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should he feel anything for these people? He could only assume that he had become emotionally confused by the effect of Lady Zillabar’s meticulously nasty treatment. He glanced around—
    Sawyer saw the looks on their faces—Lee and Three-Dollar and Tuan—and caught himself abruptly. Despite his rising fear, he asked the question anyway, “What happened to Drin and Tahl? Where did they go?”
    â€œThe Vampires took them,” said Tuan. He added with quiet fury, “They said that . . . that Drin and Tahl would not return to us, but not to worry, the rest of us would join them soon enough.”
    Three-Dollar put a hand on Tuan’s shoulder, comforting him as much as holding him back. He looked past him to Sawyer. “Do you know anything about that?”
    Sawyer started to answer, but then—he couldn’t help himself; the vision of the Lady’s table, heaped high with platters of pale flesh, rose unbidden in his thoughts. He felt suddenly vomitus, and barely made it to the sink in time—
    When he straightened again, shaken and pale, he held up a hand to ward off the others’ attentions and returned silently to his brother’s wheelchair. He looked ashen.
    Sawyer busied himself with Finn, helping him to his cot and covering him with a blanket. He ignored the questioning looks of the others and bent worriedly over his brother. Three-Dollar quietly pushed him aside and laid his hand on Finn’s forehead. “He looks drained,” he said.
    â€œYou can’t imagine,” Finn groaned.
    Three-Dollar didn’t answer. He peeled back the stocky man’s eyelids and peered intently into his face. He took Finn’s pulse and he looked at his tongue. Finally, he examined Finn’s arm and discovered the marks left by the intravenous tap. “I thought so.”
    â€œShe has to kill us,” said Sawyer. “She can’t let us live to bear witness of her crimes against the Charter.”
    â€œSo? What do you care?” asked Tuan bitterly.
    Sawyer met his accusing gaze. “I don’t know—” he admitted with a catch in his voice. He indicated the TimeBinder. “Why should he care about Finn?”
    â€œBecause I do,” answered Three-Dollar without looking up.
    â€œWell, then maybe I can learn to care too—”
    â€œAnd why should we believe you?” Lee-1169 retorted.
    â€œDon’t believe me. I don’t care if you do or not. I’ll act the same way no matter what you believe.” He swallowed hard. “I won’t let this crime go unavenged.” But his words sounded hollow and ineffectual.
    â€œBlankets,” said Three-Dollar abruptly. “We need blankets to wrap him in.” He pushed Lee away. “Go get every blanket in the cabin. Now!” To Sawyer, he ordered, “You, get me some water.”
    The attack came upon Finn like a storm, sweeping across him in flashes of sudden hot chills and icy fevers. The sweat poured from his body until the sheets grew sodden. He shook and moaned and clutched himself in pain, writhing back and forth upon his cot. His flesh turned cold to the touch. They wrapped him in blankets and held him close, trying to push their warmth into his body by sheer strength of will alone. He wept in their arms, a shell of himself; his ashen-gray skin turned blue and pale. He fell so weak he couldn’t even lift his head to the waterbag.
    Sawyer climbed onto the cot next to his brother’s and wrapped his arms around him. He began to weep in great heaving sobs. Finn remained powerless to resist, but his frantic eyes revealed how terror-stricken he had become. At last, William Three-Dollar and Lee-1169 gently pulled Sawyer Markham away from his dying brother. “He needs to rest—”
    â€œNo. I have to stay with him!” Sawyer insisted. “I’ll stay with him to the end. I have to.”
    â€œSawyer, shut up,” said Lee. “Finn