Confusion Worse Confounded

Too much was happening too fast for Astrid's liking, especually since she couldn't seem to make any sense of most of it. The boy clearly had been Velus, since he had been transformed back into his dog form. In that case, what could his motive have been for barging everyone through the door, especially knowing that he himself might become a dog again if the door simply reversed the most recent change? Had he somehow suspected - correctly - that she herself was not really Astra, and wanted to find out who she really was?

Then there was the question of what she herself would have been turned into without Astra's intervention. Why wouldn't the doorway have restored her to her proper body once more? And what did the fact that Astra had been able to intervene without a wish mean? As soon as she had the opportunity, she would have to question Astra.

And why was Velus barking so at Goldilocks, as she had irreverently started to think of her importunate suitor? Did he consider him a threat to her for some reason, or was he just jealous? Since the man had been restored to his full height, didn't that imply that his story must be true? That was something else that Astra might be able to throw some light on, if she had really known him before.

These thoughts only took her a few seconds, but that was long enough for:

1. Goldilocks to realise that she was still looking at him blankly, and to say: "You still don't recognise me, do you, my darling? I don't understand."
2. Goldilocks to take her naked body in his arms and start kissing her.
3. Velus to bite Goldilocks on the ankle.
4. Astrid belatedly to realise that Velus' barks were significant. He was using the code that the two of them had developed some time ago [9] and that Astra had subsequently learnt as well.
5. Astra to start talking to her inside her head again.

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