The temperature had dropped below freezing and the fence was slick. However, she managed to get to the other side without any sirens going off. Frost glittered on everything like a layer of magic dust. The otherwise empty, quiet amusement park looked eerie and threatening. The dark rides rose into the night like sleeping monsters with many arms. They were motionless, but appeared as if at any moment they could tear themselves loose of the ground and start walking. The swing carousel could have begun spinning wildly and the chains of the chairs could have snapped, sending them flying in every direction. The Magic Carpet could have taken flight and landed in the lake, sinking gurgling under the waves. The rides had been left to hibernate for the winter. There was no call to wake them because they would be angry. Lumikki had managed to slip away again without Sampsa waking up. The boy had a gift for deep sleep. This time, Lumikki had left so quickly that she hadn’t even left a note. She couldn’t risk him waking up.
