“No,” Rector assured her. It wasn’t true. One of the Station men had let him borrow one. But he was semiconfident Zeke had nothing on him except the miner’s pick.

Zeke held his ground. “We’re only playing a supporting role.”

“Yeah? And who told you that?” she asked, knowing as well as Rector that it wasn’t the way Zeke usually talked.

“Yaozu. He wants us out of the way, but he knows we can help. We’ll be real careful, Mrs. O’Gunning, and we’ll be back tonight for some cider, if you’ll let us have any. I think we’ll all be celebrating before long.”

A new voice chimed in. “I don’t.”

Now Zeke started stammering. “Hello … Miss Mercy.”

“Heading out to fight, are you? Well, I don’t guess anyone could stop you. But I’m not looking forward to a celebration, because I know who’ll be patching up those of you who fall out of trees, or get your fingers blown off, or get shot when the tower men realize they’ve been had.”

Lucy O’Gunning nodded sadly. “You got the rooms set up?”

“As best I can. Rector, you’ve moved your stuff out, ain’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. That’s one more bed, plus the six we’ve got on either side. I pray we don’t need ’em. Miss Lucy, I was hoping I could trouble you for a few bottles of your highest-proof grain alcohol. Might want it later on.”

“Sure, honey. I’ll get you what I’ve got.”

Lucy reluctantly turned away from the boys and opened the door once more, it having closed itself behind them. But Mercy Lynch lingered, and she said to them, “Best take care of yourselves. I’ve seen boys younger than you made heroes, and made dead.”

Zeke blushed, Rector would’ve sworn to it. “We’ll take care of ourselves.”

“I hope so. You’re grown men, or close enough as makes no difference to anyone but your mothers. So stay alert, keep your head down, and don’t take any silly chances.” She left them with that, and the last thing Rector saw as she disappeared into Maynard’s was the battered Red Cross on her bag.

Rector swatted at Zeke’s arm. “Don’t let her put you off. We got a job. Let’s go do it.”

“I know, but…”

“But nothing. Don’t let her see you going soft.”