nnisshoes."Imightbeabletosqueezeintothese."Myfeetfeltdampandchilledonthecoldground.

    SmaolachrootedaroundandpickedouttheugliestbrownshoesIhadeverseehercreakedwhenheflexedthesoles,andthelaceslookedlikecoiledsnakes.Eachtoepedwithasmallsteelplate."Trustme,thesewillkeepyouwarmandtoastyallwinterlong,andalongtimeinthewearing."

    "Buttheyretoosmall."

    "Dontyouknowyouvebeenshrinkingyourself?"Withaslygrin,hereachedintohistrouserspocketandpulledoutapairofthickwoolensocks."AndIfoundtheseespeciallyforyou."

    Thewhaspedinappreciation.Theygavemeacableknitsweaterandanoilskinjacket,whichkeptmedryoestdays.

    Asthenightslengthenedandgrewcolder,weexgedrassmatsandsolitarybedsforaheapofanimalskinsandstolenblahetwelveofusslepttogetherinatangledclump.Iratherehefortofthesitu-ation,althoughmostofmyfriendshadfoulbreathorfetidodorsaboutthem.Partofthereasonmustbethegei,fromthebountyofsummertothedecayoflatefallandthedeprivationofwinter.Severalofthepoorcrea-tureshadbeeninthewoodsforsolongthattheyhadgivenupallhopeofhumansociety.Indeed,ahandfulhadnosuchdesireatall,sotheylivedlikeanimals,rarelytakingabathorieethwithatwig.Evenafoxwilllickitshindquarters,butsomeofthefaerieswerethedirtiestbeasts.

    Thatfirstwinter,Iyearogowiththehunter-gatherersontheirmfeforfoodandothersupplies.Likethecrowsthatveduskanddawn,thosethievesenjoyedfreedomawayfromtheroost.WhileIwasleftbehind,IhadtosufferbabysitterslikethattoadBékaandhispanionOnions,orol