"
She laughed, saying: "During the heat of the day I
like to be an ape, for an ape doesn't wear any clothes
to speak of. But if one has gentlemen callers it is
proper to dress up."
Ervic noticed her right hand was closed, as if she
held something in it. She shut the cupboard door, bent
over the crocodile and in a moment the creature had
changed to a red wolf. It was not pretty even now, and
the wolf crouched beside its mistress as a dog might
have done. Its teeth looked as dangerous as had those
of the crocodile.
Next the Yookoohoo went about touching all the
lizards and toads, and at her touch they became
kittens. The rats she changed into chipmunks. Now the
only horrid creatures remaining were the four great
spiders, which hid themselves behind their thick webs.
"There!" Reera cried, "now my cottage presents a more
comfortable appearance. I love the toads and lizards
and rats, because most people hate them, but I would
tire of them if they always remained the same.
Sometimes I change their forms a dozen times a day."
"You are clever," said Ervic. "I did not hear you
utter any incantations or magic words. All you did was
to touch the creatures.
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