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unfortunately, minus one of their number already. But with you on the team, I’m sure your teammates’ fortunes, and indeed the prospects of all of Terrifitemps, will improve immensely.”
    They would? If Ms. Siggenbottom didn’t intimidate Lenny quite so much, he might have asked her how he was supposed to do that sort of thing. Not that he even knew what he meant by “that sort of thing.”
    â€œVery good,” Ms. Siggenbottom added when it was apparent that Lenny had nothing to say. “You will be under the command of Mr. Karnowski. Follow his lead, and I am sure you will do very well indeed.” She clapped her hands. “Now the rest of us must get back to work!”
    Well, Lenny thought, at least now he knew what he was expected to do. At least after a fashion. He followed Karnowski and Lenore out of the room.
    They had not walked ten feet before they heard another blood-curdling scream. All three of them turned back to the office they had just left. The scream had come from somewhere inside.
    â€œWithers again?” Lenny asked.
    Lenore shook her head. “That scream came from someone more powerful than Withers.” She turned and ran back to the other room. Lenny followed as quickly as he could.
    As soon as Lenny stepped back through the door, he saw exactly what Lenore had been talking about.
    Ms. Siggenbottom now stood on top of a desk at the room’s center. She had a wild look in her eyes, far different from her usual strict composure. The employees crowded around the desk had all taken a step back, as if to give their director extra room.
    Ms. Siggenbottom looked straight at Lenny and his team. She announced, in a clear and commanding voice:
    â€œGiant economy corn dog!”
    â€œWhat?” the pale man said at his side. “Karnowski does not—”
    â€œGiant!” Ms. Siggenbottom’s voice rose close to a scream. “Economy! Corn! Dog!”
    â€œShe’s having trouble speaking,” Lenore explained with her usual frown. “Something is interfering with her voice—no—her ability to communicate.”
    The director pointed at Lenore and shook her head vigorously. “Giant economy corn dog!” Her brow furrowed, as if she was doing her utmost to concentrate. “Giant!” She bit her lip, and took a deep breath. “Economy giant dog corn!”
    Karnowski looked grimmer than usual. “Everything else this morning may have happened before. This, Karnowski believes, is new.”
    â€œCorn dog!” Ms. Siggenbottom screamed in agreement.
    â€œLenny!” Lenore cried over her shoulder as she rushed to their boss’s side. “Stay close! Perhaps together we can use our powers to restore Ms. Siggenbottom!”
    Lenore gripped both of the director’s shoulders and stared deep into her eyes. “Ms. Siggenbottom! Speak to me!”
    â€œGiant—” the older woman began.
    â€œNo!” Lenore commanded. “Those are only words! Reach past them, and speak!
    â€œI—Oh—Eeee—” Ms. Siggenbottom began to tremble. “Shrah—shrin—shrink swelling in your mucous membrane!” She shook her head. “Membrane! Mucous mucous!”
    â€œI do not believe this is progress,” Karnowski murmured darkly. “What does Lenore see?”
    â€œI believe there are darker things, lurking beneath,” the young woman replied, her forehead creased in concentration. “But in her conscious mind, nothing but corn dogs.”
    â€œLenny!” the younger woman called. “Take my hand! Together, we can bring her back!”
    Lenny took Lenore’s outstretched hand. Her fingers were cool to the touch. “Ms. Siggenbottom! We’re here to help! Look at us! What do you want to say?”
    â€œMucous? Corn dog?” She shook her head violently. She tried to smile past her spasms. “Fa-fa-fa-fun for the whole family!”
    Karnowski caught