Among the Barons

to watch out for him.” Oscar grinned in a way that reminded Luke of a drawing of the Big Bad Wolf in the fairy tale book his mother had read to him when he was little. Hadn’t there been a story in that book about how stupid it was to let a wolf guard sheep?

“Do Mr. and Mrs. Grant know that you, urn, I mean…,” Luke began.

“That I know how Lee died? That I know Smits isn’t so crazy after all — just stupid? That I work for the resistance? Do you think I’m crazy?” Oscar peered intently at Luke, and for a minute Luke thought he expected an answer. Then Oscar exploded, “Of course not. They don’t know anything.”

“Well, that’s good,” Luke muttered.

Oscar laughed. ~Yeah, you could say that I just ‘happened’ to show up here looking for work at the right time. ‘Do you need a bodyguard for your sons?’ I asked. ‘Sons,’ I said, even though I knew Lee was already dead. And it just so happened I had perfect credentials. “ He smirked. “Perfect fake credentials, of course.”

'Oh,” Luke said. He frowned. ~Then if the Grants don’t know, and you’re not worried about Smits — what’s the problem?”

“The Grants are being blackmailed,” Oscar said.

Luke Looked back blankly at Oscar. “Blackmailed? Is that where—'

Oscar didn’t wait for Luke to figure out the meaning. “Someone knows what really happened to Lee. And he — or they, whoever it is — has been threatening to reveal the truth to the Government if the Grants don’t pay lots of money”.

Luke stared at Oscar. This wasn’t just about the Grants and Lee. This was his life on the line, too.

^TMAre they paying it?” Luke asked.

“So far,” Oscar said. “But they want to stop.”

And suddenly Luke understood. Suddenly he knew why he’d been taken away from Hendricks School, why the Grants had called him into the secret room only a few hours ago, why they suddenly had a use for him after months of ignoring him.

“That’s why they want me to pretend to die,” Luke said. “They don’t care about Smits or grieving at all. They’re just trying to stop the blackmail. It’s all about money.” He was perfectly willing to believe the worst about the Grants. But then he remembered — should he have revealed so much to Oscar?

But Oscar was nodding grimly. He clearly knew all about the Grants’ plan.

“I suspected that that was what they were telling you tonight,” Oscar said. “Well, don’t worry. You’re not going to die. Smits is going to die in your place.”

CHAPTER 24

For the longest time Luke could only stare wordlessly at Oscar. Then he managed to croak, “Just pretend, right?”

“Oh, right,” Oscar said quickly. “We’re going to fake Smits’s death, the way the Grants were planning to fake yours. After that, the Grants wouldn’t dare let anything happen to you, because it would look too suspicious to have two sons die in bizarre accidents. And as Lee Grant, you can help the cause. Think of all you can do from this base of operations. They couldn’t stop you….

Luke remembered what Mr. Hendricks had said before Smits came to Luke’s school: “I’d have a better chance of stopping the wind than stopping a Grant from doing what he wants.” What if Luke could really act like Lee Grant, could really carry off that kind of overwhelming power? He could almost believe in Oscar’s fantasy. Almost.

“But what would happen to Smits?” Luke asked.

“Oh, we’d hide him away somewhere,” Oscar said. “Not that it matters. He’s such a worthless brat.”

Luke tried to imagine Smits in hiding. He’d been miserable enough at Hendricks, which was a paradise of freedom compared with life in hiding. How could Luke force Smits into the same prison Luke had escaped?

“Isn’t there some other choice?~ Luke asked hesitantly. “Can’t you just stop the Grants’ plan without hurting Smits?”

Oscar laughed. “Do you really care whether Smits gets hurt or not? This is war. Nothing’s going to be accomplished without someone getting hurt. Why shouldn’t it be Smits? Is there someone else you’d prefer to see in pain?”

Luke went cold. Was Oscar threatening him? Did Oscar care who got hurt? Would he care if somebody died?

“I don’t want anyone hurt,” Luke said in a small voice. “Can’t we do this. peacefully?”

This time Oscar’s laughter was overwhelming. It took him a full five minutes to regain control.

“Oh, puh-lease,” Oscar said, still snorting laughter. “Do you avoid stepping on ants, too? Maybe I misjudged you. I didn’t take you for a sissy. I didn’t take you for a Baron lover. Just another drone supporting the ruling class and the Government—”

“I don’t support the Government,” Luke said angrily.

“Well, sure, you can say that,” Oscar taunted him. “But I’m giving you a chance to strike a blow for freedom, and you’re scared some spoiled Baron brat might get treated a little roughly. What’s Smits to you, anyway? What’s he ever done for you?”

“Nothing,” Luke said, but it wasn’t true. Luke couldn’t forget the slow unreeling of confidences Smits had told Luke all those nights back at school. Smits had shared all his memories of the real Lee. Luke had never asked for them. They didn’t make Smits any less infuriating. But Luke couldn’t forget them. He couldn’t forget that Smits wasn’t just a Baron, but a real boy, already deeply hurt, already deep in grief.

How could Luke be responsible for hurting him more?

“We don’t have to decide anything tonight, do we?” Luke asked. “Mr. and Mrs. Grant said they were going to dye my hair and get me braces. Nothing’s going to happen right away. We have time to think this out. Maybe — maybe if we work together we can think of a better plan….”

Oscar snorted.

“I thought someone like you would jump at the chance to help the cause. I thought you were like me,” he said. “I thought you had guts.”

“I do!” Luke wanted to say “I am! I would!” But the words wouldn’t come. Because he wasn’t sure. Of anything.

Oscar didn’t give him a chance to interrupt.

“Don’t you see?” Oscar said. “You don’t always get time to think, time to consider carefully We have an opportunity now that we can take or we can miss. And if we miss it, what happens then?” He stared straight at Luke. 'I need your answer tonight Are you with me or not?” Luke gulped.

“I don’t know,” he said. That seemed to be the bravest answer he could give. It was, at least, honest.

But what place did honesty have around people like Oscar and the Grants?

It was too hard to sit there with Oscar staring at him, waiting for him to decide. Abruptly Luke stood up.

“What are you doing?” Oscar said.

“Um, going back to bed?” No matter how hard Luke tried to sound strong and certain — as tough as Oscar— his voice rose into a question. “I’m — I mean, a good night’s sleep will help me think Could you open the door for me, please?”

Luke was practically begging. Oscar had all the power now. If he wanted to, Oscar could keep Luke prisoner until Luke agreed to help him. What would Luke do then?

But Oscar stood up, too.

“Just one word of advice before you go,” Oscar said. “Watch out for chandeliers.”

CHAPTER 25