At this point Saucerhead's marvelous legwork petered out. Meaning there might yet be legwork reserved for me.

I went through the other Ymberian's pockets. He didn't have his own roc's egg. He did come equipped with a little teak box. Inside: "One of them metal dogs." Frost formed on it. Despair hit like a kick in the gilhoolies. Whispers of darkness filled my head. I just managed to shut the box. "Whoa! That was ugly."

Saucerhead and John Stretch were gla.s.sy-eyed, with Tharpe smitten harder than the ratman. Cutlery hit the floor in the kitchen. A-Laf's boys didn't react. Because the Dead Man had frozen up. Those he controlled had followed his lead.

Old Bones had taken the psychic equivalent of a punch to the breadbasket. He huffed and puffed, on the mental side, getting his balance back.

"That was some bad s.h.i.t," Saucerhead rumbled, shivering. "How about you don't open that friggin' box no more?"

"You got a deal, buddy."

55.

The situation improved once those of us who weren't guests of the Crown surrounded a few beers. I told John Stretch, "You've been quiet."

"As a mouse." A joke? "My mouth has been full."

"You got a point. It's not full now, though. What's up?"

"We have located your lawyer."

"What?" I chomped down on Harvester Temisk's name in a moment of paranoia. "Why didn't you say so?"

"I just did. And your partner has known since my arrival." John Stretch no longer seemed intimidated. "There is no need for haste."

It was night out and winter out and the Dead Man wasn't excited about getting something done right away. Maybe it could could wait. wait.

Saucerhead reminded me, "Chodo don't move so fast and light no more, Garrett. I figure, wherever the mouthpiece has got him stashed, that's where he'll stay till he gets flushed out."

"That's the common wisdom now? That Temisk kidnapped him at Whitefield Hall?"

"Ain't no better theory ever come up. Some folks even wonder if the Green Pants guys wasn't just a diversion for to cover his getaway."

Interesting theory. "And, flushes him?" What? I felt an idea trying to be born. Kolda. Yeah. And my late bout with herbal poisoning. "Hey. Old Bones. What're the chances Belinda's been poisoning her old man? Temisk might be trying to get him straight."

If so, the woman is more clever than we credit. She has been here many times, betraying only her ongoing complicity in profiting from her father's misfortune. In the financial and emotional senses alike so, the woman is more clever than we credit. She has been here many times, betraying only her ongoing complicity in profiting from her father's misfortune. In the financial and emotional senses alike.

There may be substance to your speculation, however. If other parties had regular access.

"Didn't Merry say Rory has somebody inside?"

Interesting. Yes. Let me reflect on the possibilities.

"It would explain some stuff. You sure I shouldn't hit the bricks right now?"

You are not yet recovered.

John Stretch said, "My people will keep watch."

That wasn't rea.s.suring. Ratfolk are notorious for cashing in on anything salable. The whereabouts of the kingpin might be the most marketable commodity in TunFaire today.

John Stretch tried to rea.s.sure me. "My watchers do not know who they have staked out. They believe we are watching a burglary ring whose plunder h.o.a.rd we intend to convert to our own advantage. They know only that they are to inform me who goes in and out."

This ratguy was a natural. Dangerously bright. "Can you track somebody to their next hideout in this weather?"

"Singe can."

I was skeptical.

Your anxiety is understandable, Garrett. And not misplaced. But you must must regain strength. You are not yet capable of an extended journey, let alone physical excitement regain strength. You are not yet capable of an extended journey, let alone physical excitement.

"If John Stretch can find them, so can Rory or Teacher." Chodo had had friends on the Hill. No doubt Rory Sculdyte did, too. Those people and Syndicate bosses are sides of the same coin, down in their b.l.o.o.d.y, greedy black hearts.

And there are countless low-talent, self-taught storefront and street-corner magicians. Not all of them are charlatans.

"Good work, all," I said. "What do I owe you, Saucerhead? After deductions for food and beer?"

"What? You got no sense of hospitality. I wouldn't never try to charge you if you was a guest at my place."

"How do I know that? I don't even know where you live."

Saucerhead showed me one of his professional hard-guy looks. It didn't take. After a pause, he said, "Singe paid me."

"If I go get in line now, a place might open up in the workhouse before I'm completely dest.i.tute."

"I wish I was half as bad off as you're always poor-mouthing. I'd have to go live on the street."

I could see how. Saucerhead comes equipped with low expectations and a knack for showing up at suppertime.

John Stretch told me, "The stewed apples and Weider's Select are compensation enough for me." He had to work at "compensation."

I nodded but thought, "Not good." What insanity would the rat king drag me into if I stumbled into his favor-for-a-favor universe?

That kind of nightmare had me chasing Chodo now.

The Dead Man suggested, You all should turn in for the night. Garrett, I will generate a distraction that will allow you to leave unnoticed in the morning. Mr. Tharpe. We have further need of your services You all should turn in for the night. Garrett, I will generate a distraction that will allow you to leave unnoticed in the morning. Mr. Tharpe. We have further need of your services.

Evidently I was expected to improve dramatically during the night.

So I went upstairs and slept some more. I had to move Tinnie with a crowbar. If she'd been any more asleep, we would've needed an undertaker.

56.

Singe woke me.

"Don't you ever sleep, girl? Where's Tinnie?" I was alone.

"She went home. Saucerhead took her. She was not feeling well. She was afraid she caught what you had. She wanted to be where she could get a real physician to visit."

"c.r.a.p!" Something to worry about on top of everything else.

"She said don't worry on her account. She will be with her family."

"Double c.r.a.p. You know what that means."

"In my limited experience, I would say it means you had d.a.m.ned well better find room in your busy day to go hold Tinnie's quivering hand. You can rest after you are dead."

She'd read Tinnie pretty good. "Nothing I can do about that right now. So why wake me up?" There was no light from outside.

"The Dead Man says it will be time to get moving when Saucerhead gets back. Also, Mr. Dotes just returned. I thought that might be important."

I glanced at the window. It had better be real important. It was flat dark out there.

Singe told me, "Dean is grumbling like a volcano G.o.d, but he is cooking and fussing about going back to bed later. When you dress, remember that it is raining again. And looks likely to turn to ice or snow."

"Sounds exciting." I swung my feet onto the floor, stood. I didn't know how bad I'd felt before until I realized how good I felt now. "Wow! I think I'm cured."

"Yes. And your bed buddy left a little too soon." She nodded toward half-mast.

I glanced down. And flushed. "We're getting too casual and comfortable with each other around here."

Singe resisted further comment. "I should consult the poisoner. I'm due for a season. None of us need that distraction."

She was right. Ratgirls in heat distract everybody. They have no more control than a cat in heat.

"Where are our kittens? I haven't seen them for a while."

"Hiding from A-Laf's wicked men."

"I see." Interesting.

We all breakfasted while Morley explained his appearance at such an ugly hour.

"My place caught on fire."

"With you there? Your boys are more clever than I thought."

"Yes, with me there. And it wasn't their fault. To my surprise. Though, shall we say, not so much a surprise after all, considering. I hear you got your rock back from the guy who switched it out. May I see it?"

"Huh? On the curio thing. Top shelf." I looked at Old Bones. He wasn't inclined to explain.

"There are two here, Garrett. Which one?"

"The one with the scratches is the one that got flung at me."

"I don't see any scratches."

"You can feel them. And there's a chip out of the pointy end. Do you see that?"

"A little black spot?"

"Yeah. What's up?"

"The fire started in the dent where this. .h.i.t my door. I don't know how. Or why. Or why now. It was like a charcoal fire. About this big when we found it."

He made a circle with his forefingers and thumbs. "It wouldn't go out. We ended up taking the door down. We piled ice and snow on, but it kept burning till the wood was all gone."

"I know a good door and hinge man."

"Well, you'd have to. Wouldn't you?"

"Ha! And ha again. Old Bones. What do you think?"

Consider the possibility that you were not the target of that stone. The intent may have been to burn Mr. Dotes' business.

"That's a long jump."

Not too long considering what I prized out of the Brittigarn person. And hints I find in these minds. Though one is a wasteland and the other remains mostly locked.

"What motive could these lunatics have?" Morley asked. "I hadn't heard of them then."

Possibly they wished to distract you from Garrett's situation. No. That is too great a stretch. We do not have sufficient information. You have eaten. Garrett, I suggest you get started. Mr. Tharpe is about to arrive.

"Am I up to this?"

Yes. Though you will not be alone.

"What's up?" Morley asked as Singe appeared, ready for the weather.

"Got a couple of things to check out. Buy Claxton first."