A Tiny Key for Dinkabel

The frosty wall was tall and thick, but Dinkabel did not mind one bit. She reached into her handy belt pouch and pulled out a small wooden mallet. Tap-tap-tap went the mallet against the icy crust. Crisp little chips of snow flew into the air like powdered sugar, dusting the toes of Knut’s cozy underpant spacesuit.

High above their heads, the tall ice pillars began to hum. It was not a scary noise, but a light, tinkling chime, like teaspoons clinking against glass cups. Then, out from a crack in the frost stepped a tiny creature. It had six silver legs, two bouncy wire antennae, and a round metal tummy that went whir-click, whir-click with every step. It was a clockwork frost-beetle, no bigger than a blueberry, marching proudly across the crunchy drifts.

"Look down, Knut!" Dinkabel whispered, lowering her mallet.

The little beetle marched in a neat circle, right up to the toe of Knut’s left boot. Tied to its shiny back was something even smaller: a minuscule brass key, glowing like a buttercup in the cold blue shade.

Knut knelt in the powdery snow. His warm pink glow spread across the drift, turning the white crystals a lovely shade of peach. He stretched out one big, round pink thumb and a clumsy forefinger, trying to pinch the tiny key. But his fingers were much too soft and squelchy. Every time he tried to take hold, the key slipped away like a wet seed. Knut gave a warm, puffing sigh, his heart-shaped head tilting to one side.

"Butterfingers," Dinkabel teased softly with a grin. She knelt beside him, smoothing her blue tunic over her knees. From her pouch, she brought out a pair of bright silver tweezers. "Hold very still, little fellow."

With a steady hand, Dinkabel pinched the delicate tweezers around the little brass loop. Snip, snap, lift! Up came the key, free from the beetle's back without a single wobble.

The frost-beetle gave three quick, cheerful clicks, wiggling its silver antennae as if to say thank you. It sat back on its shiny hind legs and watched expectantly. Just ahead, nestled deep within the frozen hollow, the sleeping unicorn's crystal shell waited quietly, its pearl-white mane still glowing like a little nightlight in the snow.