The Mud-witch - a short story collaboration | Page 18

*** Minno scrambles into the prow of the small boat, as far away as he can get from the wrinkled, jumbly thing that is staring at him. Fear tangles him up in a tight knot. ‘What’s your name?’ the thing asks, in a scratchy voice. ‘M- m- m-,’ he stammers. It narrows its eyes. ‘Why did you wish for me to take you away?’ Minno shakes his head. ‘Mud-witch,’ he says. No other words will come out. He waits for something awful to happen, but nothing does. 15