Shocked by my appearance, the young man looked from me to William.

“What do you mean?” I repeated.

He took a step back. “Are you one of them?” he asked. “A Record Keeper?”

“I am.”

My answer scared him. He backed away, glaring at William.

“Wait, don’t go,” I said. But he was gone.

William turned to me.

“Don’t look at me like that!”

“I told you stay,” he said.

I lifted my chin. “Well, you weren’t asking the proper questions. If there’s been a fire at Point Landing, it’s likely the work of Voltaire’s Army. Point Landing is mere miles from Cobane. We have to inform the authorities. I’m a favorite of Jones. I can alert her. I can help!”

“Jones?”

“The Headmistress at the Schoolhouse,” I explained.

William looked appalled. “Not tell Jones.”

“We’ve got to get that man, the one with the bandana, back here.”

“No,” William said firmly. “He not talk more. We get water.”

“I want to know about the fire,” I protested.

William took the bucket from my hand and refilled it from the spout. “We get water,” he said again. “Arika must drink.”

“I’m not drinking until you tell me what you know. Who was that man with the bandana?”

William looked at me a long time. He sighed. “The man is Martin,” he said, emphasizing the first syllable. “He is Kongo Rebel.”

“But, he said he wasn’t a Rebel,” I breathed.

“He lies.” William’s eyes held mine, inviting me to see the truth of his conviction.

“Tell me more,” I demanded. “Where is Martin’s messenger? Does Martin know Voltaire? Does Voltaire know of the New Seed?”

Behind us, another voice shouted, “Do not answer that!”

I gasped and jumped around. “Hosea!”

“Did I tell you to leave the sick room?”

“You told me to stay with William.”

“Yes, in the sick room, by the sick beds. Not out here, where you can do actual harm.”

“We were just getting water.”

“That’s not what it sounded like.”

“William, tell him!”

“Leave William out of this.” Hosea lunged forward.

William stepped in his path. “Kha not touch Arika.”

From behind the wall of William’s body, I watched Hosea stop as if shackled.