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‘Yes you were’

Shurq stared at the girl for a long moment ‘I was?’

‘Yes And you wanted to know my story Everyone else runs from me, just like they run from you now Except that man on the roof Is he another one not like everyone else?’

‘I don’t know, Kettle But I alad Grown-ups should work It helps fill their erous They fill thes Nobody’s happy’

Shurq cocked her head ‘Who’s not happy?’

Kettle waved one grubby hand at the rumpled yard ‘Restless All of them I don’t knohy The toeats all the ti you some salt water,’ Shurq said, ‘for your eyes You need to wash theh With more than ht’

‘What do you mean?’

Kettle pushed bloody strands of hair froet out I don’t like those five – I don’t likeI don’t knohat to do They whisper how they’ll tear me to pieces Soon I don’t want to be torn to pieces What should I do?’

Shurq was silent Then she asked, ‘How much do you sense of the Buried Ones, Kettle?’

‘Most don’t talk totheh the roots’

‘Are there any who ask nothing of you?’

‘Some are ever silent’

‘Talk to theht be able to help you’ Someone else to be your mother… or father‘Ask for opinions, on any and all matters If one remains then who does not seek to please you, who does not attempt to twist your desires so that you free it, and who holds no loyalty to the others, then you will tell me of that one All that you know And I will advise you as best I can – not as a ht’

‘Good Now, I came here for another reason, Kettle I want to kno did you kill that spy?’

‘I bit through his throat It’s the quickest, and I like the blood’