Summary

In “The Fourth Dream,” Sanji is a bird who flies above the Earth. The Strange Bird, as air, follows beside Sanji. In the dream, Sanji is made up of many different animals. The Strange Bird marvels at the wonders of being nothing.

In “Time and the Cloak,” Charlie X strokes the Strange Bird. The Strange Bird uses this touch to create a map of her new body. The Strange Bird loathes Charlie X’s touch because she has “no say in the matter” (68). The Strange Bird feels like the “Old Man in the trapdoor, half-in, half-out” (68). A break in the narration signifies a passing of time. So much time that the Strange Bird has become accustomed to being used as the Magician’s camouflaging cloak. The feral children are used to test the strength of the Strange Bird...