“I might,” Marcus said, eyes still tracking the mob. “The problem is going to be getting off the grounds. There’s plenty of them still left at the gate.”

“There’s the Porter’s Gate on the north side,” the Preacher said. “But that’s locked up tight. I had hoped we could rig some kind of rope ladder to go over the walls—”

“We don’t have the time,” Viera said.

“What about the Students’ Gate?” Hayver said.

Marcus turned, startled. He’d forgotten the two rankers were there. Andy still stood by the door, looking nervous, but Hayver had stepped forward.

“There isn’t a Students’ Gate,” said the Preacher.

“I have never heard of one,” Viera said.

Hayver shrank a bit, cheeks burning. Marcus caught his eye and nodded encouragingly, and that seemed to hearten him.

“It’s not really a gate,” he said. “It’s a bit of a secret, really. Passed down among the older students. There’s a spot on the south wall where there are holes in the brickwork, under the ivy. You can climb over, and then some of the iron spikes come off.”

“How do you know this?” Viera demanded.

“I . . . talked to people. While I was here. One of the men in the hospital with me was a student who’d gotten hurt at Midvale. He told me all about what it was like when he was here . . .” Hayver swallowed. “Before he died.”

“Can you find this place?”

Hayver nodded. “Once I could get out of bed, I went to look for it. I know how to get there.”

“Then what are we waiting around for?” Viera said.

“Wait,” said the younger of the two Hamveltai. “Just wait a minute. If we go out there, if we run into them . . .”

“Maybe we should stay here. The Patriot Guards will be back eventually,” the other said. “If we barricade the doors, perhaps we’ll be safe.”

“I wouldn’t count on the Patriot Guard for anything,” the Borelgai said.

“I’m forced to agree,” Marcus said.

“Then maybe we could talk to them?” the younger brother said. “Someone must be willing to listen to reason—”

“Try it if you like,” Viera snapped. “I for one am not willing to take a chance on gang rape and vicious execution. Colonel?”

Marcus eyed Viera curiously. If she was afraid, it didn’t show in her face. Her eyes were still ice-cold. He gave a quick nod.

“She’s right,” he said. “We’ll make a try for this Students’ Gate, if Hayver’s sure he can find it. If you want to stay, stay.”

The Borelgai crossed immediately to Marcus’ side of the room, beside Viera. The two Hamveltai fell into a heated discussion in their own language, and the Preacher edged closer to Marcus and spoke quietly.

“I’m going to stay behind,” he said. “There’s a whole hospital full of boys who can’t be moved.”