Her presence certainly excited the Green Pants Gang. My front door was proof.

And the human combustions? I had only hints.

And now a new question arose. How the Tersize family fit. Warehousing stolen goods and housing out-of-town religious gangsters wouldn't happen without them noticing. h.e.l.l, they were using A-Laf's Ugly Pants s.e.xtons for security.

And why had that stone been slung my way? I couldn't make that fit. It had gem-plus value because of its dark capabilities.

Had Colonel Block and Director Relway taken stones off the Ymberians they'd arrested? Would they guess what they had?

Something to think about.

60.

A tall, thin old man with wild white hair and exaggerated facial features rushed into the camp. He moved fast for his age but had a major stiffness in his hips. He walked goofy. I couldn't hear what he said, but it had to be about ratman raiders. Everybody but Temisk and his buddy moved out fast, armed.

"Showtime," I whispered. Morley nodded.

I didn't sneak now. I went to a ladder and climbed down. Those two weren't going to run.

As I descended I noted a coach hidden in a shadowy corner. No doubt the vehicle used to spirit Chodo away from Whitefield Hall. There was no sign of a team.

My advent startled Temisk. He pulled himself together quickly, though. "How did you find us?"

"That's what I do." Chodo, I noted, seemed fully alert.

"The trouble outside is a diversion?"

"No. But I'm taking advantage."

"So you found us. Now what?"

"Now you tell me what's going on."

He thought about that. Then he leaned aside and stared, eyes widening in fright.

I'd been joined by several hefty rats. They perched on their haunches like squirrels, studying Temisk.

Temisk gaped. More rats arrived. He gasped, "You... you have the power to control rats?"

"We have a working arrangement."

Temisk shuddered. Squeaking, he took a swipe at a big bull clambering into Chodo's lap.

"Don't do that." How did John Stretch know Temisk had a problem with rodents? "There're more of them than there are of you."

"There were rats in the kitchen at Whitefield Hall. The rats told you how to find us."

"Rats go everywhere. They see everything. They hear everything."

Temisk had the full-blown heebie-jeebies now, but his brain hadn't shut down. "You got this connection because of the ratgirl, eh?"

"Talk about what you've up to, solicitor. Not about rats. I know all I need to know about rats." No horses for the coach. I wouldn't get Chodo and Temisk out the easy way. "I'm not happy with you."

"I just wanted to get Chodo away from those people. All right?"

"You tried to kill people. A lot of them. Deliberately. Including me. With fire. But none of us died."

He put on a show of confusion.

"You tried to set me up, Temisk. But it fell apart. Before it came together. Same for your friends from Ymber."

I kept an eye on Chodo. He was intensely interested.

I waved at the air. Morley and Saucerhead materialized. Singe took longer. She climbs ladders faster than she comes down them.

John Stretch remained unseen.

I said, "We need to move these two out before those thugs come back. Singe. You recall that evil stone?"

"Yes."

"Sniff around. See if you can find another one. Or anything else interesting. Morley. Peek out that street door. Check for witnesses."

"You aren't thinking about just rolling them out of here, are you?"

I had been. But I saw the problem before he pointed it out.

"You really think you can wheel Chodo around in public and no one will notice?"

"Let me think about that."

Morley reported, "We don't want to leave this way. There's a mob out there grabbing stuff the ratpeople didn't get before they took off."

"We'll go back the way we came. Me and Saucerhead will take turns lugging Chodo." Tharpe put on an expression of pained disbelief. "You and Temisk handle the chair. Singe. You find anything?"

"I just started. You should stop talking and start doing."

Temisk was terrified now. He had a notion what the future held. He didn't want to go there. Chodo wasn't thrilled, either.

Saucerhead hoisted Chodo as though he were weightless. And there wouldn't be as much of him as once there had been. I told Temisk, "Grab that chair and start climbing, solicitor." I heard voices approaching. "Singe, hurry up."

She beat me into the loft. "I will lead the way." There was no sign of John Stretch.

He would be watching, though.

61.

Morley peeled off near The Palms. He needed to clean up for the evening trade.

I was squeezed up inside a borrowed covered goat cart with Chodo and his wheelchair. Saucerhead and Harvester Temisk pulled. Renewed weakness had overcome me soon after we escaped unnoticed from the Tersize Granary, with a battle between Green Pants guys and wannabe looters warming up around the corner.

So now another stolen cart would turn up outside my place.

Singe hurried ahead to alert the Dead Man. Complaining about her cold, wet tail as she faded into the distance.

Occasionally, I suspect Saucerhead of being less dim than he pretends.

My nap ended when he backed the cart up suddenly-bang-into the corner of a building. The cart's tongue rose slowly, putting me at increasing risk of getting dumped into an icy mess in the mouth of a dark and fetid alley.

A voice said, "How about you grab back onto that cart, Tharpe? Otherwise, you could get hurt." I didn't recognize the voice.

Saucerhead let me know. "You kidding, Fish? I'm on a job. I ain't gonna let you mess it up."

Fish? That would be Fish Ba.s.s, then. One of Rory Sculdyte's less daunting a.s.sociates. A manager, not a serious physical threat.

"Plenty, get Temisk. Bobo, Brett, spank Tharpe if he interferes. And see what's in the cart. Chodo Contague his own self, I'll bet. Because where would Chodo be if he wasn't with his lawyer pal? Rory wants to talk to you, Temisk. d.a.m.n it, Tharpe-" A meaty thump interrupted. "s.h.i.t!"

Harvester Temisk squealed. Suggesting Saucerhead had laid a good one on Plenty Hart.

Saucerhead said, "You try to run, lawyer, you wake up wishing you was dead."

Meanwhile, I dribbled out the back of the cart, counted arms and legs to make sure I hadn't left any behind, then unlimbered my head knocker and iron knuckles.

I heard grunts and thuds as Tharpe exchanged love taps with Rory Sculdyte's infantry. There was some chatter farther off as people gathered to be entertained. The cavalry didn't arrive.

I checked the situation from ground level. Saucerhead had gone into action on the side of the cart where it b.u.t.ted against a wall. So, although he was cornered, n.o.body could get behind him. And I had room to go to work.

I sucked in a bushel of air, bounced into the contest. I smacked a startled Fish Ba.s.s between the eyes, whacked Harvester one that put him down and discouraged him from taking a powder, then popped Fish again so he wouldn't interfere.

I approached Saucerhead's dancing partners from behind. "Can I cut in?" Bobo Negry was no problem. Saucerhead had hold of him with his left hand, using him as a crutch. Iron knuckles to the back of his head shut him down.

Which left Brett Batt. Brother Batt had a big mouse over one eye, a b.l.o.o.d.y nose, and several split lips. And was having the time of his life hammering on Saucerhead. Tharpe was going to lose this one. He was too exhausted to fight much longer.

My first mighty swing missed Brett. My second was a glancer that did little but get his attention. I didn't have much go left myself.

Brett flailed behind him, knocked me down, resumed demolishing Saucerhead.

I put everything into a whack at Batt's right knee.

Good enough. Brett yelped. His leg folded. Saucerhead launched a roundhouse kick he'd saved for the right time, connected with Batt's left temple.

Two more kicks and a few more love taps from my stick and the wide load went to sleep. Finally. He would enjoy aches, pains, bruises, a headache, and a bad limp for days to come.

I got my feet under me. "We've got to get out of here." I checked the others.

Fish Ba.s.s had him one thick skull. He was a hundred feet down the street and gaining speed, though unable to navigate a straight course. Harvester Temisk was inclined to make an exit of his own, but his world was spinning so briskly he couldn't keep his feet under him. I tossed him in with Chodo, then asked Tharpe, "You all right, man? You look like s.h.i.t."

"Just shut up and get me to your place."

"But-"

"He got me in the goolies, all right? Go! We got to disappear."

Yeah. Word was spreading. I hadn't heard any whistles, but Watchmen would be closing in. Let them find nothing but broken Sculdyte henchmen. And better hope none of the gawkers were civic-minded enough to follow us.

We ran into Singe on Wizard's Reach, tail in paw, coming back to meet us, a block from where the Dead Man would be able to offer some protection. A swarm of shivering pixies accompanied her. Saucerhead and I had kept one another going while making sure Harvester didn't escape. And he did try.

"What happened?" Singe asked. Melondie Kadare hovered behind her, trying to keep warm.

"Ran into some bad guys. His Nibs ready to bring us in?"

"Yes. But-"

It hurt to talk. Still, "We got to hurry. Then this cart needs to go away. Fast. People will be looking for it."

"So move if you need to move. Mr. Tharpe should get somewhere..."

"I think it's going to snow again." We resumed trudging.

"What? What the h.e.l.l do you mean, Garrett?"

"I mean you ought to calm down and-"

"Look out!"

I was supposed to look out for Teacher White, leaping out of cover with wild eyes, wilder hair, and no obvious awareness of the misty drizzle. He looked like he had been living on the street. But he did come equipped with a fully loaded, c.o.c.ked, safe-catch-off war surplus crossbow. It looked huge from my downhill end. A wild grin full of bad teeth shone behind the weapon and a seedling beard. "You ruined me, you son of a b.i.t.c.h! But I got your freakin' a.s.s now!"

A man ought not to get so worked up he forgets what he wants to do. I know. I overthink all the time.

I never broke stride. Teacher swung his aim to track me. Melondie Kadare darted into his face, stabbed him in the tip of the nose. His eyes crossed. Melondie's companions buzzed his ears.

Teacher let go the crossbow with his left hand. I placed a long jab on the back of the hand he'd raised to his nose. He yelped. Tears blinded him.