I say to Michaela, “How long did it take you to learn that?”

“Four years.”

I’ll be long gone by then. Docker says casually, “We also teach some basic self-defense moves. Against the sleeper hold, for example—maybe you’ve seen it used in Ultimate Fighting.”

He grapples Michaela from behind, wrapping an arm around her throat. Instantly she tucks her chin against her chest, drags down on his arm, kicks his shin, and twists free.

He grasps her by both wrists. She steps toward him, leans back, whips her hands up and out, and stamps on his instep—except it isn’t there.

She says, dead serious, “I can break the bones in his foot that way.”

I don’t want to be impressed.

Docker says, “Thanks a lot, Michaela.”

“My pleasure, Sensei.” She bows to the old guy in the photo and pads out the door.

“Does that give you the general idea, Brick?”

“I can’t do any of that!”

“I can teach you enough so that never again will your face look like ham on a hook. At least not with a single opponent. But I don’t want you having unrealistic expectations—this isn’t the movies. You’re young, so you don’t yet have the upper body strength for punches that’ll accomplish much. It can take years to perfect those. Karate will give you focus and balance, though, and improve your speed. And I always teach elbow and knee strikes, along with kicks, for self-defense.”

So he must have believed me when I told him Snyder and his gang beat up on me. As long as it stays that way, I’m safe. “I gotta go.”

Docker says calmly, “You’re in no shape to start anything for a few more days. On Wednesday I’ll pick you up around four thirty and we’ll get started. Wear sweatpants, a T-shirt, and sneakers.”

I jam my hands in my pockets. “How much is this gonna cost me?”

“For now, it’s on the house.”

“I don’t get it—what’s in it for you?”

“Next time you have a tussle with your ATV, you’ll come out on top.”

Very funny. “So I’m a charity case?”

“Brick, anyone who joins the dojo gets a few free lessons before they have to pay. Let’s just see how it goes, and we can talk money later.”

“I’ll let you know by Tuesday if I decide not to come.”

Cassie isn’t ready to be separated from the plastic cash register. Docker says, “You can play with it again another day, Cassie.”

Like I said, persistent.

5.3 [pride and prejudice]