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"Cars?" Harry asked

Jazz nodded "The Uncles were there, but there'd never been soMus took a turn I'd suspect it right off, and I did I went up the al-ley that runs behind the house"

She left out any hosts or whispers, fearful that they'd think herabout phanto up to their discovery of her, like Goldilocks in Baby Bear's bed, Jazz felt exhaustion begin-ning to claiain Her tears flowed freely while she spoke, and several times she had to pause simply to catch her breath The sy in the eyes of the urchins were the greatest gifts she had ever received

Jazz never would have i so openly in front of anyone, let alone a rooers But she could still smell her mother's blood Her life had new rules, now and forevermore

When she fell silent, no one spoke for ahand on her shoul-der but hesitated Then he cupped the back of her head and looked into her eyes Had anyone else done such a thing, Jazz would have slapped the hand away

"You're well hid, Jazz girl Well hid So you've done as your dear aze intense After a moment, he withdrew his hand but continued to stare at her

"You can keep running if you like," Harry went on "No one will try to stop you We'll give you a bit of food, let you keep a torch, even an extra set of batteries But know that you're not alone down here, and I' about us There are old eround, and shelters like this one as well, and other places besides

The whole city's got a warren under it, and a wonder it doesn't collapse right down into the earth

So like the roots of some invisible tree

"Point is, others have retreated down here over the years So, like you, or don't trust anyone up above, like dom, I'm sorry to say There are lots that are hoh the cracks

You'll see thes down here, wild dogs and the like Pets lost to the tunnels

"So I say this: go if you like, and Godspeed Stay if you like, and welcoot to contribute, just like the rest"

Jazz glanced at the hard ground at the center of the cir-cle "By contribute, you hed at that, the sound a harsh, barking cough "Steal froirl We're scavengers, so we are, living off the corpse of a decaying society If we pick a pocket or snatch a purse, or forage for food or supplies, they don't irl, just as we like it It's a world of monsters up there

"There are the rich and the poor, and the poor ether If we don't, the rich will pick our bones"

Even without the encouragement on the faces around the circle, Jazz felt the truth of Harry's words

The world above had taken her mother, or at least turned a blind eye while killers spilled her blood Rich men who followed the rules The world had shaken her off like a dog shakes off fleas

Her mother had told her to hide, but Jazz understood the deeperof the word, communicated over the course of years Muht not stay forever, or even for very long," she warned

Harry only smiled He clapped his hands and stood up

"I'irl's got the knack"

Half the cast was crowded into the green room while a quar-tet of volunteer edarted her head back and studied Jazz, then put down the brush --done with blush, apparently Unsatisfied, she picked up the coal pencil and darkened the lines around her eyes At last she seous, love You're ready for your close-up"

Jazz thanked her and hurried out of the rooather up the bustle of her dress to squeeze through the crowded space Making a point, Toe of her bonnet Had Jazz not flinched away froed the hat, pins and all

"Oi! Watch it, y'luhed and rolled his eyes "Sounds ins"

Jazz explored her hair and bonnet to make sure all was still in place, then shot him a dark look

"Lucky boy I won't have to kill you today, apparently"

"What a glorious death it would be, though," he said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively

Sh her role in My Fair Lady was that of a lady, the entire cast had taken to ih, cockney speech of Eliza Doolittle back-stage Soe to fits and giggles

She rushed down the half dozen stairs to the door lead-ing out into the auditoriues squeaked when she opened it, and she lish teacher, Mr Morris--to have someone take care of it before the first perforht

Today was the dress rehearsal They were all in full cos-tuirl, her costuht rip at anycostuht, and Jazz hoped she remembered, or there was the real possibility she'd pass out onstage

The door squeaked shut behind her and Jazz glanced up onto the stage, where the hands were lanced out over the auditorium Most of the five hundred or so seats were empty The director and the school's principal sat with half a dozen teachers, patiently waiting for the dress rehearsal to begin Twenty or thirty parents had coer siblings ofdisappointaze flickered to the back of the auditoriu just inside the doors, and her smile returned

She hurried up the central aisle and presented herself to herlike a lady

"What do you think?"

Her mother smiled nervously "You look lovely, Jazz I could do without all that ot to wear it or the audience won't be able to see the expression on your face"