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"The boss isn't seeing anyone right now, kid," said one of the bigfrom his seat "Come back later"

Spook kicked the door It broke free, its hinges snapping, the bar shattering itsbackward

Spook stood for a auge its use accurately If he was shocked, however, the two brutes were stunned They sat, staring at the broken door

"You may need t1o kill theht I just have tono torch or lantern by which to see He whipped spectacles and a cloth out of his pocket as he approached the door at the end of the hallway, fixing theuards called out behind hiainst the door with a bitit Hechips at a table Durn inning

Spook pointed at the men as he skidded to a stop "You three Out Durn and I have business"

Durn sat at the table, looking genuinely surprised The brutes rushed up behind Spook, and he turned, falling to a crouch, reaching under his cloak for his dueling cane

"It's all right," Durn said, standing "Leave us"

The guards hesitated, obviously angry at being passed so easily Finally, however, they withdrew, Durn's ga with them The door closed

"That was quite the entrance," Durn noted, sitting back down at his table

"You've been talking aboutru people that I was on the Survivor's cre did you knoho I was, and why have you been using"How anonymous did you think you were? You're the Survivor's friend, and you spend a good half your ti in the e way from here"

"Not so far that news doesn't travel," Durn said "A Tineye coly endless funds? It wasn't really that hard to figure out who you were Besides, there's your eyes"

"What about theed "Everyone knows that strange things happen around the Survivor's crew"

Spook wasn't certain what toover the cards on the table He picked one up, feeling its paper His heightened senses let him feel the bumps on the back

"Marked cards?" he asked

"Of course," Durn said "Practice gaht"

Spook tossed the card onto the table "You still haven't toldrumors about me"

"No offense, kid," Durn said "Butwell, you're supposed to be dead"

"If you believed that, then why bother talking about me?"

"Why do you think?" Durn said "The people love the Survivor--and anything related to him That's why Quellion uses his name so often But, if I could show that Quellion killed one of Kelsier's own crewwell, there are a lot of people in this city ouldn't like that"

"So, you're just trying to help," Spook said flatly "Out of the goodness of your heart"

"You're not the only one who thinks that Quellion is killing this city If you're really of the Survivor's crew, you'll know that soht"

"I find it difficult 1to think of you as an altruist, Durn You're a thief"

"So are you"

"We didn't knoe were getting into," Spook said "Kelsier proain from all this?"

Durn snorted "The Citizen is very bad for business Venture red wine being sold for a fraction of a clip? Our s has been choked to a trickle because everyone fears buying our goods Things were never this bad under the Lord Ruler" He leaned in "If your friends staying in the old Ministry building think they can do so this city, then tell theround left in this city, but Quellion will be surprised at the daht way"

Spook stood quietly for afor information in the tavern on Westbrook Lane Send someone to contact him He's a Soother--the best one you'll ever meet--but he stands out a bit Make your offer to hio, then glanced back at Durn "Don't mention my name to him, or what happened to h the hallway, passing the guards and the displaced crooks froame Spook pulled off his blindfold as he stepped into the daylight-like brightness of the starlit night

He strolled through the Harrows, trying to decide what he thought of theall that i around hi he couldn't quite decipher He was beco more comfortable with Kelsier's voice, and with his pewter, but he was still worried that he wouldn't be able to live up to the position he'd fallen into

"If you don't get to Quellion soon," Kelsier said, "he's going to find your friends He's already preparing assassins"

"He won't send them," Spook said quietly "Especially if he's heard Durn's rumors about me Everyone knows that Sazed and Breeze were on your crew Quellion won't take them out unless they prove to be such a threat that he has no other choice"

"Quellion is an unstableYou don't want to find out how irrational he can be"

Spook fell silent Then, he heard footsteps, approaching quickly He felt the vibrations in the ground He spun and loosened his cloak, reaching for his weapon