Веснушки

           “We’redoingthis,andit’sallplannedsafeandsure.Asforkillingthatbuck—cometothinkofit,killingiswhatheneeds.He’sawaytoogoodforthisworldofwoe,anyhow.Itellyou,it’sallsafeenough.Hisdroppingoutwon’tbetheonlysecrettheoldLimberlosthasnevertold.It’stoodeadeasytomakeitlooklikehehelpedtakethetimberandthencut.Why,he’splayedrightintoourhands.Hewashereattheswampalllastnight,andbackagaininanhourorso.Whenwegetourplanworkedout,evenoldfoolDuncanwon’tliftafingertolookforhiscarcass.Wecouldn’thavehimgoinginbettershape.”

           “Youjustbet,”saidWessner.“Iowehimallhe’llget,andbedamnedtoyou,butI’llpay!”hesnarledatFreckles.

           Soitwaskilling,then.Theywerenotonlyafterthisonetree,butmany,andwithhisbodyitwastheirplantokillhishonor.Tobrandhimathief,withthem,beforetheAngel,theBirdWoman,thedearBoss,andtheDuncans—Freckles,insickdespair,saggedagainsttheropes.

           Thenhegatheredhisforcesandthoughtswiftly.TherewasnohopeofMcLean’scoming.TheyhadchosenadaywhentheyknewhehadabigcontractattheSouthcamp.TheBosscouldnotcomebeforetomorrowbyanypossibility,andtherewouldbenotomorrowfortheboy.DuncanwasonhiswaytotheSouthcamp,andtheBirdWomanhadsaidshewouldcomeassoonasshecould.Afterthefatigueoftheparty,itwasuselesstoexpectherandtheAngeltoday,andGodsavethemfromcoming!TheAngel’sfatherhadsaidtheywouldbeassafeintheLimberlostasathome.