‘I don’t think I killed him,’ said Hip and added, ‘yet.’

‘I can’t tell you to kill him,’ Janie whispered.

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Yes, I know.’

She said, ‘It’s the first time the twins ever touched him. It was very brave. He could have burned out their brains in a second.’

‘They’re wonderful. Bonnie!’

‘Ho.’

‘Get me a knife. A sharp one with a blade at least so long. And a strip of black cloth, so-by-so.’

Bonnie looked at Janie. Janie said, ‘What—‘

He put his hand on her mouth. Her mouth was very soft. ‘Sh.’

Janie said, panicked, ‘Bonnie, don’t—‘