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Is he the one?”
    “I hope so.”
    Reynard had stopped struggling to stare at them. “Now I have seen a further wonder: a mouse embracing a cat. What other miracles will I see?”
    “He is properly respectful,” Marco said to Humberto. “Set him free.”
    The mouse clambered up the shining mesh to the very top. With his tiny pink hands he selected a thread, lifted it to his mouth, and chewed through it. The net collapsed in coils around Reynard’s feet.
    “There,” Humberto said.
    Rubbing his wrist, Reynard followed Marco to the princess’s door. Marco pawed, and Reynard opened the latch.
    Barking, hoarse at first, erupted from the room. A dusty brown beast charged toward them out of the shadows, only to skid to a halt at the cat’s feet.
    “Marco!” Bruno cried, with a howl that shook the rafters. He sniffed Reynard all over. “He smells good! You have found a good one! She will like him.”
    “Is she well?” Marco asked. “Bring us to her.”
    “She sleeps,” Bruno said simply. “I have not left this place in ten long years. Humberto has fed and cared for me.” He trotted ahead of the prince, who had been struck silent by yet another miracle.
    But Marco knew the greatest wonder was about to come.
    As the heavy wooden portal swung aside, they could see a single shaft of sunlight falling through the window onto the bed. Exactly as Marco had left her, the Princess Briar Rose lay upon her bed, blue silk velvet coverlet drawn up to her breast, a single red rose caught in her fingertips. Her golden hair was outspread upon the white silk pillow, and her thick-lashed eyelids were closed above pale, alabaster cheeks. Reynard stood and adored her.
    “How beautiful,” he whispered. “She is a dryad. An angel. A goddess!” But he did not move.
    “Push him,” Marco ordered. He and Bruno applied their noses to the back of Reynard’s knees. The prince nearly fell over, but he stumbled forward. He halted again at the bedside.
    “Very well, friend puss,” he said to Marco. “You have led me here. What must I do to awaken this sleeping beauty?”
    “Humans!” Marco said scornfully. He leaped up onto the princess’s pillow. The little hollow where he had always slept was still indented. Marco’s heart pined a moment for that soft recess. If this man married his adored Briar Rose he could be relegated to the floor, or worse yet, the stables! But she must not sleep on into eternity. She must arise and marry and fulfill her promised life of happiness. He had sworn faithfully to the fairy godmothers that he would bring back a prince worthy of her. He must not hesitate now. Humbly and with love, he leaned down and licked Briar Rose on the cheek. Then he turned and looked meaningfully at Reynard.
    The prince smiled. “I see. I hope I can give as much of myself to her as you have, to trot all the way across the land to me on your four feet. Give me room, my brave friend.”
    Marco made way for Reynard as the prince leaned over and touched her lips very gently with his own. The gold-lashed eyes fluttered open, and Briar Rose smiled up at her own true love.
    As if a thick door had suddenly been opened onto a room where a party was going on, sounds erupted outside. Men shouted, animals bellowed, birds sang. The cat heard the joyful voices of the fairy godmothers and the king and queen. The prince lifted Marco up to show him to Briar Rose.
    “Your valiant little friend led me here to you. I am Reynard, second son of the king of Greenaway. Since I’ve been so bold as to kiss you, may I ask you to marry me?”
    “Yes!” Briar Rose said. She sat up to embrace Reynard, squeezing Marco between them until he emitted a squall of protest.
    “I am sorry, O brave one,” Reynard said, laughing. “Here.” He reached down for a silk cushion from the floor and plumped Marco down onto it on the foot of the bed. “So long as you live you shall have a place of honor here, in token of our thanks to you. Your brave friends shall