“I don’t know anything to do. It’s impossible for me.”
“Just anything,” said Drewena, with composure. “It doesn’t have to be much.”
Miriam thought a moment, observing the heavy beam above her, the high ceiling and the shadows.
“Was that Tai whom I saw peeping out into the hall a moment ago? The child looked Indo-Chinese. If you’d lend him to me....”
“I can’t risk the child,” said Drewena slowly. “His father nursed me. And next to you, Miriam, I love him better than anyone but Deane.” Drewena gave a queer smile. “She has a portion of the roundtable of my mind that no one, not even you, my dearest, can fathom.”
“I won’t hurt the child,” said Miriam earnestly. “He’ll think it’s a lot of fun. You can see what I’ll do!”
“It isn’t that,” said Drewena, flushing. Then, “All right. Tai is yours for the trick. What else do you need?”
“A man with powerful shoulders, and a rope,” said Miriam. “And have the orchestra play loudly while I work.”
Suddenly Drewena laughed.