. . .

After a while he calls Mr. Gulley. He tells him what’s happened. Someone comes by and picks up Bertram’s corpse.

“I won’t invite you by,” says Mr. Gulley. “For one thing, there’s a giant wolf.”

“Yes, sir.”

“But,” says Mr. Gulley, “my boy’d kill and eat me if he found out I let you starve. So tell me if you need anything. All right?”

“Kill,” says Tom, “and eat you. That’s very funny, sir.”

Mr. Gulley’s eyes shutter.

“I mean, what kind of man has to go around all the time,” says Tom, “desperately frightened that he’ll be eaten by his wriggly puppy, or by his son?”

“Just call,” says Mr. Gulley. “Anywhere Lethal. We’ll help you.”

And departs.