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don’t sleep much anymore. I see them all when I close my eyes. That look. That look of understanding. Of what we were doing. Of what would happen to them. Have you ever seen that look, Cavalo? All fear and anger and hatred rolled into one.”
    “Like a cornered animal.” A bear in a cave.
    “Yes.”
    “I have,” Cavalo said. He bent over until he was level with Hank, the knife pressed against the side of Hank’s head. “I see it in you right now.”
    The bees screamed.
    Hank took a deep breath.
    Cavalo stepped away.
    “Grangeville,” he said.
    “What?” Hank asked. A tear trickled down his cheek.
    “We have to tell them. About what’s coming. They’ll need to help. They’ll need to hide. Cottonwood would be easier to defend.”
    Hank shook his head. “We can’t fit all of them here. We’d be bursting at the seams.” He sounded dazed.
    “I know. That’s why those who can’t fight—the children, the elderly, the infirm—they’ll go to the prison with SIRS. The defense grid will hold them. It’ll be tight, but they should fit.”
    “You have enough power?”
    Only just. “Yes. And Dworshak. You’ll need to send a team to Dworshak. To make sure it still stands. That the Dead Rabbits haven’t found it. People you trust. People who can move quietly. Send two or three who know what to look for.”
    “And you?”
    “I’ll take Lucas to Grangeville. They’ll want proof. We’ll be gone only a day. We can’t take any more than that.”
    “What will I do?”
    Cavalo looked into the fire. “Prepare,” he said. “We have eighteen days.”
    “They’ll need convincing. The people. Cottonwood.”
    “Then I suggest you think of something. You’ll tell them later today.”
    “And Patrick? How… we need him. His… skin. If he’s got the other half.”
    “I know.” Cavalo hadn’t gotten that far yet. He was surprised at how much he’d already said. He should have killed Hank and left. Talking always messed things up. “I need to sleep. Is the house down the way still vacant?”
    “That’s it, then? You think I will just let you go?”
    Cavalo chuckled bitterly. “You don’t have a choice. Not anymore. Is the damn house vacant?”
    “Yeah. Go. I need to think. And sober up.”
    Cavalo turned and was almost out of the room when Hank called his name. When Cavalo glanced back at him, the big man had stood from his chair and stepped toward the fire. “Does it ever stop?”
    “What?”
    “Seeing them. When you close your eyes.”
    “No,” Cavalo said. “And sometimes, you see them even when your eyes are open. That’s how you know you’re well and truly fucked.”
    He left Hank sitting in the dark.
     
     
    THE DOOR to the empty house was unlocked. It was cold inside. SIRS found some blankets in a closet. They were musty, and Bad Dog sneezed as he curled up against Cavalo for warmth.
    “I’ll keep watch,” SIRS said. “But we have to hurry, Cavalo. I have to get back to the prison.” He sounded desperate. “I can’t be out in the world like this for long. I am slipping. I can feel it already.”
    “Won’t be long. I promise. I have plans for you.”
    “Okay.” A bit of relief crept into the robot’s voice. “I miss our home. Funny, that.”
    Cavalo propped his head up and looked beyond the robot. Lucas stood near the door, flipping his knife again and again. The scowl was back. “You should sleep,” Cavalo told him. “You’ll need it. You and I are going on a trip.”
    I’m not going anywhere with you.
    “You will.”
    Go to sleep , Lucas said. Go to sleep so I can cut your heart out.
    “There’s a blanket there if you need it. It’s going to be cold.” He looked away before he could see the reply. He turned toward Bad Dog, who huffed at him.
    “What?” Cavalo whispered.
    He wants to come down here too. Smells Different wants to be in our Bad Dog pile.
    “No.”
    Yes. His bees are too loud, though.
    “You can hear them?”
    Yes. They scream. Like yours do