The small group sat about the table in the Cassidy's kitchen. Reagan rubbed his temples, scattered bits of information failing to coalesce.

"Okay," he finally spoke up. "I did not expect them to react that way. I thought they would just keep him incognito for a while. Keeping him from medical attention doesn't bode well. This girl, Leslie. What do we know about her?"
"Only what was in her message." Jason tapped the piece of paper on the table. "That bit about a warehouse under the Precinct full of art material is certainly a surprise. All that preaching about how it had to be destroyed, and they've stashed it all away for themselves."

Veronica poured coffee from a large pot. "I think having those young women in there under threat to their families is more repugnant. Can't we do something?"

"It's too bad we couldn't have found her first, would have saved Brian a lot of grief." Another member stated.

"Yes, her information is probably the best we'll get - likely all we'll get." He stopped talking and stared at the table-top.

"What is it? What are you thinking?"

"Something just occurred to me. Something from the past."

"The past?" Jason grunted a sigh.

"Yeah . . . that and the news about the underground store of art." He looked skyward, searching his memory. "Brian said he saw a painting. A sailing ship on a rough sea. An oil painting."

"Where?"

"In the Curtilage."

"How would they have that out there?"

"Exactly. How?" He stood and paced about the room.

Jason coughed and looked at Cassidy. "Can we get back to the topic at hand? The longer we fool around, the worse it can get for Brian."

"You're right." He smiled meekly and sat back down. "Okay, so we know the Precinct has the six Circle members, twenty guards, twelve young women, and a kitchen staff of five." Cassidy scribbled the figures on a pad. "There are the men guarding the town entrance, and those at the Gates of Admission. All totalling about another thirty, and all heavily armed.

"The Precinct itself has only three ways in. The front door, a service door to an enclosed courtyard, and a door from the kitchen to a small delivery area."

"What about the rooftops?"

"Unknown, unless you can figure a way to see up there."

"Actually, Sean and Andrew were going to do a reconnoitre tonight, I'll tell them to give the roof a look-see. Is that it then? We done?"

"I guess. I'll work on the inventory of weapons we have and how we'll distribute them."

Jason thanked Veronica for the coffee and took his leave with the others.

"Don't sulk, dear, Brian managed quite a bit of mischief before he was caught. He's innovative and dedicated, and I know you will find a way to get him out." She wrapped her arms around his chest and rested a chin on his shoulder.

"I'm still bugged about that painting he saw. There's only one way I can see how it got there, and I don't know whether to laugh or cry."

She came around and sat beside him. "What do you mean?"

"Do you remember back when Alden was divided into multiple precincts, and this one came under the rule of that reclusive inheritor who never really bothered our daily lives"

She chuckled. "Yes. We called him The Wizard of Odd."

"Right," he snickered himself. "And then suddenly there were armed guards driving us to build the wall around the city? Remember, it was right after the wall was finished, The Circle made its appearance, and everything changed - drastically.

"It was at that time we found the only entrance to our town was closed and manned by guards, all vestiges of the arts were removed and banned - and then the introduction of the 20 days of Freedom."

"Where are you going with this, hon?"

"I believe that first sentence was our Wizard of Odd. The Circle ousted him, and he was sent off with a wagon filled with his belongings - a concession discontinued since."

"Are you saying he's the man you know as Dabny V'gage?"

"I'd bet money on it. Somehow, he managed to sneak that painting along. He survived and built a small colony in the forest out there. Several others of those sentenced, who were considered dead, must have chosen to stay with him, and over the years they built a regular community. They hunt, grow their own vegetables. They made themselves self-sufficient."

Veronica sat beside him, taking a hand. "Hon, you said they captured Brian. Drugged him. Why, if they're just . . . living out there?"

"I don't know. But he knew I was out there. And he also knew I was sneaking back here."

"But he didn't try to- to capture you."

"No . . . no, he didn't. And you're right, he did try to get Brian, although there wasn't a lot of effort made."

"Maybe he's become complacent, doesn't care anymore. You said his little group was self-sustaining.

"The thing is, Veronica, before I came back, I made a deal with him."

******

The two men crouched in shadow of the wall behind the Precinct; only a sliver of moon to taunt their movements. At the back, the wall was higher, around fifteen feet or so and was about seven feet away from the building; scaling it would be too difficult. They learned what they could, checking the placement of doors and windows, before quitting to make new plans.

"It's pretty much like you described the other night." The group had assembled again to hear their report. There are no windows at the back at all. Everything faces the city. The doors are as you had them. We couldn't see the roof, so it's possible there's a skylight. Doesn't seem reasonable that the back of the building has no natural light."

"Any ideas?" Jason asked.

Sean looked Andrew. "Yes. We thought we could drop a ladder over the wall where we pick you up. One of us will take it around to the back of the Precinct, the other will make his way along the top of the wall with the rope and bring the ladder up over there. We can lay it across to the roof and get across that way."

Cassidy blew out his cheeks. "That's risky. Getting along the top of the wall, I don't know. We know they post guards."

"If we go tonight, there will be no moon at all to speak of. We can do it, Reagan." Sean looked to his partner, who was nodding with assurance. "You can bring both of us back up the wall over here when we're done, so it's only one way."

"You both have to get down the wall. How does that work?"

"By trusting us, Reagan. Just be ready to pick us up."

The meeting ended and the room cleared. Veronica carried the empty coffee mugs to the kitchen.

"You never told them about your deal."

"No. I uh, I don't think it's the right time. We all have to stay focussed."

"They all have a big stake in this, Reagan. You don't want to be keeping secrets."

"You'll just have to accept this is one I can't share just yet."

"Okay, if you're sure you know what you're doing, I'll be at your side."

"That's my main reason for this whole deal. I want you there with nobody telling us what to hear, see, or do."

******

Brian lay on the room floor, his head one huge ache, and his body vying for attention. The latest interrogation had been short. Even Inquisitor could see that proceeding would defeat his purpose, and therefore sent him back to rest and recover a little more. Leslie appeared with the familiar tray of soup and juice, carefully checking his previous facial cuts and bruises.

"Why don't you just tell them something - anything? They wouldn't know what was true." Her concern was almost tangible.

"I think you know. Once they think they know, I'm toast." He took her hand. "Leslie . . . listen to me." He inched himself into a sitting position. "I've done what I can - well actually you did it for me by getting that message out." He squeezed her hand. "There's nothing else I can do here but ride it out."

"When is this happening? What if it goes wrong - our families?"

"It won't go wrong, believe me. This is not slash dab, the people involved are serious and dedicated. You will be fine."

"Then what can we do to help?"

He looked into her amber eyes. The innocence. The resolve. He smiled painfully. "I know what you could do." He stared longingly, and her features donned a soft smile as she bent forward, kissing him warmly. "If that had been my ordeal here, I would have confessed instantly," he grinned.

"And then the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

"Is that more of Kilroy?"

"More of his appreciative rebellion, I guess. It's really a piece by Anaïs Nin. But it does give me an idea."

******

"Simon! Get the hell in here!" Inquisitor stood staring at the door to his office. "Simon!"

Two guards rushed to the room, alert but confused. "Sir? What happened?"

"Where the hell is- aah? What is this?" He pointed a shaking finger at the door.

Simon looked at the door, his face losing colour and his tongue swelling in his mouth. They all stood staring at the outside of the office door - at the all too familiar symbol.

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Total to this point - 13,415