twister exit. "I wonder where he went."

"Who cares? Let's get out of here before he comes back," said George.

"Maybe he won't come back," said Stella, "ever."

"He'll be back," said Freddy. "He's out there somewhere studying a book on chess strategy. You really ruffled his feathers, J.G."

"Got lucky, I guess."

"I was beginning to think you didn't know how to play," said Freddy.

"I know how to play, it's just ... I mean ... Uncle Tor always wins."

"Look!" Stella crouched down.

"What, Sweets?"

"The queen and a feather." One of the raven's long, black tail feathers was propped quill end down in a blueberry bush next to a green patch of moss pillowing the dark chocolate queen. Stella picked up the queen and, after brushing the bits of moss and dirt off, tookthe gas tanks and the lines, making sure everything was hooked and ready to deliver fuel to the twin seventy-five horse outboard motors. "Gas tanks are full." He climbed into the driver's seat and checked the ignition, "Just like a troll, no key."

"No key?"

"Nope."

"Now what?"

"We can't start it. I guess we could paddle it."

"If we had paddles."

"Maybe the troll hid the keys on the boat somewhere." George looked in the glove compartment. Stella checked the side compartments. George searched the storage spaces under the seats, but no keys.

"Uhh, this is so frustrating," said Stella. It's also completely nerve-racking, she thought. In that direction the chainsaws continued to whine, buzz and cut, but for how long? At any minute the lumberjacks could quit for the day and get in