“Windy is also very ill,” the Vine Keeper said. “Why was she in the kitchen line? She needs rest, not work.”

“The quota needs be done—they say.” There was a shrug in the giant’s tone.

Hosea opened and closed drawers, pulling out small vials and leather bags. Each slammed drawer rang in my head.

“Time is gone. We must go now,” the giant said.

“We’ll go in due time. First, we have to put her to sleep.” He nodded in my direction.

I jerked, wanting to protest. I was so weak.

“I put to sleep,” the giant said. His towering shadow stepped forward, weapon raised.

“William—no.” Hosea blocked the giant’s path, his hand at his hip. My eyes narrowed. A tube hung in a holster slung low around his waist. It hadn’t been there during supper. The tube was silver and one-tenth the size of the giant’s club. From the defensive way he touched it, I sensed it was a weapon. “Put that away,” he said, nodding at the giant’s club. “It’s done for today.”

The giant tightened his grip on his weapon. “She scream. Bring Guard running. Stop Kha. No good. Kha must go to village. Many sick people.”

“She won’t scream unless you hit her again. Or scare her. Then neither one of us will go to the village. Let me put her to sleep instead. Besides, I thought you didn’t live by the club.”

The giant lowered his arm. “At times, I must,” he explained. “For the people—many sick people—I pick up the club to fight.”

Hosea took a vial from a sack at his side, knelt by his bed.

“Don’t.” I tried to turn my head.

“I have no choice,” he said. “If I leave you awake, you’ll raise an alarm.”

“I won’t tell.”

“Liar.” He dropped a pinch of powder into the vial and swirled it around.

“You’re his son,” I whispered. “I saw in the book. It said, father.”

He shrugged. “You can tell Jones. I assure you, she already knows.”

“But—”

“Don’t say any more. This will put you to sleep until tomorrow morning. When you wake, you’ll be confused. Just ring for the nurse and she’ll put you right.”

He pressed the liquid to my lips. I twisted away.

“Don’t be difficult. I’m the only thing standing between you and him.”

The giant spoke as if on cue. “Kha come now.”

I opened my mouth. The brew tasted awful and my upset stomach rejected it. Hosea helped me to my side and I vomited into the wastebasket.

“I think enough of it stayed down,” he said to the giant. “We’ll know in a minute.”

Suddenly, my eyes grew heavy, my limbs weak. I sank boneless into the bed. Hosea lifted the covers over my body. They smelled like mint. Lulled, I barely heard his parting words to me.