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So, what next, Saba? More baby stealin?

I … uh … yeah, I says Mercy’s gonna see these two through the night You’ll be glad of her skills, so she’ll stay on till you ain’t got need of her no more You should take every child they leave out to die Return ’em to the parents, but only if they can be trusted If not, you’ll hafta keep the babies safe an well

Okay, he says But there won’t be that many exposed A handful at ress This’ll take weeks Months

No, no, we bin talkin about that jest now, says Cassie It’s obvious e do In fact, Rae was the one said it We’ll need the help of the midwives to steal the babies to their parents There ain’t no Tonton in the birthin room, jest the midwife Mercy says they ain’t innerested in stillborns They don’t wanna see ’ee of the burial So she reports a stillbirth an we take the baby Cassie looks at Jack Could you git Mercy back into the babyhouse she used to be at? The other midwife there was of the same mind as Mercy She’s sure that she’ll help

I’ll think of a story to cover it, says Jack Whatever Tonton was there when Mercy was, they’ll be long gone They’re on constant rotation so’s there ain’t no time to build factional loyalties

We’ll work out how best to sle them away, says Cassie We’ll hafta make sure they don’t cry, of course Anyways, that’s only our first thoughts on this I’ into it, we’ll have more What if we have other ideas?

Talk to Jack, I says If he agrees, then you do it This is perfect, Cassie It’s jest what I it the idea, you ether Not me tellin you to do this or that All I do is set you off, set you thinkin in a different direction Then you pass it on, teach the others You becoed yer life tonight Rae as well, an Noble One step That’s all it took an yer changin New Eden already

Cassie’s all sht eyes We’re the mountain, she says An we’re on the move I didn’t unnerstand when you explained this at the mill I listened, but I didn’t hear, not really I had to see it fer myself Do it fer myself It’s so simple

Not everybody’s like you, says Jack Or even Rae, fer that otta be careful with this

An remember, no weapons, I says You use violence even once, you’ll be painted as the ene, says Jack A baby’s cry carried on the wind could well be heard Rumours here catch like a spark to dry wood An there’s always soain favour with the local coit informed on, says Cassie, if anybody coun They won’t let her be took without a fight

That otta move quick on every front, I says Before there’s a chance of word gittin out

Before the blood moon, it seems You keep askin when it is, says Jack Why then?

Be careful Be very careful

Five nights ain’t too far, ain’t too near, I says Probly jest about as long as we can keep this quiet So we really gotta push Move fast The baby stuff’s all up to you now I’ me in fer somethin It’s slaves next fer you, Jack I need you to play the Tonton cos A mornin here, a afternoon there Quick, in an out DeMalo ain’t got no support with the slaves

Soht think to git back in favour by turnin informer Skeet’ll hafta be careful who he talks to

I says, The it the call