Mjolnir reached the back stoop, jumped up onto the rail and from there, to the windowsill. He looked in through the window. He could see Aunt Cathy on the floor, and Duke pacing back and forth between Cathy and the door. He sensed that he was going to need to cast a spell, but how to get into the house to do it? Just three weeks ago Louie had driven up and spent the better part of a Saturday tacking clear plastic over the old, drafty windows of the house, a chore he did for Cathy every year just before the weather turned. Only the window in the kitchen that looked out on the backyard and the ridge rising beyond had been left uncovered. Mjolnir could easily rip through the plastic, but that wouldn't get him through the windowglass.

He yeowled loudly to catch Duke's attention. Cathy heard him too and turned her head toward the window. She felt her fear and panic subside just a little at the sight of Mjolnir peering through the window at her. He'd find a way to summons help, worldly or otherwise. Cathy had tried to drag herself over to the phone, but the pain was so great she had nearly vomited. She was truly stuck there in the middle of the kitchen floor, in great pain and distress. It would be several hours before Big Bill and the kids were due to appear. Who knew what kind of shape whe would be in by then? She needed help as soon as it could be had.