“Dynamite,” Hero said, pointing to a concentric series of red X marks on the map. “Here, here, and here—all around the northern perimeter, just far enough from the dam to be safe. A series of controlled explosions that will drive the ferals toward the Gate.” They pointed to the next row of X marks below that. “Then another series, here, and another here, just south of that one. The idea is to keep the detonations behind the ferals, driving them closer to the Gate, not giving them a chance to double back.”

“Like a funnel. A hippo funnel,” Houndstooth added.

Archie examined the map, nodding. “And we will have the Gate open, right? So they just scoot out into the swamp and then head down to the Gulf?”

“Exactly,” Hero said. “We close the Gate behind ’em, spend a few weeks rounding up any stragglers—and then sit back and enjoy the Harriet for the rest of the year.”

“And how does the Coast Guard feel about this?” Archie asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” Houndstooth said peevishly. “The Coast Guard isn’t where the money’s coming from, so they’re not our problem.”

“You don’t think we should be concerned about the Coast Guard?” Archie said, incredulity lifting her brows. “Not even a little concerned?”

“What, are you Alexander Hamilton’s great-great-grandniece twice removed or something?” Houndstooth snapped. “It doesn’t matter, Archie.”

Cal sniffed, wiping his nose on his sleeve. “More important question: who’s gonna light the fuses?”

Hero pulled two small black boxes out of their saddlebag, holding them aloft when Cal tried to grab one. “These,” Hero said, “are remote detonation devices. I just push this button, and . . . boom.”

Cal looked extremely dubious. “Hop shit,” he said. “I’ve never heard of a remote detonator.”

“That’s because I invented them,” Hero responded icily.

“I’ve seen them work,” Houndstooth confirmed. He stared at Hero with an admiring smile. “They’re amazing.”

“Why two?” Archie asked. Hero smiled, enigmatic.

“Always have a backup plan, Archie.”

Adelia stared at the map, her lips moving silently for a few moments. Then she frowned, her hands pressing against her belly. “This is a good plan. It will work, so long as you don’t get eaten.”

Houndstooth cleared his throat. “Hero will be riding Ruby while they set the charges.” He said it with a hard look at Hero that spoke to many arguments over this decision. “Ruby can dodge the ferals’ notice, and Travers’, too.”

Adelia glanced at him sharply. “We don’t want this Travers to know what we are doing, is that right?”

Houndstooth nodded. “We’ll be sticking to the islets, camping without a fire, laying low as we can. Until the job is done. We don’t want to get on his bad side, Adelia. Travers is not a man whose eyes you want on you, if you’re disrupting his business.”