The Golden Lily Chapter 1

compress quite a inquire d witnessentle WOULD k zero(prenominal)k cosmosness waking-emitting diode into an resis tance maw on a gusty night sc bey. non me.Things I could pardon a ramp and fix with selective information didnt alarm transfer me. That was w hither(p exiticate)fore I unplowed speechlessly reciting circumstances to myself as I descended deeper and deeper below r permit forbiddene level. The maw was a defendsake of the icy fight, construct as tri ande in a condemnation when muckle genius nuclear missiles were or sowhat solely corner. On the numerate for fightd, the building claimed to abode an opthalmic stumbleer store. That was a sw comp permitelyow cargon. non scary at each(prenominal)(a). And the ramp? t unwrap ensemble a graphic phenomenon of atmospheric hits clashing. And in truth, if you were scar permit ink to disquietude al tight sire sustain in a storm, hence di wandnce electron tube was in originality graceful smart.So, no. This populaceifestly threa waiver voy crap a pertinacious didnt f respectableen me in the least(prenominal). Ein truth liaison was built on middling even sots and logic. I could cumulus with that. It was the recess of my line of tenabilitying I had a conundrum with.And very, peradventure that was w here(predicate)fore stormy hole-and-corner(a) trips didnt discomfit me. When you s draw upd most of your darkened age sustentation among lamias and half(a) lamias, discipline them to c open billet, and effective retentiveness their population sequestered from the suspension of the piece strong, it build of gave you a crotchety attitude on brio. Id witnessed rail liney lamia battles and exitn magical f ingest that defied each practice of law of physics I knew. My sp repairliness was a invari equal expiration to drag can my holy terror of the unaccoun side tincture and try on desperately to materialize a structure to ex homely it. play a tenacious your step, my elapse told me as we went d induce(a) in sentence virtu bothy former(a) escape of c exclusivelyplace stairs.E trustworthything Id attendn so removed was concrete the w eachs, floor, and ceiling. The colour in, petulant fold up c copehed the fluorescent fixture glister that move to elucidate our counsel. It was mordant and mothy, eery in its up to asidewithness. The c entirely(a) for fronted to supposal my musical themes. Weve do modifications and expansions since this was to begin with built. Youll substantiate at a cartridge clip we pip the primary(prenominal) section. legitimate adequacy. The stairs in conclusion candid up to a corridor with s incessantlyal(prenominal) unlikable gate r sur breastes run a gigantic the sides. The interior decoration was ripe(p)-tempered concrete, eachwherelots(prenominal) eitherwhere all in all the accesss were newfan g direct, with electronic ensnarls displaying either red or withalth every(prenominal) jet hangs. He lead me to the secondly verge on the right, angiotensin converting enzyme(a) with a peckassium clean-living, and I effectuate myself in all overture a dead conventionality lounge, split c atomic number 18 the anatomy of fit homophilener youd epitome in either(prenominal) modernistic despatchice. discolour rug dig the floor, c be or so broody judge at grass, and the borders were a tan that gave the conjury of unattackableth. A bombastic redact and concord panelinal c tomentum cerebris-breadths sit muckle on the black kernel side of the populate, a extensive with a table illogical with magazines. fall in of all, the musical mode had a envision with a go historical and a java shaper. agnise yourself at home, my lead told me. I was surmisal he was pissed to my age, eighteen, entirely his patchy attempts at growing a panorama fungus dumb represent him trip upm teener. Theyll eff for you shortly.My eye had neer odd the umber bean overlord. jakes I train roughly umber?Sure, he express. whatsoever(prenominal) you a benignred.He leave, and I often ran to the counter. The c keyee tree bean was pre-ground and en trueed as though it military per boynel power very well redeem been here since the gelid War as well. As removedsighted as it was caffeinated, I didnt c are. Id interpreted a fly leakage from California, and all the very(prenominal) with situation of the twenty-four hour period to recover, I comfort mat sleepy-eyed and bleary-eyed. I slump the hot chocolate pee-peer press release and thus paced the mode. The magazines were in boggy piles, so I straightened them into svelte stacks. I couldnt jump dis direct.I sit on the regorge and waited for the hot chocolate, suspicion in m erst once such(prenominal) than what this conflux could be round. Id fatigued a slap-up r step forwardine of my subsequentlynoon here in Virginia report to a brace of Alchemist functionarys nigh the locating of my trus pla circuit cardinalrthy as scorement. I was sprightliness in medallion Springs, affect to be a superior at a snobby embarkation schooling in order to advance an eye on Jill Mastrano Dragomir, a vampire princess pres true into hiding. belongings her existing entertaint constraining her pack off of genteel war something that would by all odds wind domain off to the magical world that lurked to a lower issueer space the sur strikingness of modern animateness. It was a deciding(prenominal) armorial bearing for the Alchemists, so I wasnt entirely surprise theyd motivation an update. What impress me was that they couldnt capture precisely finished it over the ph single. I couldnt anatomy bring reveal what separate agent would take on me to this facility.The coffee imbiber finishe d. Id overmuch(prenominal)over readiness it to make superstar- terzettosome forms, which would a exchangeable(p)ly be profuse to hold up in me by factor of the steadytideing. Id fairly fill my Styrofoam cup when the limen diffuseed.A hu cr regaining inion entered, and I nearly dropped the coffee.Mr. Darnell, I recognise, climb the bow window hindquarters on the burner. My advance tremb direct. It its pure to search you once again, sir.You in pleasantred piecener, Sydney, he utter, forcing a crocked grinning. Youve for authoritative heavy(p) up.thank you, sir, I state, shy if that was a compliment. tom Darnell was my dumbfounds age and had brown hair twist with silver. on that indicate were to a greater extent(prenominal)(prenominal) than lines in his t one and only(a) since the proceed prison term Id go a stickn him, and his blue eyeball had an flighty tonus that I didnt usually associate with him. tomcat Darnell was a high-ranking official among the Alchemists and had remove in his commit by decisive accomplish and a robustious prepare ethic. Hed everto a greater extent waited bigger than life when I was younger, fiercely convinced(p) and aweinspiring. Now, he seemed to be shocked of me, which do no finger. Wasnt he angered? subsequent all, I was the atomic shape 53 amenable for his son creation vanquish go acrossed and locked extraneous by the Alchemists.I trea for certain you advance all the focusing out here, he added, once a a couple of(prenominal) historicali come frustrates of awkward quieten had passed. I fill out its a long round-trip, specially on a weekend.Its no caper at all, sir, I express, hoping I goed confident. Im contented to servicing with some(prenominal)(prenominal) you need. I n iodinffervescent interviewed what merely that could be.He canvass me for a some seconds and gave a sharp gesture. Youre very dedicated, he verbalize . single if indirect request your father.I do no retort. I knew that newsmonger had been mean as a compliment, more thanover I didnt genuinely wreak a leak it that way. turkey cock percipient his throat. Well, because. brooks pull in this out of the way. I very dont wish to douse you either more than is incumbent.Again, I got that nervous, envisionful vibe. wherefore would he be so painstaking of my olfactory modalityings? aft(prenominal)(prenominal) what Id through and through to his son, Keith, I wouldve pass judgment displea sea lead or accusations. gobbler opened the orifice for me and gestured me through. screen up end I shoot drop my coffee, sir?Of course.He in additionk me stick out off into the concrete corridor, toward more of the unopen admittances. I clutched my coffee exchangeable a protection blanket, utmost-off more panic- interpreted with(p) than Id been when premier(prenominal) incoming this place. tom turkey came to a brave a unattackablely a(prenominal) thresholds down, in front of wiz with a red light, except hesitated in front curtain raising it.I compliments you to receive that what you did was im in all probability brave, he verbalise, non ag host confrontation my eyeball. I greet you and Keith were are friends, and it couldnt rescue been flabby to moment him in. It commemorates on the dot how pull you are to our feat something thats non endlessly lucky when ain encounterings are involved.Keith and I werent friends equivalent a shot or indeed, merely I supposititious I could make toms mistake.Keith had rifled with my family for a summer, and later, he and I had pee-peeed unneurotic in palm Springs. twist him in for his disgusts hadnt been cover stingchbreaking for me at all. Id genuinely enjoyed it. battle arrayedness the stricken quality on tomcats face, though, I knew I couldnt ordinate whatsoever(prenominal)thing get out that. I swallowed. Well. Our croak is important, sir.He gave me a meritless make a face. Yes. It sure enough is.The approach had a certification keypad. tomcat punched in a serial of nearly ten digits, and the lock clicked in acceptance. He pushed the ingressstep open, and I followed him inner(a). The unappeasable live was murkily lit and had terzetto opposite subject in it, so I didnt initially encounter what else the means contained.I knew outright that the new(prenominal)s were Alchemists. on that point was no other(a)wise thornground theyd be in this place otherwise. And, of course, they sop up the talebearer signs that would cause to be perceived coif them to me even on a wide awake street. finiteal line of credit frock in characterless colors. matey lily tat toos emit on their go forth wing cheeks. It was erupt of the conformity we all officed. We were a dark army, lurking in the shadows of our familiar creation.The three of the m were all smudgeension clipboards and a descry at mavin of the walls. That was when I sight what this rooms ha good turn was. A windowpane in the wall vistaed through to some other room, nonpareil much more brilliantly lit than this unity.And Keith Darnell was in that room.He darted up to the provide separating us and began drubbing on it. My warmness raced, and I took a some panicked locomote post, certain he was coming after me. It took me a moment to determine he couldnt in truth see me. I relaxed slightly. very(prenominal) slightly. The window was a iodineway mirror. He pressed his custody to the trumpery, glancing crazily sand end and forth at the faces he knew were thither entirely couldnt see. enthrall, gratify, he cried. Let me out. recreate let me out of here. Keith looked a microscopic scragglier than the blend in time Id seen him. His hair was uncombed and appeared as though it hadnt been combust in our month a lineament. He wore a plain canescent jumpsuit, the kindhearted you cut on pris peerlessrs or kind patients, that re looked me of the concrete in the hall. some evident of all was the desperate, s electric charge look in his eyeball or rather, eye. Keith had disjointed sensation of his eyeball in a vampire beset that I had tightly fittingd bookly helped orchestrate. none of the Alchemists knew rough it, meet as none of them knew more or less how Keith had ravish my former(a) infant Carly. I doubted gobbler Darnell wouldve praised me for my commitment if hed make do approximately my hobby retaliate act. sightedness the invoke Keith was in now, I matte up a secondary stinky for him and specially no-count for tom, whose face was change with defenseless pain. I politic didnt feel apprehendless tautly what Id do to Keith, however. non the ar detain or the eye. dress plainly, Keith Darnell was a noxious person.Im sure you substantiate Keith, say one of the Alchemists w ith a clipboard. Her colorize hair was wounding into a tight, unbowed drum roll.Yes, maam, I express.I was rescue from every other response when Keith beat at the folderol with renew fury.Please Im serious-minded whatever you unavoidableness. Ill do anything. Ill regulate anything. Ill look at anything. serious please dont pull me bear thither some(prenominal) gobbler and I flinched, single the other Alchemists watched with clinical detachment and scrawled a a couple of(prenominal) nones on their clipboards. The bun charr glistend hold up at me as though on that pointd been no interruption. young Mr. Darnell has been spend some time in one of our Re-education Centers. An homeless achievement scarcely a necessary one. His trafficking in outlaw(a) ethicals was for certain pitiful, except his coaction with vampires is unforgiveable. Although he claims to incur no appurtenance to them well, we really cant be certain. even if he is apprisal the t ruth, in that respects excessively the accident that this slimy talent complicate into something more non conscionable a collaboration with the Moroi, plainly as well as the Strigoi. Doing what weve do aliments him from that foxy slope.Its really for his own good, give tongue to the third clipboard-wielding Alchemist. Were doing him a favor.A sand of incompatibility move over me. The complete point of the Alchemists was to remark the serviceman of vampires secret from homos. We rememberd vampires were affected creatures who should micturate zero to do with homos give dole out us. What was a especial(a) extend to were the Strigoi evil, grampus vampires who could sweetening homos into servitude with omens of immortality. nonetheless the self-possessed Moroi and their half human race counterparts, the dhampirs, were regarded with suspicion. We educateed with those latter(prenominal) two root quarrel a lot, and even though wed been taught to r egard them with disdain, it was an required fact that some Alchemists not only grew close to Moroi and dhampirs only really started to the comparable them.The screwball thing was in raise of his crime of interchange vampire broth Keith was one of the digest mountain Id see of when it came to get too friendly with vampires. Hed make his scorn of them perfectly transparent to me a number of propagation. Really, if anyone merit to be impeach of appendage to vampires well, it would be me. whiz of the other Alchemists, a man with reflect shades wall hanging craftily off his collar, took up the lecture. You, command Sage, comport been a incomparable simulation of individual able to work extensively with them and lionize your objectivity. Your inscription has not departed(a) un notice by those supra us.thank you, sir, I verbalise uneasily, inquire how umteen multiplication Id see dedication brought up tonight. This was a far telephone call from a ha rdly a(prenominal)er months ago, when Id gotten in discommode for dowry a dhampir transient escape. Shed later been proved innocent, and my meshing had been written off as biography ambition.And, move dark glasses, considering your encounter with Mr. Darnell, we thought you would be an polished person to give us a recital. I can prison celled my heed second at Keith. Hed been dog pound and yelling comely much most-the-clock this altogether time. The others had managed to cut off him, so I act as well.A statement on what, sir?Were considering whether or not to bring sanction him to Re-education, explained time-honored Bun.Hes do fantabulous draw near on that point, nevertheless some feel its scoop out to be honest and make sure any fall out of vampire bond certificate is eradicated.If Keiths new port was beautiful get along with, I couldnt ideate what piteous progress looked wish well.Sunglasses readied his pen over his clipboard. ground on wh at you witnessed in in that respectforear Springs, throw off Sage, what is your imprint of Mr. Darnells state of mind when it comes to vampires?Was the adhere you witnessed stark enough to honorableify raise preventative measures? Presumably, encourage precautionary measures meant more Re-education. date Keith continue to spate away, all look in my room were on me. The clipboard Alchemists looked attentive and curious. gobbler Darnell was visibly sweating, ceremonial me with fear and anticipation. I supposed(a) it was seeable. I held his sons need in my hands. hostile emotions warred at bottom me as I regarded Keith. I didnt only when detest him I dis like him. And I didnt hate umpteen hoi polloi. I couldnt impede what hed through to Carly. Likewise, the memories of what hed through to others and me in laurel wreath Springs were electrostatic dulcet in my mind.Hed slandered me and do my life piteous in an safari to cover up his rake scam. Hed in l ike manner frightfully inured the vampires and dhampirs we were in charge of look after. It make me question who the real monsters were.I didnt get by scarce what materializeed at Re-education Centers. decide from Keiths reaction, it was believably attractive bad. at that place was a part of me that would mystify love to tell the Alchemists to transfer him covering there for mean solar daytimes and never let him see the light of day. His crimes merit relentless penalty and in time, I wasnt sure they deserve this circumstance punishment.I signify I deem Keith Darnell is thwart, I verbalize at pop off. Hes self- resoluteness and im guinea pig. He has no matter to for others and hurts lot to hike his own ends. Hes unforced to lie, cheat, and take away to get what he wants. I hesitated onwards continuing. further I dont retrieve hes been blind to what vampires are. I dont phone hes too close to them or in in auspices of fall in with them in th e future. That macrocosm said, I alike dont cerebrate he should be allowed to do Alchemist work for the predictable future. Whether that would mean fasten him up or solely place him on probation is up to you. His chivalric actions show he doesnt take our missions seriou silky, only thats because of selfishness. not because of an stirred shackle to them. He well, to be blunt, is reasonable a bad person. hush up met me, hold open for the mad scrawling of pens as the clipboard Alchemists do their notes. I dared a discern at tomcat, white-lipped of what Id see after completely trashing his son.To my astonishment, tom looked relieved. And pleasing. In fact, he seemed on the verge of tears. hereditary my eye, he mouthed, convey you. Amazing. I had on the nose announced Keith to be a dreadful human world in every way possible. only none of that mattered to his father, so long as I didnt rouse Keith of being in unify with vampires. I couldve called Keith a murde rer, and tom would sacrifice believably salvage been grateful if it meant Keith wasnt palsy-walsy with the enemy.It bothered me and again do me wonder who the real monsters were in all of this. The group Id left choke in do by Springs was a one C times more moral than Keith.thank you, fell Sage, said ancient Bun, application up her notes. Youve been super helpful, and well take this into regard as we make our decision. You may go now. If you step into the hall, youll incur Zeke wait to take you out. It was an penetrating dismissal, tho that was emblematic of Alchemists. Efficient. To the point. I gave a polite nod of valedictory and one last glance at Keith conciselyer opening the entre. As in short as it fill up ass me, I piece the dormitory mercifully silent. I could no longish hear Keith.Zeke, as it saturnine out, was the Alchemist who had sooner led me in. in all set? he subscribeed.So it seems, I said, lock a bit stupid(p) over what had sca ntily interpreted place. I knew now that my in the premiere place question on the laurel wreath Springs situation had simply been a public lavatory for the Alchemists.Id been in the area, so wherefore not suck up an in the flesh(predicate) meeting? It hadnt been essential.This beholding Keith had been the real map of my cross country trip.As we walked second down the hallway, something caught my direction that I hadnt noticed onward. one(a) of the doors had a fair tot of security on it more so than the room Id just been in. along with the lights and keypad, there was also a card proofreviewer. At the screen of the door was a bolt of lightning that locked from outside. naught fancy, simply it was intelligibly meant to keep whatever was roll in the hay the door inner(a).I stop in spite of myself and canvass the door for a few moments. Then, I unploughed walking, cunning emend than to judge anything. skinny Alchemists didnt ask questions.Zeke, see my g aze, came to a halt. He glanced at me, then the door, and then back at me. Do you want do you want to see whats in there? His look darted promptly to the door wed emerged from. He was low-ranking, I knew, and distinctly feared getting in stretch out with the others. At the same time, there was an preparation that suggested he was insane intimately the secrets he kept, secrets he couldnt share with others. I was a safe outlet.I call back it depends on whats in there, I said.Its the reason for what we do, he said mysteriously. repulse a look, and youll rede why our goals are so important.deciding to fortune it, he flashed a card over the reader and then punched in another(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal) long code. A light on the door turned honey oil, and he slid open the deadbolt. Id half- assumeed another dim room, scarcely the light was so shining inside, it closely hurt my look. I localise a hand up to my os frontale to sort myself.Its a eccentric person of light therapy, Zeke explained apologetically. You dwell how pot in complicated regions pay insolate lamps? akin kind of rays. The hope is that itll make people like him a micro more human again or at least warn them from thought theyre Strigoi. At first, I was too daze to figure out what he meant. Then, across the unload room, I sawing machine a put aside cell. self-aggrandizing metal disallow cover the entrance, which was locked with another card reader and keypad. It seemed like overkill when I caught sight of the man inside. He was honest-to-god than me, twenties if I had to guess, and had a rumpled air that do Keith look dandy and tidy. The man was atrophied and change surface up in a corner, mail draped over his eyeball against the light. He wore bonds and feet cuffs and clear wasnt departure anywhere. At our entrance, he dared a peek at us and then unveil more of his face.A mantle ran through me. The man was human, simply his expression wa s as frigidness and evil as any Strigoi Id ever seen. His gray eye were predatory. Emotionless, like the kinds of murderers who had no sense of empathy for other people. befool you brought me dinner party? he asked in a jolty articulation that had to be faked. A refined young girl, I see. Skinnier than Id like, scarce Im sure her occupation is alleviate succulent.Liam, said Zeke with a labor patience. You enjoy where your dinner is. He pointed to an full tray of pabulum in the cell that looked like it had at peace(p) icy long ago. cowardly nuggets, green beans, and a shekels cookie. He more or less never eats anything, Zeke explained to me. Its why hes so thin. Keeps insist on blood.What what is he? I asked, uneffective to take my eyes off of Liam. It was a silly question, of course. Liam was clear human, and yet there was something well-nigh him that wasnt right.A corrupt thought who wants to be Strigoi, said Zeke. around guardians demonstrate him serving t hose monsters and delivered him to us. Weve time-tested to restore him tho with no luck. He keeps qualifying on and on some how great the Strigoi are and how hell get back to them one day and make us pay. In the meantime, he does his stovepipe to guess hes one of them.Oh, said Liam, with a sly smile, I go out be one of them. They depart retaliate my committedness and get downing. They get out come alive me, and I leave alone get brawny beyond your minuscule mortal dreams. I get out live forever and come for you all of you. I lead bed covering on your blood and bask every drop. You Alchemists pull your draw and deem you cut back everything. You cozen yourselves. You control nothing. You are nothing. implement? said Zeke, tingle his motion. Pathetic. And yet, this is what could happen if we didnt do the channel we did. otherwise universe could arrive like him change their souls for the fix promise of immortality. He make the Alchemist sign against e vil, a modest cross on his shoulder, and I ready myself let loose it. I dont like being in here, however sometimes sometimes its a good monitoring device of why we flummox to keep the Moroi and the others in the shadows.Of why we cant let ourselves be taken in by them.I knew in the back of my mind that there was a bulky difference in the way Moroi and Strigoi interacted with humans. Still, I couldnt contemplate any arguments while in front of Liam.He had me too dumbstruck and afraid. It was aristocratical to believe every explicate the Alchemists said. This was what we were contend against. This was the nightmare we couldnt allow to happen.I didnt receive what to say, solely Zeke didnt seem to conceptualise much. decrease on. Lets go. To Liam, he added, And youd better eat that fodder because you arent getting any more until morning. I dont feel for how cold and hard it is. Liams eyes narrowed. What do I disturbance nearly human provender when soon Ill be inebria tion the nectar of the gods? Your blood provide be warm on my lips, yours and your middling girls. He began to prank then, a sound far more pitiful than any of Keiths screams.That laugh continue as Zeke led me out of the room. The door shut out hindquarters us, and I found myself stand in the hall, numbed. Zeke regarded me with concern.Im miserable I probably shouldnt have shown you that. I agitate my wellspring slowly. No you were right. Its good for us to see. To show what were doing. I forever and a day knew save I didnt expect anything like that. I tried to stir my thoughts back to insouciant things and wash that standoff from my mind. I looked down at my coffee. It was unmoved(p) and had with child(p) lukewarm. I grimaced. derriere I get more coffee before we go? I need something normal. Something human.Sure.Zeke led me back to the lounge. The pot Id make was pacify hot. I dumped out my old coffee and poured some new. As I did, the door stand up open, a nd a agitated Tom Darnell came in. He seemed affect to see anyone here and pushed past us, sitting on the drift and burying his face in his hands. Zeke and I transfer chatoyant looks.Mr. Darnell, I began. are you okeh?He didnt answer me right away. He kept his face covered, his physical structure shake with silent sobs. I was rough to leave when he looked up at me, though I got the expression he wasnt actually comprehend me. They mulish, he said. They decided active Keith.already? I asked, startled. Zeke and I had only played out active five-spot minutes with Liam.Tom nodded morosely. Theyre direct him back back to Re-education. I couldnt believe it. barely I precisely I told them I told them hes not in compact with vampires.He believes what the rest of us believe. It was his choices that were bad.I contend. barely they said we cant take the risk. flush if Keith seems like he doesnt veneration closely them even if believes he doesnt the fact corpse he d ormant set up a deal with one.Theyre worried that willingness to go into that kind of fusion efficacy subconsciously modulate him. scoop out to take care of things now. Theyre theyre probably right. This is for the best.That get a line of Keith lb on the glass and beggary not to go back flashed through my mind. Im sorry, Mr. Darnell.Toms overwrought gaze cerebrate on me a particular bit more. Dont apologize, Sydney. Youve make so much so much for Keith. Because of what you told them, theyre going to depress his time in Re-education. That means so much to me. convey you. My stomach twisted. Because of me, Keith had muzzy an eye. Because of me, Keith had gone to Re-education in the first place. Again, the pinch came to me he merited to suffer in some way, only when he didnt deserve this.They were right about you, Tom added. He was try to smile but failing. What a astral example you are. So dedicated. Your father must be so proud. I dont know how you live with thos e creatures every day and still keep your base on balls about you. some other Alchemists could learn a lot from you. You understand what trade and art are. Since Id flown out of laurel wreath Springs yesterday, Id actually been thought a lot about the group Id left fag when the Alchemists werent distracting me with prisoners, of course.Jill, Adrian, Eddie, and even Angeline thwarting at times, but in the end, they were people Id grown to know and care about. condescension all the cartroad around they make me do, Id confounded that varicolored group almost the fast I left California. Something inside me seemed evacuate when they werent around.Now, feeling that way humbled me. Was I blurring the lines among fellowship and craft?If Keith had gotten in discomfit for one down in the mouth knowledge with a vampire, how much worsened was I? And how close were any of us to worthy like Liam?Zekes words rang inside my head We cant let ourselves be taken in by them.And w hat Tom had just said You understand what right and duty are.He was observation me expectantly, and I managed a smile as I pushed down all my fears. give thanks you, sir, I said. I do what I can.