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patonthecheek.“Idiot,”hesaidsadly,andfollowedKazoutoftheExchange.
    Fromtheroof,InejcontinuedtowatchasOomenpickedupandholsteredGeels’gunandtheBlack Tipssaidafewquietwordstoeachother.
    “Don’t leave,” Big Bolliger begged. “Don’t leave me.” He tried to cling to the cuff of Geels’
    trousers.
    Geelsshookhimoff.Theylefthimcurledonhisside,leakingbloodontothecobblestones.
    Inej plucked Van Daal’s rifle from his hands before she released him. “Go home,” she told the guard.
    Hecastasingleterrifiedglanceoverhisshoulderandsprintedoffdownthewalkway.Farbelow, Big Bol had started trying to drag himself across the floor of the Exchange. He might be stupid enoughtocrossKazBrekker,buthe’dsurvivedthislongintheBarrel,andthattookwill.Hemight makeit.
    Help him , a voice inside her said. Until a few moments ago, he’d been her brother in arms. It seemedwrongtoleavehimalone.Shecouldgotohim,offertoputhimoutofhismiseryquickly, holdhishandashepassed.Shecouldfetchamediktosavehim.
    Instead,shespokeaquickprayerinthelanguageofherSaintsandbeganthesteepclimbdownthe outerwall.Inejpitiedtheboywhomightdiealonewithnoonetocomforthiminhislasthoursor who might live and spend his life as an exile. But the night’s work wasn’t yet over, and the Wraith didn’thavetimefortraitors.

    CheersgreetedKazasheemergedfromtheeasternarch,Jespertrailingbehindhimand,ifKazwas anyjudge,alreadyworkinghimselfintoasulk.
    Dirix,Rotty,andtheotherschargedatthem,whoopingandshouting,Jesper ’srevolversheldaloft.
    ThecrewhadgotthebarestglimpseoftheproceedingswithGeels,butthey’dheardmostofit.Now theywerechanting,“TheBurstraatisonfire!TheDregsdon’thavenowater!”
    “Ican’tbelievehejustturnedtail!”jeeredRotty.“Hehadaloadedpistolinhishand!”
    “Telluswhatyouhadontheguard,”Dirixbegged.
    “Can’tbetheusualstuff.”
    “IheardaboutaguyinSlokenwholikedtorollaroundinapplesyrupandthengettwo—”
    “I’mnottalking,”saidKaz.“Holstcouldproveusefulinthefuture.”
    The mood was jittery, and their laughter had the frantic serration that came with near disaster.
    Someofthemhadexpectedafightandwerestillitchingforone.ButKazknewtherewasmoretoit, and he hadn’t missed the fact that no one had mentioned Big Bolliger ’s name. They’d been badly shakenbyhisbetrayal–boththerevelationandthewayKazhaddeliveredpunishment.Beneathall that jostling and whooping, there was fear. Good . Kaz relied on the fact that the Dregs were all murderers,thieves,andliars.Hejusthadtomakesuretheydidn’tmakeahabitoflyingto him .
    KazdispatchedtwoofthemtokeepaneyeonBigBolandtomakesurethatifhemadeittohis feet,heleftthecity.TherestcouldreturntotheSlatandtheCrowClubtodrinkofftheirworry,make sometrouble,andspreadwordofthenight’sevents.They’dtellwhatthey’dseen,embroidertherest, and with every retelling, Dirtyhands would get crazier and more ruthless. But Kaz had business to attendto,andhisfirststopwouldbeFifthHarbour.
    Jesper stepped into his path. “You should have let me know about Big Bolliger,” he said in a furiouswhisper.
    “Don’ttellmemybusiness,Jes.”
    “YouthinkI’mdirty,too?”
    “IfIthoughtyouweredirty,you’dbeholdingyourgutsinontheflooroftheExchangelikeBig Bol,sostoprunningyourmouth.”
    Jespershookhisheadandrestedhishandsontherevolvershe’dreclaimedfromDirix.Whenever hegotcranky,helikedtolayhandsonagun,likeachildseekingthecomfortofafavoureddoll.
    Itwouldhavebeeneasyenoughtomakepeace.KazcouldhavetoldJesperthatheknewhewasn’t dirty, reminded him that he’d trusted him enough to make him his only real second in a fight that couldhavegonebadlywrongtonight.Instead,hesaid,“Goon,Jesper.There’salineofcreditwaiting