Then he became an innocent toddler, sucking his thumb, and then, finally, he became a small baby, curled into a little ball, playing with his feet.
“Is it over?” Josephine asked, peeking through her fingers and the rope that bound her hands.
No one could answer, because no one knew. But as they waited, the baby stayed the same, gurgling and smiling up at them.
The Master’s transformation appeared to be complete.
Mr. Seaworthy picked up the baby, wrapping him in his uniform jacket. “I suggest you move on as quickly as possible. The other servants will be here shortly.”
Ned nodded, still unable to comprehend what he’d just seen. “What’s going to happen to him?”
Mr. Seaworthy held the baby against his chest. “I’ll look after him, as I always have.”
Ida was having none of it. “But he’ll just grow up and start taking children again!”
“Don’t worry, child,” assured Mr. Seaworthy. “This time I’ll make sure that the boy gets what he never had.”
“Love,” Josephine said.
Mr. Seaworthy nodded. “You take care of the other children.”
Ida wasn’t entirely satisfied that they should leave the Master alive at all, but she knew they needed to get moving. “That was the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen. It was great! Don’t you think, Fargus? Fargus?” She looked around and Fargus was nowhere to be found. “Where’d he go?”
Ned said, “He probably went to tell the other children we can leave. Let’s find them and get out of here.”
Ned was untying the girls’ wrists when Josephine saw something on the ground. When she got closer, she saw that it was the piece of lava stone that the Master had always kept in his pocket. “Step on it, Ned! Grind it into a million pieces!”
Ned didn’t question her. He stomped on the stone again and again until it had crumbled to dust.
“Thank you,” Josephine said. “Now the Master can never control the Brothers again.”
FORTY-NINE
The three of them—Ned, Josephine, and Ida—then ran down the halls, opening all the silver doors and releasing everyone. Ned found Lucy and picked her up in his arms. Josephine helped gather the rest and led them toward the front door.
Ida searched for Fargus in vain, checking every room twice, joining the others only after Josephine convinced her that Fargus must have already left the manor.
The group went spilling out the front door and over the drawbridge. Outside, the light was just starting to fade. The children ran into the field, careful to avoid the feeding holes, breathing in their freedom.
Ida saw the wet group of escaped children who had crossed the moat earlier. They were huddled together for warmth. She ran over to them. “Did any of you see a boy run out here?”
“Don’t tell her anything. She bit me,” the boy from the water said.
“Get over it, salmon breath,” Ida responded. “Did you see him?”
A girl with moat scum in her hair answered, “Yeah, I saw him. He looked like he was going to spew.”
“Thank you.” Ida walked over to Ned and Josephine. “He’s around here somewhere,” she told them, as if they had been worried sick and not her.
Josephine turned toward Ned and for the first time noticed the weak girl leaning against him. Something about her was eerily familiar. “Is that . . . ?”
“Yes,” he said. “This is my father’s sister, Lucy.”
“Wow. Hello, Lucy, my name’s Josephine.”
Lucy stared into space.
Ned patted her head and explained, “She’s confused. And she has no idea who I am.”
Josephine remembered the locket. “I might have something that will help.” She took off the necklace Morgan had given her and handed it to Ned.
Ned opened up the locket, showing the pictures inside to Lucy. There was his father, a cocky teenager, and Lucy, eyes bright and full of humor.
“Lucy, do you remember this? This is you . . . and this is my dad, Morgan.” She stared at it blankly. But after a few moments something seemed to stir behind her eyes.
“Morgan,” Ned repeated. “Your brother.”
“Mooorgaaan,” she said slowly, tasting the name on her lips.
Josephine tried to help. “Lucy, do you remember The Dancing Possum ? It was your favorite book!”
Lucy smiled slightly. “Possum,” she repeated.
“Yeah! That’s right! The Dancing Possum!” Ned laughed.
“I think the necklace belongs to her now,” Josephine told Ned, and he happily placed it over Lucy’s head. Lucy held on to the locket tightly.
Suddenly Fargus appeared out of nowhere. He looked pale and sickly as he approached. Ida ran to him.
