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of fury electrified his reptilian senses. The beast let out a furious growl and took off toward his target.
    Silas followed, his blurred vision correcting itself gradually as the deranged intruder got nearer. He was rather surprised to see a ridiculous-looking woman with curly red hair, bulging cheeks, and the most unsightly set of teeth he had ever seen riding a worn-out old bicycle up his driveway! He recognized her instantly.
    Rosemary Winterbottom. His sister.
    Completely undeterred by the approaching crocodile, Rosemary began waving at Silas and shouting out, “Yoo-hoo! Hello there, stranger!”
    “Haven’t I suffered enough ?” muttered Silas darkly to himself.
    Realizing it would not look good if he allowed Thorn to tear apart his own sister, he reluctantly tapped twice on the joystick and Thorn dropped low to the ground and began his retreat. The beast let out a disappointed snarl and swung his spiky tail around, sending several loose stones flying across the road.
    Rosemary managed a reasonably dignified dismount from her bicycle before running over and planting a wet kiss on her brother’s forehead. She cupped his face, smiling warmly. “Hello, Silas.”
    His frail appearance caught her off guard and she winced at the sight of his translucent skin, thin as tissue paper; his sunken cheeks webbed with tiny red veins.
    “Hello, Rosemary,” he said curtly. “It has been a long time.”
    “A lifetime,” declared Rosemary with a rich laugh. She spun around, her coat billowing like a parachute. “What an amazing home you have! All those impressive statues around the place—and every single one of you! ” She laughed loudly and clapped her hands. “It’s absolutely hilarious!”
    “I’m glad it amuses you,” said Silas, smiling dimly.
    “What an enormous lizard!” Rosemary bent down, studying Thorn with genuine fascination. “You always did love those scaly creatures as a boy.”
    “It is a crocodile,” said Silas with just a hint of irritation in his voice. “A deadly crocodile.”
    Rosemary laughed heartily. “How are you, Silas?”
    “I am dying, Rosemary.”
    She nodded. “I heard. I am sorry.”
    “It is what it is,” he said casually, looking over the vast meadows. “But my time is not up just yet, and I intend to use it well.”
    “That’s the spirit!” said Rosemary, her enormous rubbery cheeks bulging and glowing like two red toffee apples. “Don’t waste a second, I say.”
    “Indeed,” said Silas doubtfully. He turned his chair and headed back along the path toward the meadow. “It was good of you to come and see me, sister. You know the way out.”
    “The way out?” Rosemary roared with laughter. “Silas, I’m not going anywhere. You’re my brother, and despite the fact that you’ve ignored my letters for the last thirty years, I love you, and I’ve come to look after you.”
    “What a touching offer,” said Silas, turning his chair around. “Touching and utterly absurd. I have a dedicated medical team seeing to my every need. Really, sister, you would only be in the way. I must insist that you leave.”
    “Horse poop!” snapped Rosemary. “I’m staying, and that’s that.”
    “If it’s money you want,” said Silas coolly, “then you are wasting your time.”
    “Money?” Rosemary screwed up her nose. “Can’t stand the stuff! Turns perfectly fine people into greedy, self-centered nincompoops.” She smiled at her brother, flashing two rows of magnificent horse teeth. “I’ve had a long journey, Silas, and my bones are tired—so stop arguing and invite me in. I’m a stubborn old girl, and you know I won’t quit.”
    His black eyes crackled and his lips parted…but only the soft sigh of defeat came out. “As you wish,” he said, turning back toward the path. “I will send one of the servants down for your bags.”
    “No need,” remarked Rosemary, untying the string and throwing her frail leather bag over her shoulder. “I travel