Everything was moist and silver in the moonlight. The grass bent under Raphael’s feet as he hurried through the orchard and over the stone wall that rimmed the woods. By the time he had crossed the rough wall and felt the little sticks of the wood path under his bare feet, Cassandra had disappeared. Raphael hitched up his purple pajamas and ran.
He had taken only a few steps when to his amazement he heard the sound of voices. He stopped short, listened a moment, and then crept forward. He saw his sister standing before a tall figure which blocked the wood path. Raphael could not see the stranger’s face, but he heard him say:
‘If you will come with me, Cassandra, I will take you to a city full of strange toys. You shall have dolls to play with, dolls that walk and talk; and houses for them to live in with running water and elevators and electric lights. You shall have a little automobile, and a great store full of toys all to yourself.’
‘Yes,’ whispered Cassandra.
‘Will you come with me?’ went on the stranger. ‘You needn’t be afraid. I won’t harm you.’
‘Yes,’ repeated Cassandra. Her voice was husky with sleep.
‘Come, then,’ commanded the stranger and held out his arms. ‘I order it. You cannot disobey.’
‘I AM MECHANUS, THE GIANT SORCERER’
Raphael, who had crept close in order to hear more clearly what the stranger said, sprang forward.