“Round and round and round and round she goes,” sang Anansi, his legs awhirl spinning globes and storms and stars alike, “where she stops, nobody knows — so place your bets, Brothers and Sisters all!”

Rainbow Serpent looped a protective coil around the world unimaginatively called Earth, keeping it out of Anansi’s reach; Aslan sprawled on Narnia’s hearth, firmly anchoring his young, favored world.

“Spoilsports,” laughed Anansi, and Rainbow Serpent could not help but wonder whether they had won or lost this round.