“Well, we’ve got so much work ahead of us, Lester. Do you see how your becoming the herbal wizard is having not just a good effect on others, but a residual effect, as well? Actually that is a bit futuristic, but you can see what I mean. You have helped save the lives of many a mouse. Now, this next assignment may just seem like a forage through the garden, but it is extremely important. I want you to go on a hunt. Take a paper and pencil with you, as I don’t want you to just do this by memory. Go to every garden within ten miles and write down the amounts and locations of these plants: carrots, sage, parsley, basil, chili peppers and thyme. For the carrots and chili peppers, I want only the ones on the list that actually have the fruit, or in this case, veggies,” Nogdorf asked.
Nogdorf went back to check on their tiny seamstresses while Lester left on his journey. He looked on from a little distance but within hearing range. Merina seemed to have everything under control and he was pleased at the stacks of shirts and pants. He listened as Merina seemed to be talking. “Now we have all of the rabbits fitted, let's work on the bigger animals. Silly Sally, will you please round up the deer to be fitted. Girls, please keep sewing. I am amazed at how quickly you are turning out the clothes! Don’t get weary cause we still have a lot to do,” Merina commanded in her tiny voice.
Nogdorf got an idea. He realized they would need to go much faster than the little mice were able to work at the present and he had a spell to teach Lester. He found Lester napping under the big elm. Nogdorf fought off the temptation to get angry at Lester for goofing off while everyone was working so hard. He walked up to Lester and clapped his hands. Lester jumped, did a great kick with his hind legs out of surprise and then saw Nogdorf. Oh, um ahem, hello Nogdorf. I finished with the list. What should I do next?”
Nogdorf took a look at the list and was disappointed at how few of the items Lester had found. His shoulders drooped. He didn't often feel discouraged, but at this moment felt like he had the weight of the good creatures on his shoulders; that Lester was not helping to carry the responsibilities he should be. He sighed and asked, “Lester do you think you can get me 5 pounds of thyme?”
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Lester, feeling convicted about napping while everyone was working so hard and seeing Nogdorf’s discouragement said, “Yes sir, right away sir,” and took off with a jump and a hop. He was back within an hour with all of the thyme Nogdorf had requested. As Nogdorf stood up and received the thyme, his spirit renewed and he spoke.
“Lester, are you ready to learn a new spell?”
“Of course! That’s what I’m here for.
“Ok, get a big pot and put it on the fire and put all of the thyme in it along with three gallons of water. Get a big branch and start stirring,” Nogdorf instructed.
Lester complied and Nogdorf gave him the next instructions. “Ok, now stand on one foot and start spinning. Spin as fast as you can and for as long as you can.”
Lester started spinning, turned around twice and fell on his rear. “Is that all you’ve got, Lester? Let me explain the importance of what you are doing. The spell you are working on right now will help Merina and the other 40 mice to go faster so we can be ready when the dark creatures get here. So get up and put everything into your spins. This will imitate the inner workings of a pocket watch.”
Lester stood up, breathed in and out slowly 5 times, stood on one foot and started spinning. He spun and spun and as he became nearly invisible from spinning so fast, a curious thing happened. The thyme water started rising out of the pot, whirling and twirling around and like a long finger, touched each of the mice, one by one. Lester started spinning slower and fell down, exhausted. Time was changed for the mice by the thyme. I’m sure you have heard of double-time. Well this thyme spell caused the mouse seamstresses to not only go double time, but actually five times their normal speed.
Nogdorf had to caution the rest of the animals to not watch the mice while they worked under the influence of the thyme spell to prevent them from having a seizure. He instructed Lester to rest for an hour so he could recoup his strength for the next spell. He had never seen this Thyme Warp spell work before and was amazed as the hands of the little mice flew. The stacks of finished clothing grew and Nogdorf decided to have each of the animals take their Gossamer Shield clothing home with them and to wear them each day, in order to be ready. He thought about Lester’s next step. The gathering was necessary, but would Lester be able to do the next spells on the fly?
