Chapter 9

“Feel on the inside of your loincloth. You should find doubloons in a small pocket.”

To Steve’s surprise, there was a tiny pocket near his left hip. Inside, he found three smooth and warm doubloons.

“You only need one. Save the others for later wishes. It’s time to make a wish.”

Steve slid one doubloon out of its cozy nest and held it up in front of his eyes: gold and shiny-bright; the same size a rare fifty-cent piece that he could run across in Low Hollow upon his travels. It had a Thor-looking bearded man on one side, and an embossed picture of the meadow on the opposite side.

“Turn around,” Gio requested.

Steve listened.

“Now close your eyes.”

Steve listened again.

“Hold the doubloon over your right shoulder, think of a wish, and toss it into the well. I advise you tothink hard, with all your heart, with passion, or the wish won’t come true.”