“Leave me, I’ll do it,” he said. “Go fix up Miig so we can get out of here the second we’re all free.”

“You sure?” She waited. He nodded, and she opened the blades and tucked the metal between his palms so he could get a good rhythm going. Then she ran back over to Miig and threaded a new needle.

“What about us?” Slopper called out. “We’re in shackles!” He rattled the chains for emphasis, and my heart sank, even as I kept running through combinations.

I looked over at Wab, who had her eyes closed, and yelled, “Don’t worry, Slop. Once we’re out, we’ll get you. We’re not going anywhere unless it’s together. All of us. We’ll figure it out.”

I clicked another notch on the dial and yelled, “Go!” I rolled my aching shoulders, ready to try again, but this time, there was a small click and the clatter of the lock hitting the floor.

“That’s it!” Zheegwon tried to spring to his feet but had to sit back down when he almost fainted.

“Easy, now, we don’t need any more injuries in here. Take your time.” Rania tied off the new stitch and started pulling out new cloth to dress it.

After a few seconds, Zheegwon slowly stood. He pulled the baseball cap out of his back pocket and put it on, then leaned over and helped Tree with the last of his ropes. When it fell loose and his brother was free, they embraced, tight and short, and then Tree took the hat and put it on his own head.

“You’re next, French.”

“I can’t get out of these cuffs.” Slopper was getting flustered. “How am I going to get out?”

“Don’t, little man, just hold on, we got you.” Tree made short work of my ropes, and then I was free, and the twins crossed the room to get to Slopper. “Let’s see. Maybe we can pick this thing.”

I had just gotten to my feet and was reaching for the cage when we heard a car pulling into the driveway.

“It’s too late, they’re here!” Slopper’s face crumpled. Isaac, who had been bouncing his upper body in excitement, slumped back against the wall and hung his head. Rania yelled for us to hide the scissors, so I kicked them over to her. She slid them under her thigh.

Footsteps approaching from outside. Three, now four voices.

“Everyone get back in your spots! Hide the cut ropes!” I knew we didn’t have time to plan, but we could at least keep the element of surprise on our side. “Everyone ready?”

The door chains were being unlocked. I looked around. The twins had their backs to the wall with their hands behind then. My own ropes were under my butt. Miig was groaning but conscious, and Slopper had clean marks down his face from tears. Then I looked into the cage.

Wab was still rocking, but she was different, mechanical, not there. One hand held the baby, supporting her head, and the other hand was placed securely over the baby’s mouth and nose. She was singing a traveling song slow and soft under her breath. Someone was leaving. Who was she singing for? Then I realized her hand was making a tight seal over the baby’s face so no breath could get in or out.