"And you want to make a career of it. I'll tell you something. I'm not killing my customers. You want it done that way, you do it yourself."

She tried a feeble threat.

"You don't have any power over me anymore. Go to the Inquisitors. They'll take you to a truth-sayer. Partner."

Lisa shivered. Shed held his tongue till they neared the black castle. "Let's not play games anymore." He was considering selling her along with Gilbert, but decided he could not muster the hatred, anger or downright meanness to do it.

He stopped the mules. "You stay here. Don't get off the wagon no matter what. Understand?"

"Yes." Lisa's voice was small and distant. Terrified, he thought.

He knocked on the black gate. It swung inward. He resumed his seat and drove inside, stepped down, swung Gilbert onto a stone slab. The tall creature came forth, examined the body, looked at Lisa.

"Not this one," Shed said. "She's a new partner."

The creature nodded. "Thirty."

"Done."

"We need more bodies, Marron Shed. Many bodies. Our work is nearing completion. We grow eager to finish."

Shed shuddered at its tone. "There'll be more soon."

"Good. Very good. You shall be rewarded richly."

Shed shuddered again, looked around. The thing asked, "You seek the woman? She has not yet become one with the portal." It snapped long, yellow fingers.

Feet scuffed in the darkness. Shadows came forth. They held the arms of a naked Sue. Shed swallowed hard. She had been used badly. She had lost weight, and her skin was colorless where not marked with bruises or abrasions. One of the creatures raised her chin, made her look at Shed. Her eyes were hollow and vacant. "The walking dead," he whispered.

"Is the revenge sweet enough?" the tall creature asked. "Take her away! I don't want to see her." The tall being snapped its fingers. Its compatriots retreated into the shadows. "My money!" Shed snarled.

Chuckling, the being counted coins at Gilbert's feet. Shed scooped them into his pocket. The being said. "Bring us more live ones, Marron Shed. We have many uses for live ones."

A scream echoed from the darkness. Shed thought he heard his name called.

"She recognized you, friend."

A whimper crawled out of Shed's throat. He vaulted onto the wagon seat, snarled at his mules.

The tall creature eyed Lisa with unmistakable meaning. Lisa read it. "Let's get out of here, Mr. Shed. Please?"

"Git up, mules." The wagon creaked and groaned and seemed to take forever getting through the gate. Screams continued echoing from somewhere deep inside the castle.

Outside, Lisa looked at Shed with a decidedly odd expression. Shed thought he detected relief, fear, and a little loathing. Relief seemed foremost. She sensed how vulnerable she had been. Shed smiled enigmatically, nodded, and said nothing. Like Raven, he recalled.

He grinned. Like Raven.

Let her think. Let her worry.

The mules halted. "Eh?"

Men materialized out of the darkness. They held naked weapons. Military-type weapons.