"Let me transform them into something else." "No," objected the Skeezer.
"I love to transform things; it's so interesting.

And I've never transformed any fishes in all my life." "Let them alone," said Ervic.
"What shapes would you prefer them to have?
I can make them turtles, or cute little sea-horses; or I could make them piglets, or rabbits, or guinea-pigs; or, if you like I can make chickens of them, or eagles, or bluejays." "Let them alone!" repeated Ervic.
"You're not a very pleasant visitor," laughed Red Reera.

"People accuse me of being cross and crabbed and unsociable, and they are quite right.
If you had come here pleading and begging for favors, and half afraid of my Yookoohoo magic, I'd have abused you until you ran away; but you're quite different from that.

You're the unsociable and crabbed and disagreeable one, and so I like you, and bear with your grumpiness.
It's time for my midday meal; are you hungry ?" "No," said Ervic, although he really desired food.
"Well, I am," Reera declared and clapped her hands together.

Instantly a table appeared, spread with linen and bearing dishes of various foods, some smoking hot.