An Unexpected Reunion

Eventually Belboz recovered the power of speech. "But... but you should be dead! I came to offer your husband my condolences. As I was responsible for your marriage, it seemed the least I could do."

"Well as you can see, I'm not dead, no thanks to you. Do you have any idea of the torment I've been through, thinking that I was about to die? I suppose it's too much to hope that, now that your spell on me has run its intended course, you will restore me to my rightful body?"

"And leave your children motherless? Don't you have any maternal feelings?"

"Hannah does. But my Fred persona - which talking to you has let come to the fore - doesn't."

"I see. So where are your children?"

"The newborn is asleep in her cot. The one year-old is having a nap. The eldest is out in the forest, helping his father. The rest are all either at school or kindergarten. You came at one of those rare moments when I have some time to myself. Do you have any idea of the amount of work involved in looking after a family of fourteen? We're too poor to afford any help, of course."

"Er no. All right, here's what I'm prepared to do for you...

1. "Make it so that you won't have any more babies. But I'm not prepared to betray your husband and children by making any other change. You must remain the woodsman's wife."
2. "If you really want to leave, you can. But your body remains as it is."
3. "I'll make you forget all about Fred. That seems kindest."
4. "You can be Fred again, body and soul. I'll make other arrangements for looking after your husband and children.
5. "Nothing at all. You'll find that, except when talking to me, the Hannah part of you will remain in control. And you'll go on having children."
6. "Make your husband wealthy enough to afford a servant to help you with the housework."

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