Shadow Wrack by Kim Thompson Page B

formal that there was probably no visitor the Hackers would consider of sufficient quality to be allowed entrance. Certainly not Willa; she had merely peeked in from the hall. There was a plastic cover over the sofa, shelves of dainty porcelain figurines, and a couple of plants so perfect they had to be fake.
    Crawling on her hands and knees to stay out of view, Willa crossed the yard and continued along the side of the house. A couple of people passed on the sidewalk but didn’t look her way. There was a window at the front corner of the house, and by climbing up on a rainbarrel, Willa was able to peer into the front room. From this angle, she could see the corner of the room she hadn’t seen from the front hall. In that corner stood a gorgeous antique dollhouse.
    â€œThe fancy house,” muttered Willa. “Just Mab’s style.” She turned to Sarah, who was still nervously shadowing her. “We have to call her out of there. Any ideas?”
    Sarah considered. “You could maybe go in and …?” She stopped as she saw Willa shaking her head and then shrank back. “ I could go in and …” Willa nodded.
    â€œDo whatever you have to do to get her out here.”
    Sarah gulped. “She won’t like it.”
    Willa smiled. “That’s too bad. I must speak with her. It’s extremely urgent. In you go.” There was a wooden wedge holding the window open just a crack. Sarah squeezed into the room, tumbling immediately off the windowsill into a plasticky fern. Willa watched as Sarah climbed out and flew slowly across the room. She was halfway to the dollhouse when Mr. Hacker’s footsteps sounded in the hall. Sarah zipped back to the plant as he passed the doorway, engrossed in his paper. He picked up the mail from the front mat and headed back to the kitchen.
    â€œWhat’s another word for ‘sea eagle’?” he called to his wife as he disappeared from sight.
    Willa breathed a sigh of relief. Sarah started across the room again, this time reaching the dollhouse. She landed and knocked softly on the front door. Mab answered it, looking irritated. Willa could see Sarah speaking and pointing to the window. Mab looked over and shook her head. Then she slammed the door in Sarah’s face with a loud bang.
    Sarah froze. There were murmurs from the kitchen, and Hacker’s footsteps approached once more. Willa ducked lower, so the fern shielded her from view. Sarah was still frozen in place, trapped. Looking wildly around, she dove behind a tiny dollhouse tree just as Hacker entered the room, looking around. His eyes fell on the dollhouse. Willa held her breath. Reaching behind the tree, he picked Sarah up and peered closely at her. She had the good sense to remain stiff and staring, like a little doll. The clock ticked. Willa gripped the windowsill.
    â€œRandolph? What was it, dear?” came Mrs. Hacker’s voice from the kitchen.
    Hacker looked up and called back, waving Sarah about distractedly as he did so.
    â€œNothing. You’re hearing things!”
    â€œWhaaat?” hollered Mrs. Hacker.
    â€œYOU’RE HEARING THINGS!” hollered Hacker as he swung the front of the dollhouse open, exposing Mab perched on a stool in front of a vanity fixing her hair. She froze, eyes wide with shock, but Hacker didn’t even see her. He thrust Sarah inside, swung the dollhouse shut, and left the room.
    Willa exhaled. Close call! After a moment, Sarah climbed out the upper storey window and zipped over to Willa. She was trembling and short of breath.
    â€œShe … won’t … come….”
    â€œYou go back and tell her that the black spots have returned. She’ll come.”
    Sarah grimaced but reluctantly flew back and knocked again at the door. It flew open. Sarah gave the message, and Willa saw Mab turn slowly to look at her in the window. Willa nodded to her. Mab zipped over to the windowsill, with Sarah behind