“I suppose so. What is that?” he asked, nodding at the mortar, purely for distraction.

“Echinacea,” I said. “It’s a bit early, but I need it. You dig the roots in autumn, because that’s when the plant starts storing its energy in the root; it doesn’t need to keep flowers and leaves going.

“You realize,” I added, pausing for breath, “that distance notwithstanding, the only things keeping Nicodemus Partland’s thugs—I mean, it must be him, mustn’t it?—from going through the Ridge like a dose of salts are you and Jamie?”

Roger looked as though he wasn’t surprised to hear that but was still discomfited.

“Aye,” he said slowly. “Ye can see it in Lodge. Ye know it’s not done to talk politics or religion there? Equality, Fraternity, et cetera?”

“So I’ve heard.” I’d slowed down a little in my pounding, and gave him a wry smile. “I always assumed that was a custom more honored in the breach, though. Um … knowing what people are like, I mean.” Men, I meant, and he noticed, giving me back the wry smile. He tilted a hand to and fro in equivocation.

“The Lodge members mostly keep to the letter of the law there—but what happens in practice is that some men just stop coming, if they’ve got substantial differences.”

I stopped pounding and looked at him. “That’s why Jamie always goes on Tuesdays—he’s staked the Lodge out as his territory?”

“Yes and no. He’s modest about it, but he is the Worshipful Master. And frankly, any place with him in it tends to be his territory.”

That made me laugh, and I picked up a bottle of beer from the counter, took a swig, and offered it to him.

“But?” I said.

He nodded and took the bottle.

“But. He encourages everyone to come, regardless, and he keeps the peace—in Lodge, where he can do it without it being overtly about politics. But as ye say … in the breach. Men do talk, and even if they’re not talking about politics, it’s easy enough to tell who’s who. And after a point—most of the committed Loyalists stopped coming.”

“They’re gathering at the captain’s house?” I guessed, and he nodded. That gave me a qualm.

“How many?”

“Twenty or so. Most of the Ridge folk are on our side, though the larger part of them would really just rather be left alone and no be bothered.”

“I can’t say I blame them,” I said dryly. A high, thin scream came from the window and I turned sharply but relaxed again almost at once.

“Mandy and Orrie Higgins are collecting leeches for me, with Fanny,” I said, waving at the window. “They keep putting them on each other. Speaking of that—” I leaned back a little, looking him over. “Were you looking for Jamie, or do you need medical attention?”

He smiled, recalled to his mission.