Summary

In Chapter 21, Kester reunites with the wild animals. The stag tells Kester that Polly and Sidney cannot come with them, but Polly convinces the stag to take her along by hugging him. Kester argues that she will be useful because she can speak with humans. They all get on the stag, but then Captain Skuldiss gets out of the van and shoots the antler off the stag. Undaunted, the stag and the rest of the group run through the trees. Captain Skuldiss chases them, but they outpace him all the way to the banks of a massive river.

In Chapter 22, the group jumps into the freezing river and is swept away. As they hurl downstream, Polly begins questioning Kester about his dad and asking whether or not he might secretly be evil like all the rest of The Factorium men. Kester gets...