Touchwit saw her Stranger and her Seagull dissolving into collegiality. They looked ready to go off together and have a wonderful talk about the philosophy of Making over clams and black beer. She hated to break it up, but she needed to bring the two of them down-to-earth. First, to the gull: “Did you tell Clutch to lure Meatbreath out of the City tonight?”
“I did.”
“Does Clutch have enough forces to pin down the High Guard?”
“I have never seen Raccoons fight. But if they were Primates I would say yes. Provided they aren’t outmanoeuvred. But we don’t know where the High Guard is. All Gulls are grounded because of the fog.”
“It’ll burn off in mid-morning, then we’ll find out,” Mindwalker said.
“If it’s not too late,” Touchwit said.
A shape moving low to the ground stirring the fog. A raccoon in a hurry.
“Bandit!”
Brother and sister touched noses and licked muzzles. But most of all they inhaled their common scent, familiar since cubhood.
“Who’s this?” Mindwalker asked. “Another brother?”
“Meet my brother, Bandit.”
“You’re in the Honour Guard,” Mindwalker said warily.
“Strictly undercover. Glad to touch noses.”
Brotherly touch. Scent of mussels and dark beer.
Brusque touch. Scent of sandwich scraps, construction lot rubble, and automobile oil beneath a bridge.
“You can call me Mindwalker.”
“What’s that?” Bandit flattened his ears at the Making as if it was a threat.
“That’s the combined contents of Mindwalker’s unconscious,” Touchwit said affectionately.
“It’s leaning against a tree,” Bandit said. It was the only observation he could make. This Mindwalker was long and tall. Just Sensibella’s type.
“It wants to be outdoors,” Mindwalker explained. Who was this upstart?
“That Seagull seems to be listening to us,” Bandit said.
“It’s okay. He’s a colleague.”
“Can he understand Raccoon?”
“Ask him.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Gull, or Ms. Gull, or some other appellation of your own choosing. Do you wish to say something?”
The gull stared blankly at the new arrival.
“I guess he can’t speak Raccoon.”
“I can’t believe you’re up to your snout in espionage,” Touchwit said, changing the subject.
Bandit couldn’t tell if she was surprised to discover he could be subtle. She’d grown up too. Just like her to find a mate who was a Maker. Wait till she saw him and his Sensibella for a display of maturity.
“Maybe working undercover has given you something you can share with us.” Mindwalker wasn’t going to relax until this ambiguous brother showed his colours.
“You’re the leader of the Resistance, aren’t you?” Bandit asked.
Mindwalker said nothing.
“I need to report the location of your cell to the Director of Security. It’s around here, isn’t it?”
Mindwalker looked up towards the sky.
“I have to identify an actual place for her to raid. You don’t have to be in it. Just your scents need to be.”
“Why do it? Why not defect?” Mindwalker asked.
“I can’t. I need to be in the Honour Guard tonight. To protect … someone. To stay in the Guard, I have to give the Security Director the information she wants.”
All froze.
A new shape moving up the hill to the Court House. A lithe, quick-moving female like Touchwit. In fact, she looked just like her up close.
“Hiya, Bandy! I knew I’d find you here.”
