Silent Annie forced a smile to her lips, then left the room for a moment and returned with a chipped porcelain pot and three cups carried on a plastic tray.

“Thank you,” said Cain, taking one of the cups.

Silent Annie made a squeezing gesture with her hand.

“I don’t understand,” said Cain.

“She wants to know if you’d like a slice of lemon,” said Moonripple.

“No, thanks,” said Cain as Moonripple reached out and took a cup for herself.

Silent Annie walked over to a couch that was covered by a blanket, placed the tray on a nearby table, and sat down, staring questioningly at Cain.

“He wants to meet Santiago,” volunteered Moonripple. She paused for a moment. “I told him you’d take him there.”

Silent Annie arched an eyebrow.

“I promised him, Annie,” said Moonripple.

Silent Annie made a gesture with her hands that Cain could not interpret.

“Because he saved my life.”

Another gesture.

“A very mean man came into the tavern and tried to hurt me, and he stopped him.”

Silent Annie stared at Cain, appraising him.

“Will you take him, Annie?”

Silent Annie sat motionless for a moment, then nodded her head.

“Thank you!” said Moonripple happily. “I knew you would!”

Silent Annie continued to stare at Cain, who met her gaze. Finally she turned back to Moonripple and made another gesture with her hands.

Moonripple turned to Cain. “She wants me to leave now.”

“How will I talk to her?”

“She’s very good at making herself understood,” Moonripple assured him.

“Let’s hope so,” he said. “I didn’t know what the hell she was doing when she spoke to you with her hands.”

“She’s been teaching me sign language, but she has other ways of communicating.”

“Then I thank you for your help,” said Cain, getting up and helping her to her feet. “I hope we meet again.”

“You’re a very nice man, Sebastian,” she said, standing on her tiptoes and kissing his cheek. Then, suddenly embarrassed, she turned and scurried out of the room.

“How soon can we start?” asked Cain.

Silent Annie held up her hand, palm outward, signaling him to wait, then walked to the window. When Moonripple reached the road and began heading back toward the village, she turned back to him.

“Soon,” she said.

“What?” said Cain, startled.

“We’ll start soon enough,” she replied in a firm voice. “But first I think we’d better have a little speak.”

“I thought you couldn’t speak.”

“I can, when I have something to say, Mr. Cain,” said Silent Annie.

“Why do you pretend to be mute?” he asked.

“So I won’t have to answer stupid questions.” She sat down and sipped from her cup of tea. “You’ve come to kill him, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I have.”

“Why?”

“There’s a price on his head.”

“And that’s the only reason?”

“How many more do you need?” replied Cain.