Finally Alvin spoke—to the others, not to her. “Best be on our way, boys,” he said. “Arthur, you run and tell Audubon to dry off and get dressed.”

“Yes, sir,” said Arthur quietly, and he was gone.

“Aren’t you even going to argue with me?” asked Purity.

Alvin looked quizzically at her for a moment, then walked away toward where Mike Fink had gone to stand watch. Only Verily Cooper remained.

“So you admit that what I said is true,” said Purity.

Verily looked at her sadly. “What you said is false as hell,” said Verily. “Alvin Maker is the best man I know in all the world, and there’s no trace of evil in him. He’s not always right, but he’s never wrong, if you understand what I’m saying.”

“That is just what I’d expect a demon to say of his master the devil.”

“There,” said Verily. “What you just said. That’s why we’re giving up on you.”

“Because I dare to name the truth?”

“Because you’ve latched on to a story that can capture everything we say and do and turn it into a lie.”

“Why would I do that?” asked Purity.

“Because if you don’t believe these stupid lies about us, then you have to admit that they were wrong to kill your parents, and then you’d have to hate them, and they’re the only people that you know. You’d be a woman without a country, and since you’re already a woman without a family, you can’t let go of them.”

“See how the devil twists my love for my country and tries to turn it against me?” said Purity.

Verily sighed. “Miss Purity, I can only tell you this. Whatever you do in the next few hours and days, I expect you’ll have plenty of chance to judge between Alvin Smith and the law of New England. Somewhere inside you there’s a place where truth is truth and lies get shed like raindrops off oil. You look in that place and see which is acting like Christ.”

“Christ is just as well as merciful,” said Purity. “Only the wicked claim that Christ is only forgiving. The righteous remember that he denounced the unrepented sin, and declared the truth that everlasting fire awaited those who refused to choose righteousness.”

“He also had sharp words for hypocrites and fools, as I recall,” said Verily.

“Meaning that you think I’m a hypocrite?”

“On the contrary,” said Verily. “I think you’re a fool.”

She slapped his face.

As if she hadn’t touched him, he went on in a mild tone of voice. “You’ve been made foolish by the harm that’s been done to you, and by the fact that the wickedness of this place is so small compared to its goodness. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t real, and hasn’t poisoned you, and won’t kill you in the end.”

“God dwells in New England,” said Purity.

“He visits here as he visits all places, and I dare say he finds much to be glad of in these farms and villages. A garden of the soul. But still aslither with snakes, like every other place.”