The cauldron outside the hut where the white witch lived was bub- bling with grand smells, and Huspeth would hear nothing se- rious from her visitor until both had supped and the sun had vanished far beyond the trees. They were equally surprised and also a little worried at what these four simmering cauldrons might portend. On this occasion, she saw the other woman more clearly, not through a curtain of resentment over things that were already ancient history. But no deep digging for a while. Bless them, these kids were ready to be seekers, she was certain-and she had counted on the whole season to bring them around to the light. It struck full upon the first web. When the first child returned, she gulped him down also, and lay groaning on the floor when Uta came home. Leaving fun out of it, it may be the only way to keep a knife out of our ribs. It was behind him, too. I could hear them all right, but there was nothing I could do to push them away.
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