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Renzo climbed on to the merry-go-round and leaned against the unicorn. “It was worth it,” he said, stroking its wooden back. “You brought me the wing and Morosina and I took a ride.”

“Does it matter which figure you sit on?” Scipio jumped on to the platform and leaped on to the lion’s back.

“Yes, it does.” For a moment, Renzo stood hunched, just like the old man he had once been. “The lion was the right mount for me. You and your friend will have to sit on one of the water creatures — each animal works in a different way.”

“Come on, Prop!” Scipio called, waving at Prosper. “Take your pick. Which one do you want?The sea horse?Or the merman?” Prosper stepped curiously toward the merry-go-round. He could hear the dogs howling in the distance.

Renzo had obviously also heard them. Frowning, he walked to the edge of the platform. Then he said to Scipio, “Get off. I think I’ll have to go back to the house to check on Morosina …”

But Scipio had already slipped off the lion’s back and was now climbing on to the sea horse. “What are you waiting for, Prop?” he called out impatiently.

But Prosper didn’t move. Even though he could picture himself, tall and grown-up, striding into the Sandwirth and simply pushing Esther and his uncle out of the way, then marching out with Bo by his side, he still couldn’t step on to the merry-go-round.

He looked up at the unicorn, at the merman with the pale green face, and at the lion, the winged lion.

“You go first, Scipio,” he finally said.

Disappointment clouded Scipio’s face. “If you say so,” he said. Then he turned to Renzo. “You heard him. Let’s go.”

“Hold on. You really can’t wait, can you?” Renzo pulled a bundle from under his old-fashioned coat and threw it over to Scipio. “You better put these on if you don’t want to burst out of your clothes. They’re some old things of mine, or I should say, of the Conte’s.”

Scipio reluctantly climbed down from the sea horse again. Prosper nearly laughed out loud when he saw Scipio in Renzo’s grown-up clothes.

“Don’t laugh!” Scipio grinned, throwing his own things at him. Then he rolled up the long sleeves, pulled up the baggy pants, and laboriously climbed back up on the wooden sea horse. “These shoes are going to fly off my feet!” he complained.

“As long as you don’t fly off yourself.”Renzo stepped up to Scipio and placed his hand on the sea horse’s back. “Hold on tight. Just one push and it’s going to turn, faster and faster, until you decide at what age you jump off. Are you sure you won’t change your mind?”

Scipio buttoned up the huge jacket. “I’ve got to decide?” he asked. “Hmm, I’m not saying I’d want to, but if I did want to, could I change back again, ride in the other direction?”

Renzo shrugged. “As you can see, I haven’t tried that yet.”

Scipio nodded. He looked at Prosper, who had taken a few steps back. He was nearly swallowed up Page 144

by the shadow of the trees. “Please come too, Prop.”

Scipio looked at Prosper so desperately that he didn’t know where to look. But still Prosper shook his head.

“Well, suit yourself!” Scipio sat up straight. The sleeves of the jacket slipped over his hands. “Off we go!” he called. “And I swear,I’ll only jump off once I’m ready to have a shave!”

Renzo gave the sea horse a gentle shove.

The merry-go-round started to move with a slight jolt. The old wood groaned and creaked. Renzo walked back to stand next to Prosper.

“Whoopeeee!” they heard Scipio shout. Then he leaned down over the neck of the sea horse. The figures spun around faster and faster. It was as if time itself was pushing them along. Prosper got dizzy trying to follow Scipio with his eyes. He heard him laugh out loud, and then suddenly he too felt a strange surge of happiness spread through him. His heart felt lighter than it had in a long time as he saw the figures zoom past him. He closed his eyes and felt the magic as if he were turning into the winged lion himself. He spread his wings and flew away, higher and higher.

Renzo’s voice brought him back to earth. “Jump off!” Prosper heard him shout.

Startled, he opened his eyes. The merry-go-round was going slower now. The merman came around with his trident, now the mermaid, now the lion, and then the unicorn drifted into sight, even slower now.

It stopped — and the sea horse’s back was empty.

“Scipio?” Prosper called. He ran around the merry-go-round.

Renzo followed him.

It was quite dark on the other side. High evergreen trees grew here, their branches reaching over the clearing. They were swaying gently in the wind. Something moved in their shade. A figure rose from the ground, tall and slim. Prosper stopped stock-still.

“That was close,” said an unfamiliar voice. Prosper drew back; he couldn’t help himself.

“Don’t look at me like that.” The stranger laughed self-consciously. He seemed strangely familar to Prosper. He looked like a younger version of Scipio’s father. Only the smile was different, very different.

Scipio reached out — how long his arms had become — and gaveProsper a bear hug.

“Prop, it worked!” he cried. “Look! Just look at me!” He let go of Prosper and stroked his chin.

“Stubble!Incredible. Do you want to feel it?”

Laughing loudly, he spun around, his arms stretched out wide. Then he grabbed the protesting Renzo and lifted him into the air. “As strong as Hercules!” he shouted, before putting Renzo back on the ground.

Then he felt his face, traced his eyebrows and his nose with his fingers. “If only I had a mirror!” he said.

“How do I look, Prop? Different?”

Prosper wanted to say, just like your father, but he quickly bit his tongue.

“Grown-up!”Renzo answered.