“He already explained that, Hubert,” Jessie scolded him. “There ain’t anyone left in town to call, and we can’t bring anybody else here or they’ll just become . . . well, like those things out there. We just gotta stay put, wait for morning. Mr. Stiles is just going for more of them silver shells.”

“Oh. Well, maybe I’d better go with you. . . .”

“I don’t think so,” Stiles said, patting the man’s shoulder. “One might get through, but not two. Besides, with the deputy laid up, it’s up to you and Jessie to keep them out, okay?”

Hubert grinned and saluted. “Yessir. Don’t you worry about a thing. This station will stay secure. You bet.” He glanced toward the window. “I’ve got a question, though. Just how’re you gonna get out without them seeing you?”

“That’s what I’ve been asking myself. I’d say they’ll be watching the doors and the windows down here. My better bet is upstairs.” He loosened the braid wound ceremoniously around the scabbard and used it to strap the sword across his back.

Deputy Bean propped himself on his good arm and called to Chris. “I still think it’s a damn fool plan,” he said, “and the whole thing leaves a dark brown taste in my mouth. But there ain’t much I can do to stop you. So what I can do is wish you luck. And if you come back in here with teeth to your knees, I promise to kill you proper.”

Stiles nodded and gave a thumbs-up, then left the parlor.

His mind was working, hatching a plan as he climbed the stairs to the darkened second floor. He’d surveyed the house while taking Mrs. Fleming around, and now used that knowledge to gauge his best avenue of escape. He couldn’t simply drop from a window, not in the open—it would be suicide. So that narrowed his choices to only two rooms, one in the front of the house and one in the back. Both had stout tree limbs within reach, and each had its advantages. The front window would be the riskier of the two, since the front yard was so well lit by the security lamp by the road. But it would put him out that much closer to the van. Perhaps it was worth the risk. He went there first.