“Do, die,” said Chistery.
“Great,” said Irji. “So we can’t break the spell you’re under?”
“Oh, he’s only babbling,” Elphaba said from the doorway. “Look, I have visitors I didn’t even invite.”
“Oh hello, Auntie,” they said. They knew they shouldn’t be there. “He’s talking, sort of. He’s magicked.”
“He mostly just repeats what you say,” said Elphaba, moving closer. “So leave him alone. You’re not allowed here.”
They said, “Sorry,” and left. Back in the boys’ room, they fell on the mattress and roared until they wept, and couldn’t say what was so funny. Maybe it was the relief of having escaped without harm from the Witch’s rooms, even though they had no business there. The children decided they were no longer scared of Auntie Witch.
8
They were tired of being housebound, but finally it was raining out instead of snowing. They played hide-and-seek a lot, waiting for the rain to lift so they could go outside.
One morning, Nor was it. She kept finding Manek easily, because Liir always hid near him and gave him away. Manek lost his patience. “I always get caught, because you’re so hopeless. Why can’t you hide well?”
“I can’t hide in the well,” Liir said, misunderstanding.
“Oh yes you can,” Manek said, delighted.
The next round began, and Manek led Liir right down the basement steps. The basement was even damper than usual, with the groundwater seeping through the foundation stones. When they swiveled the lid off the fishwell, they could see the water level had risen. But it was still a good twelve or fourteen feet down.
“This’ll just be fine,” Manek said, “look, if we loop the rope over this hook, the bucket will hold steady enough for you to climb in it. Then when I let the crank out, the bucket will slowly slide down the side of the well. I’ll stop it before it gets to the water, don’t worry. Then I’ll put the lid on and Nor will look and look! She’ll never find you.”
Liir peered into the clammy shaft. “What if there are spiders?”
“Spiders hate water,” said Manek authoritatively. “Don’t worry about spiders.”
“Why don’t you do it?” said Liir.
“You’re not strong enough to lower me, that’s why,” said Manek patiently.
“Don’t hide far away,” said Liir. “Don’t let me down too far. Don’t push the cover on all the way, I don’t like the dark.”
“You’re always complaining,” Manek said, giving him a hand. “That’s why we don’t like you, you know.”
“Well, everybody’s mean to me,” Liir said.
“Crouch down now. Hold on to the ropes with both hands. If the bucket scrapes against the wall a little bit just push yourself away. I’ll let it down slowly.”
“Where are you going to hide?” Liir said. “There isn’t anyplace else in this room.”
“I’ll hide under the stairs. She’ll never find me in the shadows, she hates spiders.”
“I thought you said there weren’t any spiders!”
“She thinks there are,” Manek said. “One two three. This is really a good idea, Liir. You’re so brave.” He grunted with the effort. Liir was heavier in the bucket than he had figured, and the rope spooled too quickly. It jammed in the joint between the windlass and the struts, and the bucket stopped and smashed against the wall with an echoing thud.
“That was too fast,” came Liir’s voice, ghostly in the gloom.
“Oh, don’t be a sissy,” Manek said. “Now shhh, I’m going to pivot the cover back on partway, so she won’t guess. Don’t make any noise.”
“I think there’s fish down here.”
“Of course there are, it’s a fishwell.”
“Well, I’m awfully near the water. Do they jump?”
