| Malachi's plan might be dangerous, but Fred and Astra think that it
must be better than spending the rest of their lives as full or partial
foxes. And when they had started upon their quest they had known that they
faced many perils, though admittedly the possibility that they might be
turned into foxes had not occurred to either of them. Astra wonders how
long her gestation period would be, and exactly what she would give birth
to if things reach that stage. From what Malachi has told her, it sounds
possible that even the Crystallic might not be able to change her back
until after the birth.
Her thoughts are interrupted by Fred asking Malachi: "So just where do we find this small tunnel into Minestus' lair, then?" Malachi replies:
|
"I will show you the way to its beginning."