lumber. It took four cuts before the house’s vein popped open and more fishes poured out.

The remaining four arms zoned in on Theo. He dropped to the ground. The trees had stopped altogether. Theo had a thought. As the other arms got close, he tucked his chin and rolled, taking a gamble they wouldn’t redirect to catch him. He came up underneath the house, next to the singular chicken leg.

Rather than attack the only animal limb, he petted it. Stroked the leathery chicken skin. The arms, disconnected from the leg, stretched underneath but couldn’t reach Theo. He hummed a shanty to the leg, stroking, petting. The chimney purred. The chicken knee bent, and the house settled. Theo saw the floor of the house descending. He kept on pettingand humming. With his spare hand, he pulled a cigarette from amongst his dreads. Then a match. Then a small, sticky ball of resin. He lit the smoke first and then held the match to the resin. The floor got closer and closer as the knee bent. The resin sparked.

Theo threw the ball, only as wide around as his thumb, up at the floor. It stuck. It was the pirate’s turn to exert his will. Goblin Ray Rocks have many properties, and they work best when a good goblin boy taps into their heat. This was the skill that made him the youngest helmsman in all the seven seas. The resin blasted and blew out the cabin floor. Theo pulled on the chicken knee and climbed into the