theanimalsmighthaveplayedajokeonhim,hestoppedassoonashewasoutofsighttotestthem.Hebecamelion,dog,eagle,andant;nextant,eagle,dog,andlion;theneagle,ant,lion,anddog;finallydog,lion,ant,andeagle.Yes,everythingworkedlikeacharm!Allsmiles,hemovedonward.
Beyondtheforestwasalake,onwhoseshorestoodthecastleofBody-without-Soul.Jackchangedintoaneagleandflewstraighttotheedgeofaclosedwindow.Thenhechangedintoanantandcrawledintotheroom.Itwasabeautifulbedchamberwhere,beneathacanopy,laythekingsdaughterasleep.Stillanant,Jackwentcrawlingoverhercheekuntilsheawakened.Thenheremovedthetinyantleg,andthekingsdaughtersuddentlybeheldahandsomeyouthatherside.
"Dontbeafraid,"hesaid,signalingsilence."Ivecometofreeyou.Youmustgetthesorcerertotellyouwhatcouldkillhim."
Whenthesorcererreturned,Jackedchangedbackintoanant.Thekingsdaughtermadeabigto-dooverBody-without-Soul,seatinghimatherfeetanddrawninghisheadontoherlap.Thenshebegan:"Mydarlingsorcerer,Iknowyoureabodywithoutasoulandthereforeincapableofdying.ButIliveinconstantfearofsomeonefindingyoursoulandputtingyoutodeath."
"Icantellyouthesecret,"repliedthesorcerer,"sinceyoureimprisonedhereandcantpossiblybetrayme.Toslaymewouldrequirealionmightyenoughtokilltheblacklionintheforest.Outofthebellyofthedeadlionwouldleapablackdogsoswiftthatonlythefastestdogonearthcouldcatchit.Outofthebellyofthedeadblackdogwouldflyablackeaglethatcouldwithstandeveryeagleunderthesun.Butifbychancethateaglewereslain,ablackeggwouldhavetobetakenoutofitscrawandcrackedovermybrowformysoultoflyawayandleavemedead.Doesallthatseemeasy?Doyouhaveanyrealgroundsforworry?"
Withhistinyantears,Jacktookineveryword,thencrawledbackunderthewindowtotheledge,whereheagainturnedintoaneagleandsoaredintotheforest.Therehechangedintoalionandstalkedtheunderbrushuntilhecamefacetofacewiththeblacklion.Theblacklionjumpedhim,butJack,beingthestrongestlionintheworld,toreittobits.(Backatthecastle,thesorcererfelthisheadspin.)Thelionsbellywasslitopen,andoutboltedaswift-footedblackdog,butJackturnedintothefastestdogonearth,ca
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