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"You just do that, Earl. You just do that," a deep voice called from the darkness. Hoffman Price stepped forward, his Kalashnikov tucked under his arm so his hands were free to work his pipe. He got it lit and sent out a puff of smoke.
"And another Grog-lover sounds off," Earl said. "You throw down on me, you skunk, and Charlie'll blow you in half with his ten-gauge."
"Bee!" Price called.
Valentine heard wood shatter and turned to see a warrant-man crash headfirst through the repaired section of wall, ten-gauge bent around his neck like a dress tie. Bee swung out through the hole, treading on the unconscious Charlie, and extracted a pair of sawed-off shotguns from her boot holsters.
"Earl, you better shut up before I've got your whole rig for damages," Greta said.
"Didn't you hear, Earl?" Price said. "These folks hired me for a little trip to Chattanooga. They're under my protection." He raised his voice. "Any man comes to serve papers on them will interfere with my ability to earn my fee. Bee's my accountant when I'm in country. I refer all financial difficulties to her."
"Let's everyone calm down. We're leaving right now," Valentine said. "Pretend none of this happened."
Greta lowered her shotgun. "You ordered four meals, Black. You and Red and your big friend eat first, then you can leave. You might as well-Earl's picking up the tab."
* * * *
The warrant-men, save for Earl, trickled back inside.
They ate at the riverside. "Lots of bad blood gets built up in this business," Price said. He posted himself downwind of Valentine and Duvalier, but it didn't help much.
After some head bobbing and a mutual dental exam, the two Grogs sat down next to each other. Ahn-Kha ate a few bites of his stew, then passed her the bowl.
"She speaks northern slope dialect," Ahn-Kha said. "I only know a few words."
Duvalier was already mopping up her remains with a biscuit. Valentine marveled at her appetite. "You really taking us on, or was that just show?" she asked Price.
"I'm taking you."
"Not through Chattanooga, I hope," Valentine said.
"That was just in case Earl gets the second big idea of his life and goes to the authorities, such as they are."
"What changed your mind?" Valentine asked.
"I got to thinking that I don't have too many more years in me to pay Everready back. If I have to step off, I'll do it clean. Plus Bee got a look at your big friend when he came down to the river to hit the shitter. She got excited. Bee gets lonely for her own, I think."
"I've had my mating," Ahn-Kha said. "She is dead. Besides, we are not dogs. Our strains do not mix."
"But you share some customs, looks like," Price said.
"I've been among her kind. Do not misunderstand me. She is well formed and agreeable." Ahn-Kha broke a biscuit in half and gave it to her. "I just could no more be a male to her than you could."
"I want to put a few miles on across the river before dark," Price said. He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth three times. "I have a mule. Bee and I will go load him up."
Valentine kept the food close to his nose as he ate his stew. "Is there a chance that you'll take a bath before we set out?"
"What, and spoil my camouflage?"
Duvalier looked up. "You're hoping to pass as a feral hog, perhaps?"
"No. Everready explained it to me years ago. I never could hide lifesign for shit. All the critters interfere with the Hoods. I don't read as human at any kind of distance." He walked up to the back doorstep and returned his plate.
"You want your other biscuit, Val?" Duvalier asked as Price disappeared into the stable.
"You got used to him faster than I did," Valentine said. "How did you keep your dinner down?"
"Greta in there gave me a bottle of clove oil. It's good for more than mosquito bites. A dab'll do you-provided you put it under your nostrils."
