Woody is new to the Forsaken Quarter. But from the moment he arrives, he finds this place strange. In the corn…
Woody is new to the Forsaken Quarter. But from the moment he arrives, he finds this place strange. In the corner by the Ash Pit, children grow! And they grow fast. Sometimes he spots someone passing by, and suddenly there's a small child wrapped in rags.
Woody reports this to Big Smart, the dog boss of Goldwater Street. Big Smart doesn't believe it. The children he knows are all pampered at home. If one runs out, two adults trail behind like tails, feeding and clothing them. How could children possibly grow from the Ash Pit?
Only when Woody takes Big Smart for a walk around the Forsaken Quarter does Big Smart finally admit that there really are places where children sprout from nowhere.
Now what?
Seeing a child with a bluish little face, Big Smart fetches his own small blanket. Woody brings a bamboo turtle he found on the road. The child doesn't react. Big Smart brings a meaty bone. Wood brings his favorite mushrooms. Still, those little lips stay sealed.
The two dogs, at their wits' end, start barking anxiously. Then they hear a voice behind them:
"What's all this noise?! Stop barking. Huh?! Where did this child come from?! Help! Someone, quick!"