“Owl brain,” Charell replied. “Made specially so ‘tis still thinking when you eat it. Keeps you smart.”

“People have died playing this?” gasped Riley.Zayne grinned and replied, “Uh huh.”“Only eight,” said Estelle. “One in the last decade.”Zayne said, “Hope you’re not the lucky one today.”

“Why am I here? I was falling off a cliff just a minute ago, and then I landed on your floor.”Estelle looked down to the floor, up at the ceiling, and then to Riley. Estelle said, “There is no cliff above my ceiling.”

“Pretty,” said Cree. “It was very pretty.” She giggled as she stroked her green nails over her cheeks and smiled at Riley. “I suppose I let the poison go too long. I killed my parents and my younger brother and the cat. I do miss the cat.”

“down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.”

“You are tired,(I think)Of the always puzzle of living and doing;And so am I.Come with me, then,And we’ll leave it far and far away—(Only you and I, understand!)You have played,(I think)And broke the toys you were fondest of,And are a little tired now;Tired of things that break, and—Just tired.So am I.But I come with a dream in my eyes tonight,And knock with a rose at the hopeless gate of your heart—Open to me!For I will show you the places Nobody knows,And, if you like,The perfect places of Sleep.Ah, come with me!I’ll blow you that wonderful bubble, the moon,That floats forever and a day;I’ll sing you the jacinth songOf the probable stars;I will attempt the unstartled steppes of dream,Until I find the Only Flower,Which shall keep (I think) your little heartWhile the moon comes out of the sea.”

“You have played, (I think) And broke the toys you were fondest of, And are a little tired now; Tired of things that break, and— Just tired. So am I.”