Free Gossamer by Lois Lowry Page A

"Yes," she whispered. "Like garbage, and something burning. Something awful."
    He nodded. "We've smelled it before, when we huddled and he inflicted on the boy. But this is worse because they're coming together. It's the Horde. Everything is multiplied, even the stench."

    "Should we hide?" she asked him, wide-eyed.
    "No. They don't want us. They're after him." He gestured up the stairs toward the boy's bedroom door.
    "But why the Horde this time?" Littlest One was very frightened. The memory of the hot breath, the pawing hooves, the rank odor, and the dreadful hiss was terrifying to her. But it was true that the Sinisteed had not shown any interest in the dream-givers as they huddled together in the hallway. So she was not frightened for herself. It was because of the boy. The Sinisteed had done such damage to him already! She was frightened on his behalf.
    "They know we've strengthened him. It's made them angry. That's why they've gathered the Horde," Thin Elderly told her.
    "I fear for the woman tonight, as well," he added. "I think they're coming to inflict on both, tonight."
    "The dog, too?" Littlest asked in a small voice. She sucked her thumb briefly.
    "No. They don't bother with pets. Shhh." He tilted his head and listened again. "They're still some distance away. It seems they're holding back. Waiting. Maybe for the sleep to deepen. That gives us a little time."
    "Time for what?"
    Thin Elderly sighed. "More strengthening. It's all we can do, really."

    He looked at her and she hastily put her hand, with its damp thumb, behind her back. "Do you have any fragments stored?" he asked her.
    "A few. Not many. I always like to give him big, complicated dreams, so I use a lot of my fragments. I did one the other night that had the beach, and a kite, and I combined it with food things: ice cream, and something called a hot dog"—she grinned—"and then I added in Toby and Hee-Haw, both, so they all got mixed up in a big convoluted happiness dream.
    "Do you like that word, convoluted? " she asked shyly. "I just learned it."
    "Good for you. You can add words to dreams, you know."
    She nodded. "I'm working on it."
    Thin Elderly sat on the lowest stairstep. His knee jiggled nervously. He was thinking.
    "We don't have time to gather new things," he said finally. "So take what you have left. Are they pretty good fragments?"
    She nodded. "A baseball game. He got a hit and felt proud. I have that, still. And a time his mother sang him a funny song."
    "Good. Combine those."
    "And just yesterday his butterfly was born! It came out of the chrysalis. He's going to let it go tomorrow. But I touched it! The wings were still damp!"

    "All right. That's a good one. Add the dog, maybe, and some words. Laughter would be a great choice, and courage. Bestow as quickly as you can. I'll do the same for the woman. I've saved some good ones from that afghan on the sofa.
    "I'll add words to her bestowal as well. Peace, I think, for her. And maybe—" He stopped to think. " Family. "
    There was a noise outside, in the distance. A whinny. Littlest One and Thin Elderly held hands and listened.
    "We must hurry," Thin Elderly said. "They're preparing to come."
    Littlest One fluttered quietly to the stairs and they started up. "When you're done," Thin Elderly whispered, "meet me—"
    "In the corner of the hall, where we always huddle?"
    He shook his head. "No. We might get trampled there, when the whole Horde comes through."
    "Where, then?" She could tell that he was very nervous, and it terrified her. He had always been so calm and reassuring before.
    They were in the upstairs hallway now, between the bedrooms. Outside, in the near distance, the noise was increasing. Hoofbeats. Shrill, agitated whinnies.

    "The attic," Thin Elderly said. "Meet me in the attic. Now go. Hurry. Help the boy!"
    They separated and Littlest One fluttered quickly to the place where the boy slept, still unaware of the impending danger.

25
    John turned over in the bed without