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“You’re talking nonsense. It’s time for bed.”
    The little fairy flew across the yard. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she called. “And don’t do anything stupid.” In a burst of sparkles she whizzed over the roof of the big beast barn, heading to the Dark Forest where the fairies lived.
    Ulf watched her go. He looked up. The moon was nearly full and there was only one more day until his transformation. His senses were beginning to sharpen.
    He could hear the nibbling beasts scratching in their hutches and the demondog snoring in the big beast barn. From out in the park, he heard the hoots, screeches and rustlings of the nocturnal beasts. Helistened as heavy footsteps came up the track toward Farraway Hall.
    â€œOpen,” he heard.
    The yard gate opened and Orson the giant walked in from the beast park. He was returning from the seawater lagoon where he’d been keeping watch over the sea monster all evening. The giant headed to the feed store, and Ulf went to talk to him.
    â€œHow is it?” Ulf asked.
    â€œNot good, I’m afraid,” Orson said, turning on his bedside lamp. The feed store was where Orson slept, on a huge mound of grain. He took off his big boots, placing them by the door, then he pulled off his long socks and hung them over a beam.
    Ulf sat on an upturned bucket just inside the door. “We can save it,” he said to the giant. “We can use Professor Farraway’s venom extractor.”
    â€œRedbacks are dangerous,” Orson told him. “I’m sure Dr. Fielding knows best.”
    The giant reached into a barrel and took out a handful of apples. Then he sat down, leaning against the huge mound of grain. “At least it’s had a long life,” he said. Orson popped three apples into his mouth and offered one to Ulf. “Once upon a time sea monsters never grew to be that size. The poor things were killed before they had the chance.”
    â€œKilled?” Ulf asked. He took a bite of his apple, and chewed.
    â€œNot any more, Ulf. It’s illegal to harm a sea monster now. Professor Farraway put a stop to it. Once upon a time, though, they were killed and eaten. They were boiled up, their tentacles chopped off and their brains scooped out.”
    Ulf stopped chewing. “That’s horrible,” he said.
    The giant leaned forward. “Humans,” he whispered. “Humans very nearly killed them all.”
    Ulf heard footsteps in the yard. He pokedhis head out of the feed store and saw a yellow light outside.
    â€œWho’s that?” Orson asked him.
    It was Captain Crab carrying his lantern. The Captain stepped through the door of the feed store. “Nice place you have here, Mr. Orson,” he said.
    The Captain hung his lantern on a nail on the back of the door, and took a canteen out of his pocket. “Mind if I join you?”
    The Captain pulled the cork from the canteen with his teeth. He took a long drink and smiled. “That hits the spot,” he said.
    â€œWhat have you got in there?” Orson asked.
    â€œCaptain’s special,” the Captain replied. “There’s nothing better than a drop of special before bed.” He leaned against the barrel of apples and offered the canteen to Orson. “Would you like some?”
    The giant took the canteen in his fingers and swallowed a big mouthful of the drink. Then he rubbed his belly. “Tasty,” he said, handing it back.
    Captain Crab shook it. The canteen was empty. “Thirsty, eh, Mr. Orson? There’s plenty more where that came from. Tomorrow I’ll fetch you some from my boat.”
    Ulf dropped his apple core into a box marked TIDBITS FOR NIBBLING BEASTS , then got up from the bucket. “Thanks for the apple, Orson,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    â€œYou try to get some sleep,” Orson told him. “You need to be strong for your transformation.”
    As Ulf