“So we did that, all of it, nice and slow, and we’ve got you. You’re the proof that it works. When we take over, we’ll take our time, do it right … “
“How you going to do that? Take over?”
Ashes leaned back in his chair, staring at the fire, looking at the boys, then past them, then back at the boys again. “Well, there’s a time coming. We can feel it. Kind of like a call in the bones. The mountains are gonna blow! Then the cities’ll fall, boys. Cities’ll fall. People, they’ll be out, running around in the streets. We’ll be there, waiting. There’s hot springs here and there, we’ll fill them with Dingle. Kill this one, take that one and drop her in a Dingle pot, kill this one, take that one to the Dingle, slow and easy. These folks, they got nothing like an army. Nothing like police. Just those Haggers, here, there, everwhere. But Crawly, he’s as good as a fortress. Webwings, he’s our lookout. Ear, he can hear a moth drop a day’s march away. Tongue, he can taste blood in the air. We’ll manage.”
“When you gonna do it?” asked Dyre.
Ashes looked out the one small window at the sky, pointed westward where four of the moons made a cluster low along the hills, with another one trailing close. “Soon, boy. My bones say soon. They’re all gathering. Real soon.”
“And when we take it over, everything, then we get what you promised, huh?” Bane asked.
“Then you get what was promised you and I get what was promised me, and we all get everything we want. And more.”
46—The Second Expedition Sets Out
Onsofruct and D’Jevier, together with five sturdy Haggers, waited for Madame outside the gates of Mantelby Mansion rather early on fiveday morning. They heard the carriage wheels approaching from down the hill, then saw the equipage as it rounded the nearest curve and came quickly toward them. Madame was not alone. She was accompanied by one veiled man without cockade and a family man known to the Hags by the cockade as Calvy g’Valdet. He leapt from the carriage and bowed deeply.
“Revered Hag,” he said. “It seems the Hags and the Men of Business are similarly motivated.”
“How did you find out about this, Family Man?” demanded Onsofruct, with a glare in Madame’s direction.
“Do not blame Madame,” said Calvy. “The steward here is Bin g’Kiffle’s son.”
“Of course,” murmured D’Jevier. “We should have remembered that.”
“There was a special meeting of the ECMOB, and after a good bit of talk that achieved nothing, they decided to send me to represent the Men of Business.”
“Why you, g’Valdet?” asked Onsofruct. “Are you now in good odor with your colleagues?”
“No, Ma’am,” he said. “Slab g’Tupoar nominated me. He said that Myrphee was too fat, Sym was too small, Slab himself was too lazy. Estif’s wife wouldn’t let him, and Bin bitches about everything. He said he didn’t much like me, but I got things done. And here I am.”
“Well, if your intention is to find out what happened to the Questioner, your interest is no less justified than ours, though I am surprised at the company you keep.”
“I have known Calvy for many years,” said Madame. “In my opinion, we need him and my well-trusted Simon to assist us in this exploration.”
Onsofruct said stiffly, “If you think it wise, we will not obstruct you. I suggest, however, that the Family Man and Simon replace two of our Haggers rather than increasing our total number.”
“Is the number important?” asked Calvy.
“Not if you are both excellent swimmers,” remarked D’Jevier, rather frostily. “Since Timmys are no doubt involved in this disappearance, we have cast about in memory and fable and find many references to subterranean waters—at least rivers, perhaps even lakes. We are carrying an inflatable boat that holds a maximum of eight.”
Calvy laughed. “I hadn’t thought of that! By all means, let us replace two of your Haggers.”
There was a momentary hesitation among them, an unspoken acknowledgment that they had not agreed upon a leader for their expedition.
Onsofruct ran her fingers down the seams of her unaccustomed trousers and said, “Madame? D’Jevier and I have seldom been outside the Panhagion since we were children. Do you have experience of this kind of thing? If so, we would be pleased to follow you.”