The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet

Fortunately for Eric, the hands pulling him under the bridge belong to Neal and Julie. They tell him to be quiet because the Ninns are on the bridge above them. He quickly explains what he learned from Keeah, then asks Neal to boost him up so that he can eavesdrop on the Ninns. Up close, Eric can see that they have slitted eyes, pointed chins, and six claw-like fingers on each hand.

The Ninns are talking about how angry Lord Sparr will be at their failure to capture Keeah. An old-fashioned car horn beeps, and a strange car appears. It has eight tires and is “long and yellow and [has] a bubble on top” (26). When Lord Sparr arrives, Eric realizes that he is a different kind of creature from the Ninns. His skin is shows normal flesh tones, but he has a purple fin sticking up behind each ear. As the Ninns predicted, he is furious to learn that Keeah has escaped.

The Ninns tell him that three children helped Keeah escape, so Lord Sparr orders them to find these children as well. He speeds away in his yellow car, and the Ninns depart on their groggles. The three friends read the message Keeah has written for Galen to give to King Zello, but they cannot make sense of its nonsense syllables, which read, “Thginot Dekcatta Eb Lliw Frodnefroz” (30).