Strange Creatures of Dr. Korbo by Gilbert L. Morris

patient,” she said. “I think this will help him.”
    Josh followed them inside, where Meta made a compress out of one kind of leaf and bound it over Dave’s wound. With another kind they made a brew of strong tea. The aroma of it filled the air as it bubbled over the fire.
    â€œHere,” Gus said. “If you drink enough of this, you’ll be fine. It’ll make you good looking. That’s the secret of my good looks, you know.”
    Dave did not seem impressed by this, but he managed to grin. “I’ll look forward to that, Gus,” he said.
    The compress and frequent drinks of the strong tea did seem to do wonders for Dave. By the next morning he was able to sit up and felt like walking around a bit. “My arm’s stiff,” he said, “but I feel much better.”
    â€œThat’s good,” Josh said. “We were all worried about you.”
    Dave looked rather embarrassed. “I’ve been kind of a pain in the neck lately, Josh. I’m sorry. I just got carried away, I guess.”
    â€œThat’s all right, Dave,” Josh said quickly. “We all get carried away at times.”
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    Sarah and Abbey and Meta were at a small creek washing diapers when Sarah looked up to see the beautiful palomino that she had named Lady trotting toward them. With delight Sarah jumped up and ran to meet the unicorn. “Lady,” she said and stroked her nose, “you came for a visit. All by yourself.”
    The girls admired the mare for a while, then went back to work. Lady watched curiously. From time to time she would come close, sniff at one of them, and then stamp her hoof.
    â€œShe seems so curious. They love us,” Sarah said.
    â€œI think they love everybody,” Meta said. “They’ve got love in their eyes.”
    The girls had just finished their washing, when there was a sharp animal cry. Then a huge weasel with a long body, sharp teeth, and reddish eyes emerged from the bushes and came straight for them.
    Meta screamed. Abbey screamed. Sarah made a frantic grab for her sword, then remembered she hadleft it back in the cave. W e hav e n o weapons ! she thought wildly.
    Lady reacted, too. She lowered her head and charged the vicious looking animal. The eighty-or ninety-pound weasel was fearless. He sprang to meet the unicorn.
    Lady’s needle-sharp horn struck the weasel in the breast. It fell and lay still. The unicorn backed away, her eyes fiery. The girls had not needed weapons.
    They ran to the unicorn and began petting her.
    â€œOh, thank you, Lady,” Sarah cried. “You saved our lives.”
    Later on, when the boys came to view the body of the weasel, Reb looked at Lady and grinned. Her eyes were bright, and she seemed to have suffered no ill effects from the encounter. He stroked her mane. “Well, you’re mighty pretty, Lady, but I guess you can do just about anything when you take a notion.”
    Lady stamped her hooves and nibbled at Reb’s hat. She plucked it off his head.
    â€œHey, take it easy!” he said. “That’s my favorite hat.”
    The unicorn dropped it and then began to pull at his hair.
    Sarah laughed at the sight. “She loves you, Reb.”
    â€œShe’s a handy critter to have around,” Reb said. “I’d like to turn her loose on some of those squirrels.”
    â€œShe could handle them,” Sarah said proudly. “I think a unicorn can do most anything.”

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12
Josh’s Plan
    S arah looked over to where Josh was changing Susie’s diaper again. “You don’t mind doing that, do you?”
    He looked up with surprise. “Nope.” Then he grinned.
    â€œMost boys would think that’s sissy.”
    â€œMost boys can think what they want to.”
    â€œThat’s what I’ve always liked about you, Josh,” Sarah said.
    â€œWhat? That I can change diapers?”
    â€œNo. That you’re not