In the Grass Castle, Princess Catrina had played "From the Catskills" on the
piano until she was sick of the song at last, and she had swept the brick floor and put
the flowers into a glass, all to make the terrible Lord Mandible happy, but now she looked
around the bleak small room and wept bitter tears. What if no one came to save her? she wondered. What if they forgot about her? Maybe she would have to marry Lord Mandible and live forever in this hideous grass house without her magic mirror or picnics on the lawn. What about everyone who loved her? Maybe they didn't, anymore. Princess Catrina sobbed and sobbed, which irritated Lord Mandible and his servitor very much. -- Suddenly there was a bold knock at the bark door! -- The Servitor hissed, "Are we expecting company?" and Lord Mandible got off his Trap Throne and walked quickly to the door. "Who is there?" he called out loudly. "Prince Whiskers, and I bring you a gift!" came a sweet voice through the door! The Princess made a glad cry and tried to run, but the Servitor pulled her back.
"Stay still," he ordered her in his muffled voice. "I am here to offer you a treasure in exchange for my sister," said Prince Whiskers quietly. The greedy Lord Mandible opened the door wide, and in came the Prince. "What's inside?" hissed the servitor. "A wonderful surprise," said the Prince, who looked at his sister. She smiled through her tears.
But once the chest was opened, the two mighty doves flew up out of the treasure chest and began to immediately attack Lord Mandible and his evil servant! The doves pecked and fluttered the evil pair until they fled the castle, running as fast as they could, with the doves fluttering and flying around them as they ran! -- Princess Catrina ran to her brother and hugged him. "You have saved me!" she cried, and they laughed and danced for joy. And then they slipped quickly out of the dark Grass Castle and into the afternoon
sunshine. They ran quickly down onto the soft green grass of the forest, where they were
joined by Twinkie, who whinnied to see the Princess. They all crossed the grassy meadow together, then flew up into the sky! Soon they saw Nice Town below, and Twinkie landed in the town square, where all the villagers were waving at them! Imagine their complete happiness when Princess Catrina and Prince Whiskers stepped onto the ground and saw all the people from their hole safe in their midst again. The clever knights had made stairs in the hole with their golden and silver swords and had climbed nimbly out, and then had helped all the others escape. Tomorrow, it was decided, would be soon enough to return to the hole and pull out carts and motorcycles and buggies, but tonight there would be a great celebration, as soon as the stars came out. The End. Back to page one of Kinderwars. |
