“I’ve heard of it.” Flat voice.

“Then you also know there are no longer any human residents.”

A nod.

“There are, however, surviving house animals that need care, as well as the other animals that were left behind. Sanguinati and Wolfgard are on their way to Bennett, as well as some other forms of terra indigene. Some Intuits are also on their way to help run the businesses that are needed to support that train station. There wouldn’t be many humans like herself there, at least not in the beginning, but it would be an opportunity to do the kind of work you say she wants to do.”

“Who’s looking after the animals now?”

“I don’t know. Whoever is in town that day, I think.”

Debany rubbed the towel over his face. “I’ll tell her about it. Has to be her choice.”

A reminder to me or you? Vlad thought. “Well, we don’t need an answer until we get through these storms.” And find out what’s left of Thaisia when they’re done.

• • •

“Thanks for coming to get us,” Greg O’Sullivan said when Simon walked over to the chairs at the train station where the ITF agent guarded four females.

Simon almost told him that Blair needed to come to the station anyway to pick up some things they had ordered for the Courtyard, but that might make it sound like the humans were extra luggage, so he said, “It’s fine.”

The oldest female stood. She was short and thin, with brown skin and brown eyes, and her short curly hair was more tarnished silver than black. The other adult female was younger, and had black hair and brown skin, but her eyes were a clear, startling green.

O’Sullivan made the introductions. “This is Twyla Montgomery, her daughter, Sierra, and the girls are Carrie and Bonnie. Ladies, this is Simon Wolfgard, leader of the Lakeside Courtyard.”

“Can we call you Wolfie?” the girl with the missing front tooth asked.

“You can call him Mr. Wolfgard or Mr. Simon, same as you would any other grown-up,” Twyla said.

She didn’t raise her voice or threaten, but she subdued the pup and left no doubt that question wouldn’t be asked again.

Simon was impressed—and hopeful there was now someone who could keep the human puppies in line without biting them. “What should we call you?”

“Twyla will do.”

Maybe. He’d see what Lieutenant Montgomery said about that.

Humans were starting to notice them, and it wasn’t smart to linger. Simon grabbed a couple of the carryalls piled around the females and tried to remember the things humans asked about travel. “Did you have a good trip?”

“It was just fine once we got seats,” Twyla replied. “We’d probably still be sitting in the station at Hubbney if Agent O’Sullivan hadn’t stepped in.”

“Oh?” Simon looked at O’Sullivan, who was also carrying a couple of bags that weren’t his own. Simon knew this because one carryall was black; the other two were bright pink and smelled like the little females.

“There has been some trouble with trains running out of Toland, so everyone is being funneled through Hubb NE,” O’Sullivan replied in a quiet voice. “Now that trains aren’t running after dark, to avoid incidents, there is a backlog of passengers, and those who could afford to ‘upgrade’ their ticket were being given the seats. Ms. Montgomery and her family had already been sitting at the Hubbney station for a full day when I arrived to catch the train to Lakeside. When I heard her son was a police officer, I stepped in and gave the railway a choice of putting us in the executive car or having me shut down the station while the ITF investigated the preferential treatment of some passengers over others.”

Simon smiled. “You have teeth, O’Sullivan, even if you are human.”

“Thanks.”

They packed the van with cargo and carryalls and humans. As he settled into the front passenger seat, Simon heard the distant sound of thunder.

• • •

Meg opened the gate and slipped inside Henry’s yard. Nathan was still in the Liaison’s Office, and Jake was perched on the wall between the delivery area and the yard, so she’d have plenty of warning if a truck pulled in.

She hurried up to the studio door and tapped on the frame. “Henry? Can I come in?”

The Grizzly stepped away from one of his sculptures and gave her a quizzical look. “When have you needed to ask?”

She went in and sat on the bench where she could watch him work without getting in the way.

“I’m glad you came. I wanted to show you this.” Henry picked up a piece of wood and came over to sit beside her. “What do you think?”

Not finished yet, but she could make out a tree in the center. In each corner of the box, touching some of the branches, was something that represented each of the seasons. “It’s wonderful. This is the lid for the box to hold the prophecy cards?”

He nodded. “When it’s time, you can help me stain the pieces. That way the wood will get to know you.”

She ran her fingers gently over the wood. “I’d like that.”

He took the lid and set it aside. “What’s on your mind, Meg?” He waved aside her excuse before she made one. “You wouldn’t come to visit during your work time if you didn’t want to talk while everyone else was occupied—and with the new visitors, everyone is occupied.”

“Henry? How much human is too human?”