Before he had time to realize he'd been tricked, he found himself being pushed from behind by an unseen hand. Down he sprawled, landing face-first on the sticky floor of his workroom! He tried to get back on his feet again, but he discovered that he was caught in his own trap.
     "Oops," he heard Understump call out softly. "Clumsy me."
     The next thing Gregorio knew, the little fairy was running along his legs and up his back, using the trapped man as a bridge. The Cabinetmaker could feel Understump jump from the back of his head and he could hear him land on the bench, but he never saw the little fairy. Not even when he dropped the apple off beside him on his way back out of the workroom.
     Well, it took some doing, but, eventually, Atalaya and Sacco managed to get Gregorio unstuck. As soon as he was freed, he started the long and smelly process of making more glue. He had used up the last of his wood glue in setting up the trap, and, without Understump's help, he would have to work day and night to make more so he could stay in business.
     "Poor, husband," said Atalaya. "You're a good man, but you are not so clever as you think. Understump is a slippery one, but don't worry, my dear, I have a plan."

Return to Red's Castle