?1 J ! SAME Z ON TOP ( X4   #H
,7 Y "E )A CIRCUS1 BRO!R80
  8,NO10 SD ! ,SORC]]4
  8,Y "\ 6JO9 "O10 DCLD ! LL MAN
S]I\SLY4 8,I 2L;G 6,BAILUM & ,B>NEY'S
,GRT ,3SOLIDAT$ ,%[S--?REE R+S 9 "O T5T
&A M5AG]IE ON ! SIDE4 ,X'S A F9E
A7REG,N1 ,I ASSURE Y40
  8,:AT D Y D80 ASK$ ! ,SORC]]4
  8,I G UP 9 A BALLOON1 USU,Y1 6DRAW !
CR[DS 6! CIRCUS4 ,B ,I'VE J _H ! BAD
LUCK 6-E \ (! SKY1 SKIP ! SOLID E>?1 &
L& L[] D[N ?AN ,I 9T5D$4 ,B N"E M9D4 ,X
ISN'T "EYBODY :O GETS A *.E 6SEE YR ,L&
(! ,GABAZOOS40
  8,MANGABOOS10 SD ! ,SORC]]1 CORRECT+
HM4 8,IF Y >E A ,WIZ>D Y "\ 6BE A# 6CALL
P 0_! "R "NS40
  8,OH1 ,I'M A ,WIZ>D2 Y MAY 2 SURE ( T4
,J Z GD A ,WIZ>D Z Y >E A ,SORC]]40
  8,T REMA9S 6BE SE510 SD ! O!R4
  8,IF Y >E A# 6PROVE T Y >E BETT]10 SD
! ,PR9CE 6! LL MAN1 8,I W MAKE Y ! ,*IEF
,WIZ>D ( ? DOMA94 ,O!RWISE--0
  8,:AT W HAPP5 O!RWISE80 ASK$ ! ,WIZ>D4
  8,I W /OP Y F LIV+ & =BID Y 6BE     #I
PLANT$10 RETURN$ ! ,PR9CE4
  8,T DOES N S.D ESPECI,Y PL1SANT10 SD !
LL MAN1 LOOK+ AT ! "O )! /> UNEASILY4
8,B N"E M9D4 ,I'LL B1T ,OLD ,PRICKLY1
ALL "R40
  8,MY "N IS ,GWIG10 SD ! ,SORC]]1 TURN+
8 HE>T.S1 CRUEL EYES ^U 8 RIVAL4 8,LET
ME SEE Y EQUAL ! SORC]Y ,I AM AB 6P]=M40
  ,HE WAV$ A ?ORNY H& & AT ONCE ! T9KL+
( BELLS 0 HE>D1 PLAY+ SWEET MUSIC4 ,YET1
LOOK ": %E WD1 ,DORO?Y CD 4COV] NO BELLS
AT ALL 9 ! GRT GLASS HALL4
  ,! ,MANGABOO P LI/5$1 B %[$ NO GRT
9T]E/4 ,X 0 "O (! ?+S ,GWIG USU,Y DID
6PROVE HE 0 A SORC]]4
  ,N[ 0 ! ,WIZ>D'S TURN1 S HE SMIL$ ^U !
ASSEMBLAGE & ASK$3
  8,W "SBODY K9DLY LOAN ME A HAT80
  ,NO "O DID1 2C ! ,MANGABOOS DID N WE>
HATS1 & ,ZEB _H LO/ HIS1 "SH[1 9 8 FLI<T
"? ! AIR4
  8,AHEM60 SD ! ,WIZ>D1 8W "SBODY PL1SE
LOAN ME A H&K]*IEF80
  ,B !Y _H NO H&K]*IEFS1 EI4
  8,V GD10 REM>K$ ! ,WIZ>D4 8,I'LL   #AJ
USE MY [N HAT1 IF Y PL1SE4 ,N[1 GD P1
OBS]VE ME C>E;LLY4 ,Y SEE1 "! IS NO?+ UP
MY SLEEVE & NO?+ 3C1L$ AB MY P]SON4 ,AL1
MY HAT IS Q EMPTY40 ,HE TOOK (F 8 HAT &
HELD X UPSIDE D[N1 %AK+ X BRISKLY4
  8,LET ME SEE X10 SD ! ,SORC]]4
  ,HE TOOK ! HAT & EXAM9$ X C>E;LLY1
RETURN+ X AFW 6! ,WIZ>D4
  8,N[10 SD ! LL MAN1 8,I W CR1TE "S?+ \
( NO?+40
  ,HE PLAC$ ! HAT ^U ! GLASS FLOOR1 MADE
A PASS ) 8 H&1 & !N REMOV$ ! HAT1 4PLAY+
A LL :ITE PIGLET NO BI7] ?AN A M\SE1 :
2GAN 6RUN >.D "H & "! & 6GRUNT & SQU1L 9
A T9Y1 %RILL VOICE4
,! P WAT*$ X 9T5TLY1 = !Y _H N"E SE5 A
PIG 2F1 BIG OR LL4 ,! ,WIZ>D R1*$ \1
CAU<T ! WEE CR1TURE 9 8 H&1 & HOLD+ XS
H1D 2T "O ?UMB & F+] & XS TAIL 2T ! O!R
?UMB & F+] HE PULL$ X A"P1 EA* (! TWO
"PS 2COM+ A :OLE & SEP>ATE PIGLET 9 AN
9/ANT4
  ,HE PLAC$ "O ^U ! FLOOR1 S T X CD RUN
>.D1 & PULL$ A"P ! O!R1 MAK+ ?REE
PIGLETS 9 ALL2 & !N "O ( ^! 0        #AA
PULL$ A"P1 MAK+ F\R PIGLETS4 ,! ,WIZ>D
3T9U$ ? SURPRIS+ P]=M.E UNTIL N9E T9Y
PIGLETS 7 RUNN+ AB AT 8 FEET1 ALL SQU1L+
& GRUNT+ 9 A V -ICAL WAY4
  8,N[10 SD ! ,WIZ>D ( ,OZ1 8HAV+ CR1T$
"S?+ F NO?+1 ,I W MAKE "S?+ NO?+ AG40
  ,) ? HE CAU<T UP TWO (! PIGLETS & PU%$
!M TGR1 S T ! TWO 7 "O4 ,!N HE CAU<T UP
ANO!R PIGLET & PU%$ X 96! F/1 ": X
4APPE>$4 ,& S1 "O 0"O1 ! N9E T9Y PIGLETS
7 PU%$ TGR UNTIL B A S+LE "O (! CR1TURES
REMA9$4 ,? ! ,WIZ>D PLAC$ "UN1? 8 HAT &
MADE A MY/IC SIGN ABV X4 ,:5 HE REMOV$ 8
HAT ! LA/ PIGLET _H 4APPE>$ 5TIRELY4
  ,! LL MAN GAVE A B[ 6! SIL5T ?R;G T _H
WAT*$ HM1 & !N ! ,PR9CE SD1 9 8 COLD1
CALM VOICE3
  8,Y >E 9DE$ A WOND];L ,WIZ>D1 & YR
P[]S >E GRT] ?AN ^? ( MY ,SORC]]40
  8,HE W N 2 A WOND];L ,WIZ>D L;G10
REM>K$ ,GWIG4
  8,:Y N80 5QUIR$ ! ,WIZ>D4
  8,2C ,I AM GO+ 6/OP YR BR1?10 0 !
REPLY4 8,I P]CV T Y >E CURI\SLY 3/RUCT$1
& T IF Y _C BR1! Y _C KEEP ALIVE40   #AB
  ,! LL MAN LOOK$ TR\#D4
  8,H[ L;G W X TAKE Y 6/OP MY BR1?80 HE
ASK$4
  8,AB FIVE M9UTES4 ,I'M GO+ 62G9 N[4
,WAT* ME C>E;LLY40
  ,HE 2GAN MAK+ QUE] SIGNS & PASSES T[>D
! ,WIZ>D2 B ! LL MAN DID N WAT* HM L;G4
,9/1D1 HE DREW A L1!RN CASE F 8 POCKET &
TOOK F X S"EAL %>P KNIVES1 : HE JO9$
TGR1 "O AF ANO!R1 UNTIL !Y MADE A L;G
SWORD4 ,0! "T HE _H ATTA*$ A H&LE 6?
SWORD HE 0 HAV+ M* TR\# 6BR1!1 Z ! *>M
(! ,SORC]] 0 2G9N+ 6TAKE E6ECT4
  ,S ! ,WIZ>D LO/ NO M "T1 B L1P+ =W>D
HE RAIS$ ! %>P SWORD1 :IRL$ X ONCE OR
TWICE >.D 8 H1D1 & !N GAVE A MI<TY /ROKE
T CUT ! BODY (! ,SORC]] EXACTLY 9 TWO4
  ,DORO?Y SCR1M$ & EXPECT$ 6SEE A T]RI#
SI<T2 B Z ! TWO HALVES (! ,SORC]] FELL
A"P ON ! FLOOR %E SAW T HE _H NO B"OS OR
BLOOD 9SIDE ( HM AT ALL1 & T ! PLACE ":
HE 0 CUT LOOK$ M* L A SLIC$ TURNIP OR
POTATO4
  8,:Y1 HE'S VEGETA#60 CRI$ ! ,WIZ>D1
A/ONI%$4                             #AC
  8,( C\RSE10 SD ! ,PR9CE4 8,WE >E ALL
VEGETA#1 9 ? C.TRY4 ,>E Y N VEGETA#1
AL80
  8,NO10 ANSW]$ ! ,WIZ>D4 8,P ON TOP (!
E>? >E ALL M1T4 ,W YR ,SORC]] DIE80
  8,C]TA9LY1 SIR4 ,HE IS RE,Y D1D N[1 &
W )] V QKLY4 ,S WE M/ PLANT HM AT ONCE1
T O!R ,SORC]]S MAY GR[ ^U 8 BU%10 3T9U$
! ,PR9CE4
  8,:AT D Y M1N 0T80 ASK$ ! LL ,WIZ>D1
GRTLY PUZZL$4
  8,IF Y W A3OMPANY ME 6\R PUBLIC
G>D5S10 REPLI$ ! ,PR9CE1 8,I W EXPLA9 6Y
M* BETT] ?AN ,I C "H ! MY/]IES ( \R
,VEGETA# ,K+DOM40