“Yes,” said Michael. “But it is not the choice you think. What you do tonight, or do not do, will be for yourself, not for Mary or for me. Because if you don’t help, and something happens to her, you will carry it for the rest of your life.” He released a weary breath, and shook his head. “I cannot help you choose.”
“No,” said the other, looking down. “It seems I must help myself.”
There was nothing more to say. Michael started back toward the hut, wondering if he hadn’t made a terrible mistake---if he hadn’t tried the character of this man too hard already. He slowed, stopped outright, then said without turning.
“I would like to have you with me, Stephen. You know the place, and the situation, far better than I. But if you feel you cannot. . .you are free to do as you like after I have gone, with no further obligation to me.”
Purceville was silent. Michael first saw to the horse, thought for a moment to keep it with him at all times..... No. If this man was going to risk life and limb to help them, he must be shown this much trust, at least. He reentered the hut, and began to work on the long length of rope he had brought with him from the cottage.
Purceville watched him go, then slowly refilled the hole that he had dug, thinking his own dark thoughts.
Thirty-Two
Earl Arthur stood in the cold cellar-chamber with a cloth held to his mouth, examining two corpses. While both were branded, and both wore native clothing, that was where the similarity ended.
The authenticity of number 383, James Talbert, could not be questioned. His curling, brown-blondish hair and classic Scot features, his square but emaciated form, all fit the known facts: the prisoner who would not be disciplined, who had escaped mentally ill, and on the verge of death. Even now he wore a look of defiance.
But the other, number 406, was all wrong. While no physical descriptions were listed on the tally sheet he held, this surely could not be a man who had fled across half the country, hunted and desperate, remaining with and protecting his doubly afflicted companion.