Diccons description wound to a close; hed mentally walked in via the gate, then taken them on a clockwise tour describing every building they would pass.
Thats extremely helpful, Caleb said, and meant it. Nowhow many mercenaries are there?
Hmm. Diccons features scrunched up. He had set down his basket, and from the way his fingers moved, he was counting. Then his face cleared. There be twenty-four there right now, plus Dubois, and six are off taking the latest batch of diamonds to the coast for pickup.
Caleb blinked. So its definitely diamonds theyre mining.
Aye, Diccon said. Thought you knew that.
Wed guessed it, but until now, we couldnt be certain. Caleb tilted his head. You said the mercenaries take the diamonds to the coast for pickupnot Freetown?
Nuh-uh. At least, weall of us in the compounddont think so. Far as weve been able to make out, they take the strongbox toward the settlement, but the pickup is somewhere on the estuary, see? That way, no one in Freetown knows.
Phillipe shifted, drawing Diccons attention. The six whove gone to the coastdo they go and return via that path? He pointed at the path theyd been following, which lay not that far away through the palms.
A pertinent point. Caleb looked at Dicconand was relieved to see the boy shake his head.
That path just goes to Kales camp. Diccons eyes grew flat, and his expression shuttered. You dont want to go that way.
Kales not there anymore, Caleb said. Hes...left. Along with all his men.
Yeah? Diccon studied Calebs face, then his eyes grew round as the implication registered.
Before he could ask the eager questions clearly bubbling on his tongue, Phillipe intervened. Which route do the mercenaries take to the coast, then?
Theres another pathwell, theres several leave the compound. One goes to the lake where we get our water, and theres this one, where all of us came in from. Then theres another that divides into two not far from the gate. Those who go to drop off the diamonds take the northwest branch, and we reckon it also eventually leads to Freetown. They could get to Freetown through Kales camp, but Duboishes the leaderhe mostly sends his men to get ordinary things like food and stuff that we know must come from Freetown when they go to drop off the diamonds.
Caleb nodded, a map taking shape in his brain. You said that path divides into twowhere does the other branch go?
Far as we know, it leads dead north. We think theres nothing but jungle that way, all the way to the coast. Diccon paused, then added, Maybe some natives. Theres a chief that owns this land, see, and Dubois pays him to let the mine be. We think hethe chieflives that way. Thats why the tracks there, but no one from the mine uses it.
Phillipe caught Calebs eye. Caleb nodded fractionally. That little-used path sounded like the one they should fall back along. He refocused on Diccon. Tell us more about the mercenaries.
Well, like I said, theres thirty of them all up, including the cook and his helper, who are just as fierce as the others. And theres Dubois. Hes in charge, and they all mind him. He has two...lieutenants, I suppose youd say. Arsenehes Duboiss second-in-commandand Cripps is the other. The mercenaries are all big and tough, and they carry swords, lots of knives, and some have pistols. The ones on the tower and the gates have muskets.
Caleb slowly nodded. Direct observation would be best. But first... How is it youre allowed out by yourself? You are by yourself, arent you?
Diccons face fell. Aye. Im no good in the mine, see. I just cough and cough. Dubois, he was going to kill mehe said I was useless, and he wasnt going to waste food feeding me. But Miss Katherine spoke up for me. Diccon straightened. She said I wasnt useless and that I could help fetch fruit and berries, and nuts, too, so that the cook could properly feed all us children. And the adults, too. She said that way, wed all stay healthy and work betterand Dubois went fer it.
Consulting his mental list of the females kidnapped, Caleb asked, Miss Katherineis she Miss Fortescue?
Aye. Thats her. But all us children call her Miss Katherine. Shes in charge of us.
And was clearly a lioness if shed spoken up and saved Diccon.
Diccon heaved a disconsolate sigh. I wish I could run away, but Dubois said that ifn I aint back by sundown every day, hell kill two of me mates. The boys face paled. So I dont even dare be late back. Hes a devil, Dubois is.
You believe him? Phillipe asked the question gently.
Diccon looked him in the eye. We all believe Duboiss threats. Even Mr. Hillsythe. He says Dubois is one of those villains who enjoys killing, and that we none of us should ever doubt hell do exactly what he says.
Caleb caught Phillipes eye. Hillsythe was Wolverstones man. If that was his assessment of Dubois, theyd be well advised to pay it due heed. All right. Caleb returned his gaze to Diccon. I think its time we took a look at this campbut first... As he rose, he glanced at the assembled men, then he looked back at Diccon. We need to find a place to camp thats close enough to the mine for us to keep watch and study it, but far enough away that no one from the camp is likely to stumble across us. I thought perhaps somewhere along that path to the norththe one no one uses.
Diccon nodded. I know just the place. Theres a good-sized clearing a little way down that track.
Caleb laid a gentle hand on the boys shoulder. Can we get to it without going closer to the camp?
O courseI can lead you. Diccons happy grin returned, and he swiped up his basket. I know all the places round about. I can go where I like around the camp, and the berries and fruit and nut trees grow everywhere.
Is it likely anyone from the camp might hear us? Phillipe asked.
Nah. As Caleb let his hand fall from Diccons shoulder, the boy turned and beckoned. Were still well out, and the trees and leaves and all keep sound in. You often cant hear someone until theyre quite close.
Caleb signaled to his men to follow and, with Phillipe on his heels, fell in behind Diccon.
When they reached the path from Kales camp, Diccon beckoned them onward. Ill take you through the jungle and around until we hit the other path.
He proved as good as his word, leading them unerringly on a tacking course around jungle trees and more dense pockets of vegetation. He waved them to caution as they approached another path. When Caleb put a hand on Diccons shoulder and leaned down to breathe in his ear What? the boy tipped his head back and whispered, This is the northwest path they use to drop off the diamonds and go to Freetown. I dont think theyll be on their way back yet, but...
Caleb released his shoulder with a pat. Good lad. Always play safe.
They crept to the edge of the path and strained their ears, but heard nothing. Swiftly, they crossed over the beaten track and plunged back into the jungle. Ten yards on, Caleb glanced back and could see nothing but jungle foliage. Finding a guide had been a stroke of luck. Without Diccon to lead them, they would have been stumbling aroundvery possibly into the mercenaries clutches.
But Fate had smiled and sent the boy to them.
When they came upon the next path, Diccon walked confidently on to it. That place I told you aboutthe nice clearingis just along here. He led them down what was clearly a very much less well-traveled track. There were small saplings springing up, and vines laced across the path. Phillipe muttered, then told the men to work on keeping their passing as undetectable as possible. So they avoided the saplings and ducked under the vines, all of which Diccon whisked light-footed around.
Then he turned off the path onto a narrow animal track. Fifteen yards on, it descended into a clearing thatas Diccon had promisedwas perfect for their needs. Big enough to comfortably house all of them and with a tiny stream trickling past on one side.
Here you go. Grinning, the boy spun, holding his arms wide.
Caleb grinned back. Thank youthis is just what we need.
Phillipe smiled at Diccon and patted his shoulder as he passed. Youre an excellent scout, my friend.
The other men made approving noises as they filed into the space.
Diccon positively glowed.
It took only a moment for Caleb and Phillipe to organize the establishment of their camp, then, summoning their quartermastersCalebs Quilley and Phillipes Ducassethey presented themselves before Diccon.
The boy looked at them expectantly.
First question, Caleb said. Have you got enough fruit in your basket to satisfy the cook?
Diccon lifted the floppy basket, opened it, and examined the pile of fruit inside. Almost. He looked up and around, then pointed to a small tree with dangling yellow fruit. If I got some more of those, Id have enough.
Two captains and two quartermasters dutifully gathered several handfuls of the ripe fruit.
Diccon smiled as they filled his basket, then he clamped the handles together and looked at Caleb. More than enough.
Excellent. What we need next, Caleb said, is for you to lead us to a place where we can see into the camp, all without alerting any guards. Do you know of such a spot?
Diccon snapped off a salute. I know just the place, Captn. Hed heard Calebs men using his rank.
In that caseCaleb gestured toward where he assumed the mine must belead on.
Diccon did. He lived up to their expectations, leading them first along the disused path again, then cutting left into the untrammeled jungle. He looked back at Caleb and whispered, This will be safest. Were moving away from the other paths and into the space between that northward path and the one leading to the lake. The mercenaries take some of the men to the lake to fetch water every day, but they do that in the morning. There shouldnt be anyone at the lake now.
Caleb nodded, and they forged on, increasingly slowly as Diccon took the order to be careful to heart.
Eventually, he halted behind a clump of palms. Using hand signals, he intimated that they should crouch down and be extra careful while following him on to the next concealing clump.
Then he slipped like an eel through the shadows.
Caleb followed and instantly saw why Diccon had urged extra caution. The compounds palisade lay ten yards away, separated from the jungle by a beaten, well-maintained perimeter clearinga cleared space to ensure no one could approach the palisade under cover. The compounds double gates were five yards to their right. And the gates stood wide open with two armed guards slouched against the posts on either side. Both guards attention was fixed on the activity inside the camp, but any untoward noise would alert them.
Given the gates were propped open, Caleb surmised that the real purpose of the guardsand, indeed, the fence, the gates, and the guard tower in the middle of the compoundwas to keep people in; the mercenaries had grown sufficiently complacent that they didnt expect any threat to emerge from the jungle.
Well and good.
They watched in silence for more than half an hour. Caleb noticed that heavily armed guards appeared to be patrolling randomly through the compound, but the attitude of all the mercenaries was transparently one of supreme boredom. They were very far from alert; the impression they gave was that they were perfectly sure there would be no challenge to their authority.
Against that, however, he saw some of the captiveshe had no idea which ones, but both male and femalewalking freely back and forth. More, some met and stopped to chat, apparently without attracting the attention of the guards.
Curious.
Then he noticed Diccon peering up at the sky. The sun was angling from the west. Remembering the boys concern over returning in good time, Caleb tapped him on the shoulder, caught Phillipe and the other mens eyes, then tipped his head back, into the relative safety of the area behind them.
Diccon retreated first. One by one, the rest of them followed.
They gathered again well out of hearing of the guards on the gates. Caleb dropped his hand on Diccons shoulder and met the boys gaze. Thank you for all your help. Now, we have to tread warily. Who is the person you trust most inside the camp?
Miss Katherine.
Caleb blinked. Hed expected the boy to name one of the men, but his answer had come so rapidly and definitely that there was no real way to argue with his choice. Slowly, Caleb nodded. Very well. I want you to tell Miss Katherine all weve told you. Can you remember the important bits?
Diccon nodded eagerly. I remember everything. Im good like that.
Caleb had to grin. Excellent. So tell Miss Katherine, but no one else, and see what she says. Then tomorrow, when you come out, go and look for fruit in this areabetween our camp and the lake. Behave as you usually do and gather fruit, and well come and find you. Well be waiting to hear what Miss Katherine, and any others she thinks fit to tell, say.
Diccons face brightened. So Im like...what is it? A courier?
Exactly. Phillipe smiled at the boy. But rememberthe mark of a good courier is that he tells only those hes supposed to tell. Not a word of this to anyone else, all right?
Diccon nodded. Mums the word, except for Miss Katherine.
Good. Caleb released the boy. I would suggest you circle around and come in from some other direction.
Ill go to the lake and walk in from therethat way, if you keep watching, youll see where that path comes out a-ways to the left.
Calebs approving smile was entirely genuine. Youre taking to this like a duck to water. He nodded in farewell. Off you go, then.
With a brisk salute and a grin for them all, Diccon melted into the jungle; in seconds, theyd lost sight of him.
He is very good. Phillipe turned toward the gates. But Ill feel happier when hes back inside where he belongs. He waved toward their previous hideaway. Shall we?
They returned to the spot. Five minutes later, Diccon appeared out of the jungle to their left. He passed their position without a glance and, basket swinging, all but skipped back through the gates. He headed to the right, vanishing into an area of the compound that from their position they had no view of.
Caleb consulted his memory. He must have gone to deliver his haul to the cookhe said the kitchen was that way.
Hed barely breathed the words. Phillipe merely nodded in reply.