The guard Bill said:
"When we crash the door we seen something like a couple of cats fighting there beside the window. The
boss is lying on the floor. We had our guns out but was afraid to shoot for what you told us. Then we
heard a funny noise outside like somebody blowing a flute. The two things broke loose and jumped up on
the window sill, and out. We jumped to the window. And we didn't see nothing."
"You saw the things at the window. What did they look like then?" I asked.
"You tell him, Jack."
"Dolls!"
A shiver went down my back. It was the answer I had expected-and dreaded. Out the window! I
recalled the tremor of the vine when I gripped it! The guard who had closed the door looked at me, and I