Joe wasn’t sure he could do that—this cousin had already caused too much damage—but he had to ask.

“I don’t know him,” she said. “I don’t know if he’s a good man or bad.”

“Considering he was behind the bogans’ little killing spree, I’d be guessing he’s not someone you have over to your place for a beer and a laugh.”

“I suppose . . .”

“It’s out of your hands now, anyway.”

She nodded. Looking down, she plucked at the fringe of her dress before finally lifting her gaze again.

“You never did answer my question,” she said.

Joe shrugged. “It’s just this theory I have that there’s not enough goodness in the world. And we need more of it.”

“I don’t understand the connection.”

“Well, see,” he told her, “if you do somebody a favour, expecting something in return, it’s not as pure as just doing it with no expectations. Doing it just for the sake of doing it, because it’s the right thing.”

She nodded again, but he got the sense that it was only to tell him that she was hearing him. Not that she understood.

“It’s a funny wheel we’re on these days,” he went on. “Sometimes I feel it wobbling so much I get worried it’s going to go right off track, and then where the hell would we be? The best way I know to keep it running smooth is make sure the acts of kindness outweigh the bad. I can’t do it for the whole world, but I can do it in my own life, and I figure every little bit helps.”

“So if I didn’t bring you back, you would still do me this favour?”

“Depends,” Joe said. “On whether it’s righteous. And whether I could. But if it was clear on both counts, then, yeah. I would.”

Anwatan smiled. “Minisino said you carry a mix of crow and dog blood. Are you sure you don’t have some deer in there, as well? Because I was just telling my bogan much the same.”

“That’s the thing about being a mutt. Go back far enough and who knows what you’ve got in the mix.”

“I like your attitude better than Minisino’s.”

“It’s all in the delivery,” Joe told her.

He stood in one smooth motion and offered her a hand up.

“I wish I’d known you when I was alive,” she said.

“All the spirits say that.”

She smiled again. It was a good smile. It took away some of the shadows in her eyes.

He started to let go of her hand, but she held his tighter.

“Hold on,” she told him. “I’m taking you back. And later . . . when you are done with your business with my father and the others, I will show you how to find my bogan.”