The second hand swept around to the point that was preordained for it before the world began. Clarissa suddenly brought down the hammer with all her force on the beautiful gold watch. "That's all," she said. "Your troubles are over. See, there is Blanche Manners' cat on the sidewalk just where she was seven days ago." And the cat was back. "Now let's go down to the Plugged Nickel and watch the fire plug come back." They had only a few minutes to wait. It came from nowhere and clanged into the street like a sign and a witness. "Now I predict," said Clarissa, "that every single object will return exactly seven days from the time of its disappearance." The seven-day terror had ended. The objects began to reappear. "How," asked the mayor, "did you know they would come back in seven days?" "Because it was a seven-day disappearer that Clarence made. I also know how to make a nine-day, a thirteen-day, a twenty-seven-day, and an eleven-year disappearer. I was going to make a thirteen-day one, but for that you have to color the ends with the blood from a little boy's heart, and Cyril cried every time I tried to make a good cut." "You really know how to make all of these?" "Yes. But I shudder if the knowledge should ever come into unauthorized hands." "I shudder too, Clarissa. But tell me, why did you want the chemicals?" "For my chemistry set." "And the black velvet?" "For doll dresses." "And the pound of rock candy?" "How did you ever get to be mayor of this town if you have to ask questions like that? What do you think I wanted the rock candy for?" "One last question," said the mayor. "Why did you smash my gold watch with the hammer?" "Oh," said Clarissa, "that was for dramatic effect." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Seven-Day Terror, by R. A. Lafferty