Some of them belonged to the wizard Bomanz, he told me. Others date from the Domination. Some are TelleKurre. Only the Ten use that language anymore.

Bomanz? I asked.

Right. The one who wakened the Lady. Whisper got a hold of his secret papers somehow.

Oh.

Indeed. Yes. Oh.

We parted, each to be alone with his fears.

Soulcatcher came sneakily. He wore clothing not unlike ours outside his customary leathers. He slipped into the

column unremarked. How long he was there I do not know. I became aware of him as we were leaving the forest, after three eighteen hour days of heavy marching. I was putting one foot ahead of the other, aching, and mumbling about getting too old when a soft feminine voice inquired, How are you today, physician? It lilted with amusement.

Had I been less exhausted I might have jumped ten feet, screaming. As it was, I just took my next step, cranked my head around, and muttered, Finally showed up, eh? Profound apathy was the order of the moment.

A wave of relief would arrive later, but just then my brain was running as sluggishly as my body. After so long on the run it was hard to get the adrenaline pumping. The world held no sudden excitements or terrors.

Soulcatcher marched beside me, matching stride for stride, occasionally glancing my way. I could not see his face, but I sensed his amusement.

The relief came, and was followed by a wave of awe at my own temerity. I had talked back like Catcher was one of the guys. It was thunderbolt time.

So why dont we look at those documents? he asked. He seemed positively cheerful. I showed him to the wagon. We scrambled aboard. The driver gave us one wide-eyed look, then stared determinedly forward, shivering and trying to become deaf.

I went straight to the packets that had been buried, started to slip out. Stay, he said. They dont need to know yet. He sensed my fear, giggled like a young girl. Youre safe, Croaker. In fact, the Lady sends her personal thanks. He laughed again. She wanted to know all about you, Croaker. All about you. Youve caught her imagination too.

Another hammer blow of fear. Nobody wants to catch the Ladys eye.

Soulcatcher enjoyed my discomfiture. She might grant you an interview, Croaker. Oh, my. Youre so pale. Well, it isnt mandatory. To work, then.

Never have I seen anyone read so fast. He went through the old documents and the new, zip.

Catcher said, You werent able to read all of this. He used his businesslike female voice.

No.

Neither can I. Some only the Lady will be able to decipher.

Odd, I thought. I expected more enthusiasm. The seizure of the documents represented a coup for him because he had had the foresight to enlist the Black Company.

How much did you get?