Chapters 16-20 Summary

Chapter 16 - Once Upon a Time

Meggie was three years old when Mo found Inkheart in a used book store. He frequently read aloud to his wife and one night she chose to hear Inkheart. During his reading, several characters, Dustfinger, Capricorn and Basta, appear in the room. Basta seems to be threatening Dustfinger at knifepoint, with Capricorn watching. All three appear disoriented by the change of location. Basta attempts to draw his sword and drops it. Mo picks it up and uses it to hold them at bay. He notices that Meggie's mother has disappeared. Capricorn, mistaking Mo for a wizard that has displaced him by magic, demands to be returned. Mo forces Capricorn and Basta from the house with the sword.

Mo discovers that two of the family's cats are also missing and deduces that the 3 characters from the...