Big Dan turned to Rabedy. “Show him the way and then come right back. It’s time we got back to some real bogan business.”

“You’re dissolving our partnership?” Odawa asked.

“Nah. But I’m getting tired of all the pussyfooting about we’re doing when it comes to this pluiking corbae. These complicated schemes of yours—that’s not a bogan’s way. When you’re ready to finish the business proper, let me know and we’ll lend you the help we promised.”

“You don’t think I will deliver what I promised?”

“I didn’t say that. I just know I’ve got a man dead, and we’ve been doing a lot of running around without much profit to show for our efforts. What am I supposed to tell Gathlen’s mam and da? I should have something fine to offer them for their loss. Gold. Silver. Or at least a death they can brag about. But all I’ve got is the story of him dying the way he did, killed by some pluiking little girl while we’re running around playing fetch for some green-bree. How do you think that’s going to wash?”

“I understand,” Odawa said.

He seemed to take no offense at the derogatory term. Maybe he didn’t know what it meant.

“But let me ask you this,” he added. “Will one of your company travel with me to be my eyes?”

“To be your servant, you mean.”

“No, I will treat him with the respect you rightfully demanded of me.”

Big Dan didn’t speak for a long moment.

“Only if somebody volunteers,” he finally said.

He looked at his men, but none of them were interested until Rabedy stepped forward.

“I’ll go, Uncle,” he said.

Big Dan hid his surprise. What was this? The little pluiker actually showing some backbone?

“Fair enough,” he said.

Then he took Rabedy aside and whispered a name in his ear. He studied Odawa as he did it and saw the twitch in the blind man’s cheek. The other bogans hadn’t heard, but when your true name was spoken, even as the tiniest whisper, you always knew.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Odawa said. “My word is good.”

“I know,” Big Dan said. “And so is the name I gave him. But promises made or not, I had to do it. His mam’d have my hide if I let her boy head off into the unknown without my giving him the best I could to keep him safe.”

“You surprise me,” Odawa said.

“What? That I care about family?”

But the blind green-bree only shook his head.

“Come, Rabedy,” he said. “Show me this beach, if you would.”

Then the two of them stepped away.