“Thas’ whut Londer, ‘e tried t’say, but they got th’ girl’s tally from Temple an’ she’s no more’n bare fifteen an’ that jest turned!” Raf practically danced in place. “So ol’ Londer, he got it fer not schoolin’ th’ girl, an’ puttin’ er where Kalchan cud tup ’er, an not turnin’ over Hollybush proper. Cook’s hauled off someplace, still ravin’. Girl’s taken t’ Temple or summat. Kalchan, he’s wust, if ‘e wakes up, which Healers sez mebbe and mebbe not, ’e’s up fer murder an fer tuppin’ the girl afore she be sixteen.”

Skif had to sit down. Kalchan and Uncle Londer had always come out on top of things before. He could scarcely believe that they weren’t doing so now.

“Good thing ye weren’ there,” Bazie observed mildly. “Kalchan ’ud say t’was you was tuppin’ girl.”

“Me? Maisie?” Skif grimaced. “Gah, don’ thin’ so—ugh! Druther turn priest!”

“Well, wouldna’ be call fer th’ law if ‘twas you. Couple kids foolin’ ’round’s a thing fer priests, not the law. Summun old’s Kalchan, though, thas different, an’ reckon ‘f ol’ Londer don’ ’ang ‘is boy out t’ dry, he’ll say ’twas you.” Bazie rubbed his chin speculatively. “Don’ ‘magine girl ’ud conterdick ’im.”

“Don’ fergit, she’s in Temple,” Lyle piped up. “Dunno ‘f they’d git ’er t’talk. Mebbe use Truth Spell.”

“It don’ matter,” Skif decided. “I don’ want nothin’ t’do wi’ em. I ain’t goin’ back.”

Londer wouldn’t know where he was, nor would Kalchan, who was, in any event, in no position to talk. The trouble was Beel knew he had stayed away. So would Beel send anyone looking for him? And should he tell Bazie about all of this?

Reluctantly, he decided that he had better.

“This’s gettin’ complisticatered,” he said unhappily, and explained about Beel, and Beel’s warning.

The others all sat silent for a moment, their eyes on him.

“This Beel, ‘e knows nowt ’bout us?” Bazie asked, his head to one side, quizzically.

Skif shook his head. “‘E ain’t niver sed much t’me afore this,” he replied. “I allus figgered ’e wuz jest Londer ’s eyes. Niver reckoned on ‘im warnin’ me.” He considered the odd conversation a little further. “Must’ve known, an’ didn’ warn his Da neither. Niver reckoned on ’im stickin’ t’ th’ law—an’ ye kin bet Londer wouldn’t. Huh. Turned on ’is own Da!”

Bazie nodded slowly. “Niver know wut bein’ in temple’ll do wi’ a mun,” he said sagely. “Gets t’thinkin’ ‘bout ’is own soul, mebbe. Starts thinkin’ ‘is ol’ man cud stan’ bein’ took down a peg, mebbe figgers th’ ol’ man cud stand t’ get held ’countable. Figgers a kid don’ need t’ get mixed up in’t.”

“Point is, ain’t nobuddy knows ‘bout us,” said Raf. He stared intently at Skif for a very long and uncomfortable moment. Finally, the older boy seemed to make up his mind. “Bazie, I sez we votes now. Young’un ain’t behind wi’ helpin’, an’ Deek sez ’e’s good over roof. Bring ’un in.”