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Crank, pleased to meet you.”
    “I found him out there … or, I guess he found me. He says he can help us,” Jenni added.
    After a few stunned seconds, Ms. Pap took his hand and found her voice. “Well if you can help us, I’m very pleased to meet you as well.”
    Crank indicated Deena and Todd. “These hurt?”
    Ms. Pap nodded. “Yes, can you help them?”
    Crank moved around to Deena’s side and looked closely at her arm. The black tendrils had multiplied and reached all the way up her shoulder. Ms. Pap leaned over and removed the bandage that covered the wound. It looked bad, seeping blood and pus. The edges were swollen and inflamed with infection. Crank hissed, much like a cat, and backed off a step. “ Gobinstratstorai , ” he said.
    Ms. Pap looked at him. “What does that mean?”
    Crank ignored her and opened a small satchel at his side Jenni hadn’t noticed before. He pulled out a tiny glass jar with an opening just big enough for one of his fingers. Crank dipped his finger in, bringing out a small amount of milky white paste, which he carefully applied to Deena’s wound. He had it completely covered after a couple more applications, then he replaced the jar in his bag. Ms. Pap moved to put a new bandage on Deena’s arm but Crank gently restrained her. “Need air,” he said.
    Ms. Pap started to protest but relented and put the bandages back in her kit.
    Jenni looked up and realized they had attracted a crowd. The whole class was staring in wonder at Crank.
    Crank, too, noticed the attention, and held out his hand to the group and said, “I, Crank, pleased to meet you,” with a smile on his face.
    Chaos ensued.
    Everyone started talking at once. Crank became confused and frightened. He backed up a few steps to stand in front of Jenni, who put a protective arm in front of him.
    “All of you please calm down!” Ms. Pap shouted, holding up her arms.
    “What is that thing?” Mrs. Minch screeched. “And what was it doing to Deena?”
    “This is Crank, and he’s offered to help us,” Ms. Pap answered.
    Mrs. Minch laughed. “And you’re just going to take that at face value? He might be the one that bit her in the first place!”
    Ms. Pap sighed. “I really doubt that and, at this point, I’m willing to accept help from wherever we can get it.” She turned back to Crank and asked, “Can you do anything for the boy?” pointing to Todd, who lay next to Deena.
    Crank looked at him and asked, “What hurt?”
    “He ate a poison berry,” Jenni said.
    “What ‘poison’?”
    “Poison, bad.” Jenni made choking motions and stuck out her tongue.
    “Ah, what he eat?” Crank stepped over to Todd’s head and carefully opened his mouth, looking inside. Todd continued to sleep fitfully.
    Jenni glanced around and found Sara standing behind her. “Sara, do you still have the fruit sample in your pack?”
    Sara continued to stare at Crank, then blinked. “Yes, sorry! One sec.” She quickly retrieved her bag and brought out the plum-berry samples they had collected. Jenni took them and showed Crank.
    He looked at them with a puzzled expression. “ Tolenton’naie? Tolenton’naie not bad, not poison.” He reached into his satchel again and pulled out a fruit just like the ones in the sample bag. He took a bite, juices running down his bearded chin. “ Tolenton’naie good.”
    Ms. Pap frowned. “Well this Tolen - whatever is not good for us. Todd ate it and became sick.”
    Crank considered this. “Did ask take?”
    “What?” Ms. Pap and a few others said at the same time.
    Crank put the rest of his Tolenton’naie back in his satchel and beckoned them. “Come, show.” Then he set off to the south along the river.
    They all followed him to one of the bushes that bore the mysterious fruit. He walked over and cupped one in his small hand, but did not pick it. “Must ask, take.” He closed his eyes and murmured something. The fruit came off the branch without any apparent effort. “Must