Mabel watched us with a frown. After consultation with Isabel, we decided that an iguana was too large, but that a bearded dragon was an acceptable substitute. Ibby wasn’t interested in snakes as companions. I called Luis, who answered on the first ring, sounding worried. “Could you bring the truck?” I asked. “We have things to carry.” “Everybody all right?” “Everything’s fine,” I said. “I bought Isabel a pet.” There was an interestingly long silence, and finally he said, “Is it poisonous?” “Not that I am aware of.” “That’s ... surprising, somehow, from you. All right. You can explain it all to me later.” I gave him the address, and Isabel and I spent the hour until he arrived quite happily encountering wildlife, in the gentle glow of Mabel’s benign residual Earth powers. Esmeralda was, I thought, in the best possible place; Mabel was protective of all her charges, including a girl who might be tempted all too easily to dangerous aggression. If Mabel was uncomfortable with the exhibition aspect of Esmeralda’s situation, it was clear that Es reveled in it; she enjoyed seeing the discomfort and horror on people’s faces.
