Curse that ungrateful, lying schemer.
Standing beside me on the covered porch, Anna pulls out a newenvelope from her pocket, and tears it in half. “There’s nothing on the back,Hester, and nobody should recognize the color either. Plain white.”
I smile and take the paper rectangle. Anna keeps watch as I putmy tiny nub of a pencil to work.
MR. WATTS,
LEAVE THE FORTY DOLLARS UNDER THE COPY OF OEDIPUS IN FAUST’SLIBRARY. ONE HOUR, NO LATER. DON’T THINK OF STEALING FROM ME AGAIN. THATGUNSLINGER AT THE SALOON IN TOWN IS STILL LOOKING TO BREAK YOUR CHEATING NECK.GOOD THING HE DOESN’T KNOW YOUR ADDRESS ON CHERRY CREEK. I’D HATE TO LOSE YOUHERSHEL, I HAVE LOTS MORE TO TRADE.
I would never turn Watts over to the gunslinger—I need him toomuch. But maybe this note will remind the guard to stay on the straight andnarrow. He does, in fact, owe a substantial amount to that fellow in town. Onhis days off, it’s said that Watts hides in his house by the creek, afraid theman will find him.
Anna enters the asylum quietly, slips inside the guard’ssleeping quarters and puts the note in Hershel’s supper pail. “Staff eats in ten,”she says, returning a few minutes later. “He’ll read it on the sly, and thenwe’ll see what he does.”
Crossing my arms, I imagine leaving this horrible place. It’s apity I cannot send all of the inmates home. Many patients here require supervision,however, to prevent them from hurting themselves or others. They need genuinecare—not experimentation, neglect, or torment—and once I get out, I hope tohelp them.
But I must free Isabelle, Anna, and Gabriel before I go, and Icannot escape without the Book. So much to do, so many at risk.
26
Quod me nutrit me destruit.
What nourishes me also destroys me.
TheUnresponsive Unit isn’t nearly as tranquil as Davis led me to believe. Whileoblivious to their surroundings, most of my fellow patients are far from quiet.I sit on my bed and listen as they groan, snore, and gasp. Tuning out the noisypatients, I concentrate on the night crew patrolling the other wards. Asylum staffis much smaller in the wee hours. I hope this will make things easier for Davisand me.
He arrives when the clock chimes midnight. “All set?” I nod andhe puts my hand on his shoulder. “Follow as quietly as you can.”
As we make the trip to the basement, I hear Roy talking tohimself just around the corner. I tap Davis’s shoulder in alarm and he pulls usinto the stairwell to the basement before the other guard starts down the hall.
“How’d you know he was there? I didn’t hear a thing.”
Smiling, I shrug in response as we take the stairs to the lowerfloor. As luck would have it, there is a problem waiting in the basement. Titusis patrolling the area near the Pit and blocks the path leading to MargaretHotchkiss.
“Hide in that nook under the stairs,” Davis whispers. “It’sdark, and you won’t be seen. I’ll get rid of him.”
He opens the door to the stairwell and walks forward to greetTitus. “Slow night?”
“Sure is,” Titus replies.
“I’m sick of the main floor. You want to trade for a while?”
“Sorry, Davis. Can’t muck things up now that I’m head guard.”
“What’s to muck up? It’s the same job.”
Titus has received an advancement? Was it based on his highstandards of cruelty? And Faust must have given him a raise along with the newposition because his boot heel no longer squeaks. He’s either bought anotherpair or at least waxed the old ones. Now if only he would bathe…
A chill begins at my toes and moves upward, running the lengthof my spine to my neck and face. I’ve felt His constant presence at the asylum,but there has been no direct contact between us. He is not my Death, not the ReaperI usually work with, but one of His brothers. I climb out from my hiding placeunder the stairs and stand.
It’s good to see you, Sir.
Death seems surprised, as though He expected me to be moreintelligent than my comment would imply. Few would agree, Visionary, butthen you wear my brother’s kiss. Do not think I will always spare you. Hisprotection will not last forever.
Your generosity is greatly appreciated, but may I ask aquestion?
I am working. Would you make me late?
This Death is more imperious and career-oriented than most.Nevertheless, I press on. Who killed Margaret Hotchkiss?
The space around me warms as He draws away, melting through thewalls with a whisper. That is for you to discover.
Blast. How uncooperative.
Davis opens the door and walks into the stairwell. “Sorry.Titus isn’t budging. I can’t help you, after all.”
Double blast!
We sneak back to the Unresponsive Unit, and I thank Davisbefore we part. But I am no closer to solving Margaret’s death than I was anhour ago.
Noah Kelly sits on his horse, arguing with Titus in thecourtyard. Their conversation is public domain due to its sheer volume.Standing at a second-story window, I am agitated and sick, trembling with feverand nausea. The blanket I wear about my shoulders falls to the ground. I leaveit there, and listen to the exchange below.
“If you don’t step aside,” Kelly says, “I’ll move you myself.”
“You’ll be shot if you do,” Titus replies. “We’re quarantinedwith measles. Have been for two weeks. I told you that the last time you came.”
“I’m a physician, you imbecile. Let me enter and be ofservice.”
“Faust said, ‘No one in or out until the ban is lifted.’”
But Kelly wouldn’t be Kelly if he let it go at that. “I want tosee my wife. Immediately. If this fails to happen, I will bring chargesagainst you, Faust, and this institution.”
We are indeed married now, thanks to a civil service withCordelia standing as my proxy. While there’s no ring on my finger, Kelly didbuy one. He just can’t enter the asylum to give it to me
