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Back at the Grove…

In Hobbyhoo, Ban and Patty split up to get to their respective destinations. "Meet you at Click Clack's tower?" Ban suggested.

"Sure," Patty said. "Dunno how long I'll be. Sorry if you have to wait a while."

"It's fine." He paused. "And, uh, sorry for getting mad like that, earlier."

"What?" Patty shook her head. "You don't have to apologize for that. After what we heard…"

"I know," said Ban, "but I still took it out on you guys–guys and you, I mean–and that sucked of me."

"Hey, I get it." She smiled. "I probably would've been angrier, but I basically spent my whole life in the Grove, so…"

She trailed off. Ban frowned. "You said a while back you don't remember the Drain, right?"

Patty shrugged. "Barely anything, yeah. Might've been angrier if I remembered more."

Ban wrung his hands together and looked away. "My parents had a kid before me," he said. "Um, she would've been my sister, but… I never got to meet her."

"Oh." Patty remembered what Ban had said in Bauhauzzo's realm; everyone has someone they lost in a flood. "I'm sorry."

"It wasn't a Rift flooding," Ban said. "My dad said she just got caught in the wrong place. He didn't let me go anywhere after that, so I just stayed home and watched a lot of movies."

"Until you left," said Patty.

Ban shrugged. "Dad managed to get work visas for me and him. He was a Bizzyboy, too, but he quit a few months before the whole Rift thing happened. I think he's still trying to get the rest of our family out, but it's rough down there."

"Yeah," Patty said, "yeah."

She couldn't think of anything else to say. Ban shook his head. "You go talk to Click Clack," he said. "I'll meet up with you later."

Patty nodded. "I'll try not to be too long."

"Don't worry about it, seriously." He waved and walked away. "Later, Patty."

---

There wasn't anyone in the lobby when Patty came in. She looked around for Jake'm or Poolgirl Georgia, then shrugged and went to the doors to Click Clack's domain.

After the initial vertigo, she soon found herself in the room with the lights on. Click Clack was focused on his typewriter, mumbling something as he typed. He hadn't appeared to notice she was there.

Patty cleared her throat. "Um," she said. "Hi?"

Click Clack looked up. "Oh! said the God of Storytelling, turning around to face the visitor. I didn't expect you so soon!" He frowned. "I take it you've heard the news?"

"About Bauhauzzo?" Patty wrinkled her nose. "Yeah."

"You have my sympathies," Click Clack said. "I may not be as closely affected, and it happened years and years before I ascended… but, I, for one, am furious!"

He punctuated his sentence with a slam on the typewriter, shifting down to a new line. He seemed to recall himself afterwards, and gently pat the typewriter with a whispered, "Sorry, Georgia."

Patty tilted her head. "You're that mad, huh?"

"Of course! Click Clack exclaimed. All the pain and grief that could have been prevented is reason enough, but my beloved Thespius was sent into what may have been a dangerous situation, so soon after the Rift flooding–and Bauhauzzo said nothing!" He glared at the floor. "Now he's there, and I'm stuck here with no way of contacting him!"

She nodded. "Actually, Mister Click Clack," she said, "that's kinda why I'm here. Bauhauzzo said the Grove and the Drain used to talk to each other, an' we're gonna see if there's a way we still can."

"Click Clack fell silent, the Editor God contemplating Patty's words." He frowned. "It would be a long shot, for certain. There's no guarantee the infrastructure still exists, much less in working condition."

"I know," Patty said, "but we gotta try something, right? Pokey an' Thespius an' everyone else don't know what we know, an' it might help if they did."

"You're right, said Click Clack." He adjusted his mask and peered down at her. "How can I be of help?"

"Um…" A flicker of doubt made her hesitate. "We're just tryin' to figure stuff out right now. The others are looking in libraries and stuff, and I thought you might know something, 'cause you have a lot of books…"

"That's true, that's true." Click Clack tapped his chin thoughtfully. "In fact, I may have one that can help you."

Patty perked up. "Really?"

"Click Clack hopped off their chair and began searching through the collection of books and other documents." His puffy tail stuck up as he bent down to dig through the piles. "I know I borrowed it… a-ha!"

He emerged triumphantly with a mortal-sized book in his comparatively giant hand. "Here," he said, carefully holding it out to Patty. She stood on her tiptoes to reach up take it. "This is a drainfolk's journal that was published on Earth, a long, long time ago. I can't say how helpful it will be, but I hope you'll find something, Click Clack said, unaware of the wealth of information the book held for the young woman."

Patty raised her eyebrow at the god's narration and looked over the book. It was clearly a reproduction of the original journal, but still very old, with a cracked spine and the edges of the pages jagged, like they had been cut. "I'm sure there will be!" she said, beaming up at the god. "Thank you!"

Click Clack chuckled. "While you read that, I'll busy myself looking for more information." He paused. "Also, the God of Storytelling added sheepishly, if you don't mind, you may want to return that to the Hobbyhoo library. It's, ah, somewhat overdue."

Patty carefully opened the cover and peered at the library card inside. "Did you borrow this when you were mortal?" she asked.

"Anyway," Click Clack said quickly, "you should get to work reading that, and tell me what you discover! Click Clack waved the young woman off, with both god and mortal having a lot of work yet to do."

The domain wavered, Click Clack gently but firmly pushing Patty out of it. She cracked a smile and waved one last time before she was back in the mortal world.

---

Chapter Six: Follow the Leader

Kerstin found a lead for them that very day. "Her name is Joanie," she said. "She's a librarian; doesn't have a building right now, but she knows what's still standing. She'll know where to look for any records that would mention this god."

"Alright," Hector said. "Thank yew."

"Don't mention it. I'll go with you to talk to her tomorrow." She smiled at him. "Keep resting up, alright?"

He wanted to say he had rested enough, after sleeping most of the day, but he knew it would be a lie. Maybe thirty-three years ago he could have jumped into a flooding canal and been fine the next day, but Hector wasn't as young as he used to be. The days he had spent rotting on Capochin's couch before returning to the Drain hadn't helped, either.

He went back to bed.

When Hector awoke, it was still early. How early, it was hard to tell; there was no sunlight in the Drain, and no clocks in Kerstin's spare room. He rubbed his eyes and glanced at the rest of the room.

Thespius was sound asleep on the mat. Godpoke was bundled up in the sleeping bag, Megapon lying within arms' reach. Capochin was on the other bed, facing the wall. Hector didn't feel like going back to sleep, so he got up and carefully maneuvered around Thespius and Godpoke to get to the door.

"You are not going out."

He flinched at Capochin's sharp words. "Keep yewr voice down," he whispered. "I'm not. I'm just goin' to the living room."

Capochin sat up, glaring at him. "Someone's got to keep an eye on you," he said. "That's why I'm here." Godpoke shifted in their sleeping bag. Hector glanced down at them, then back at Capochin. Irritation prickled down his spine, and he could hardly restrain his tail from whipping back and forth.

He said, "I don't want to keep arguing with you, Cappy."

He didn't expect his words to have any effect, but Capochin's face fell and he looked away. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah. I know."

Hector shook his head and left the room.

He took a chair at the far end of the table and stared at his hands in the dim light. He heard the spare room's door open and close again, slow footsteps walking down towards him. Wordlessly, Capochin pulled out a chair and sat next to him.

Neither of them spoke. What could they say to each other? Nothing Hector said would change what he did to Capochin. Nothing could heal the damage done.

"I'm sorry," Hector said.

Capochin huffed. "What are you apologizing for this time?"

"I dunno." He looked at the window. A streetlight flickered outside. "I shoulda been better to yew."

"Hector, you've apologized for everything you did and more. I don't want t' hear it all again." Capochin leaned one arm on the table, tracing lines in the wood. "The only thing you can do is try an' be better in the future."

"Future?" Hector could have laughed, had he the energy for it. "No matter what I do, I'm always gonna be remembered as a failed god who coulda destroyed everything. There's no future in that."

"So?" Capochin snapped. "That's not what the people who actually know you think. You think that's how the other gods see you? Patty and the boys?"

Hector said nothing.

Capochin's voice shook. "What about me, Hector? How do you think I see you?"

"It doesn't matter," Hector said, "'cause it's what I am."

Silence fell between them. Capochin opened and closed his mouth, his hands shaking. Hector kept looking outside. The artificial lights brightened, illuminating the street from the rocky ceiling to the cobblestone path. Morning had arrived in the Drain.

"You saved my life," Capochin said. "I had–I had nothing, and you gave me everything. Nothing's gonna change that."

Above them, they heard quiet noises; Kerstin and her children getting ready for the day.

"I took a lot from yew, too," Hector said.

"Everything I gave was my own choice."

He looked away. "Yew know that's not the whole truth."

They heard Kerstin coming down the stairs, and their conversation had to end.

---

Once Godpoke and Thespius were awake, Kerstin gave Lina instructions to watch her brother and stay out of trouble, and they left the house. "Joanie works a few levels down," Kerstin said as they walked. "I couldn't get her by phone, but this is her normal shift time, so she should be there."

They approached an industrial-sized elevators with huge metal doors; Hector winced at the harsh, metallic groan they made as they opened. Once the passengers had filed off, he stepped over the threshold with Kerstin and the others, glancing back at Thespius and Godpoke to make sure they didn't get separated in the crowd of commuters. Capochin would be fine.

The doors closed. The elevator shuddered and descended. Capochin rocked back and forth, picking at his tail. "I don't think this thing's had any maintenance since the last time we were here," he grumbled.

"Prob'ly not," Hector said, glancing again at Thespius. The god's eyes were filled with wonder as he looked around the elevator, as if it was something new and exciting and not just another part of a run-down pit. He caught Hector staring at him and dropped his eyes to his feet as the elevator rumbled.

Hector stared at the wall instead.

The elevator stopped. The doors opened again. The passengers hurried off, making way for the next group to go up. Kerstin waved Hector and the rest down a flight of stairs and towards the canal at the bottom of the tiered street. "It's here," she said, gesturing at a small building with a dock over the water, a small rowboat tied up at it. "Looks like she's in, at least. I hope she's not busy…"

She knocked on the door. Hector, Capochin, Godpoke, and Thespius waited a few steps away.

The door was answered by a short, older woman with a curly head of gray hair. "Oh, Kerrie!" she said, greeting her with a hug. "I didn't expect you to visit! Are you helping out today?"

Kerstin smiled back. "I could, but not for long. I'm hosting some guests from the Grove, and they're trying to fix the communications blackout."

"Really?" Joanie released Kerstin and peered around her. "Huh," she said, her eyes lingering on Hector. "From the Grove, you said?"

"It's better if we talk about this inside," said Kerstin.

Inside were two pushcarts stacked high with carefully sealed bags, each one holding food, hygiene products, and other necessities. Joanie waited until they had all filed in and closed the door behind them. Kerstin took a breath. "So," she began.

Joanie pointed at Hector. "That one's Inspekta, right?"

They all tensed. "Was," Hector said flatly.

"Huh!" Joanie put her hands on her hips and met his eyes. "And Kerstin's hosting you?"

She may have been a little old lady, but her gaze was so intense, Hector glanced away briefly before forcing himself to maintain eye contact. "We needed a room, an' she offered."

Joanie nodded. "'Course she did. She was a follower of yours, did you know?"

He couldn't help a surprised look at Kerstin. "No."

Kerstin's cheeks flushed blue under her fur. "I wasn't going to bring it up," she said. "Half the Drain followed–Joanie, do you think this might be a sensitive topic?"

Joanie laughed. "You know me, Kerrie. I'm not one to tread lightly around these things." She turned back to Hector. "Now, Mister Spek–"

"My name's Hector."

She nodded. "Mister Hector, then. Why are you here?"

Capochin huffed. "We're about to tell you that, if you'd just–"

Joanie interrupted him. "You're here to fix our communications," she said, "but you can't tell me he had to be here just for that." She addressed Hector again. "Why, of all people, are you here?"

Hector steeled himself. "When the Grove was talkin' about who to send, I volunteered," he said. "Nothin' more to it."

"And the Grove thought that was a good idea?"

"Not really. I insisted."

"Huh," Joanie said. "You have family here? Anyone to visit?"

"No. Everyone I knew came to the Grove with me."

Kerstin spoke up. "Joanie, I don't think this is productive."

"You're right," she said. "It's not. I have a whole neighborhood to deliver to today, and the only volunteer had to cancel. So I don't really have time to entertain your guests, Kerstin."

Hector decided to cut to the chase. "The signal that's jammed yewr communications comes from a god down here," he said. "The Grove gods are tryin' to help them. We're looking for information, and Kerstin said yew could help." He lashed his tail. "If yew just want to waste our time, then we'll leave yew alone."

He heard Kerstin and Capochin take sharp breaths, almost in sync. Godpoke put their hand on Megapon and looked between Hector and Thespius. Hector stood his ground.

Joanie's eyes widened. "A god down here?" she said. "An actual god?"

"Signal can't come from anythin' else," Hector said.

"Huh," she said. "I didn't expect that."

She fell silent. Kerstin sighed and put a hand to her forehead. "I didn't realize this was a bad time for you," she said. "We can come back later, or find someone else."

"Not your fault," Joanie said. "But… no, I can help you."

"Really?"

"Yes," she said. "I've worked with books that are older than I am. Some of them talk about a Drain god."

Hector blinked and refocused his attention on her. "Yew sure?" he said.

"Most historians think they're referring to Mitternacht. Story goes, she created the Grove and the Drain at the same time." Joanie shrugged. "Or they could have made up a god to worship, or maybe they worshipped someone who was still mortal. There's lots of options, lots of theories…" She looked up at Hector. "…but if you're serious about a god down here, then they could have information for you."

"Do yew know where to read them?"

"No. The Rift flooding shut down my library, and the surviving books were sent to anywhere that had the space. Most of the real old ones were put in a government archive." Joanie frowned. "Should be possible to track some of them down, but I don't have the time to do it right now. I was serious about being busy today."

Hector looked around at the others. Capochin just shrugged at him and went back to staring grumpily at the floor, but Godpoke took their finger off Megapon's trigger and nudged Thespius, pointing at the carts for delivery.

"Oh!" said Thespius. "There's an idea. What if we helped you?"

Joanie blinked. "What," she said, gesturing at their surroundings, "with these?"

He nodded. "If we can do the deliveries for you, that frees up your time, right?"

Capochin shook his head. "You can't just up and volunteer us like–"

Hector raised a hand and he fell silent. "I'm willing to offer," he said. "Up to her to accept."

Joanie hummed to herself, looking at the two carts. "It would definitely help me," she said. "Kerstin, would you be helping, too?"

"I could," said Kerstin. "I have to be back to make dinner for the kids, but it shouldn't take too long if there's five of us."

She nodded. "Alright," she said, taking another look at Hector. "I'll take that offer. Let me get the addresses."

She went into a back room. The moment she was gone, Capochin whispered to Thespius, "Really?"

"Why not?" Thespius said, crossing his arms. Godpoke copied the pose. "We help her, and that gives her the time to help us. That solves the problem."

"I mean, sure, but we all should've agreed on it, first."

"Well, it worked," Hector said. "An' it's not like yew haven't done it before. Yew didn't complain back then."

Capochin opened his mouth, shut it, and turned away.

Joanie returned with two printed pieces of paper. "We have two streets today," she said, handing both sheets to Kerstin. "Like I said, I was supposed to have a volunteer with me to do one of them, but she's not coming." She shook her head. "Whatever. You'll want to split into two groups. It'll be done faster that way."

"Right," said Kerstin. "Who should go with who?"

He didn't have a chance to speak before Capochin spoke up again. "I'll take Pokey," he said. "If it's okay with them, anyhow." Upon receiving a thumbs up from Godpoke, he continued. "What should we tell 'em?"

"Just say, 'Hi, I'm helping Joanie deliver the goods today.'" Joanie shrugged. "Don't be offended if they don't make conversation. Not everyone feels good about accepting this kind of help."

"'Course."

They split into two and three, Capochin and Godpoke forming one group, and the other being Kerstin, Hector, and Thespius–Styella. Hector had to keep reminding himself not to use the god's real name.

Kerstin handed one list to Capochin and glanced down the other. "It's not too far from here," she said to Hector and Thespius. "We'll meet back here once we're done."

Joanie clapped her hands. "Now get going!" she said. "Some of that food's perishable!"

The two groups took their respective carts and left.

---

They had to bring the two carts to the highest tier of the street, which would have been easier if the elevators were working. Instead, they double checked that the bags were secure and dragged the carts up the stairs. Hector was sweating by the time they reached the top.

Kerstin wiped her hands and checked the paper. "Our street's here," she said, gesturing towards it. "Capo, you and Pokey are gonna go a little farther down."

"Sounds good," Capochin said. "See you later."

He took his cart and pushed it down the street, the wheels rattling on the uneven ground. Hector straightened his back and pushed their own cart down their assigned street.

The tunnel was clearly manmade; it was long and straight with only one level, and the apartments had been carved directly out of the cavern walls. Underneath the street sign, they paused to check the first address on their list.

"Miss Lorrim," Kerstin said, reading the note stapled to the bag. "I've seen her name before, but I don't know her personally."

"Someone told me yew knew everyone," Hector commented.

Kerstin shook her head, smiling. "Oh, that's overstating it. I'm a big part of the community, that's all."

They soon found Lorrim's address. Kerstin knocked on the door.

It took a few moments for the elderly woman to answer. "Oh," she said, squinting at Kerstin. "Who are you?"

"Good morning," Kerstin said kindly. "We're helping Joanie with the deliveries today. My name's Kerstin."

Thespius plucked the bag from the cart and handed it to Kerstin, who presented it to Lorrim. "Oh," she said. "Just leave that inside. Thank you, dear."

"You're welcome." Kerstin placed the bag inside and retreated. "Have a good day, Miss Lorrim."

She nodded and closed the door. No commentary on who else was there. Hector let out the breath he'd been holding.

"Most of them will be like that," Kerstin said. "Just in and out. Who's next on this street?"

Thespius looked at the list again. "The Pawnie's, it looks like? House one-two-one. Says they've got two bags."

"They must be a family. Let's go."

A young child answered the next door, looking up with wide eyes at Kerstin. "Good morning," she said to them. "We just have a delivery. Is there anyone else here who can take it?"

"Here!" A young woman rushed into the doorframe, the child taking a step back. "Sorry, that's my brother. You're with Joanie, ri-iight, uh…"

Her eyes had fallen on the cart, where Hector and Thespius stood. Hector squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself.

"You earthfolk or grovefolk?" she asked.

Hector opened his eyes again.

Thespius flashed a smile at the woman, picking up the two bags for the Pawnie's. "Born on Earth, live in the Grove," he said. "We're just helping Joanie for today."

"Oh, cool!" She smiled back and accepted the bags from him. "Sorry for staring. Whatcha down here for? We don't usually see a lot of earthfolk."

"I came with my friends. They're visiting family."

"Are you taking it well? It's definitely a lot different down here."

"I'll admit, I keep hitting my head."

The woman giggled. "'Course you do, you're like, ten feet tall! It's only, what, one in a hundred drainfolk who reach five feet?"

"One in two hundred," Hector said automatically, the number coming readily to him after spending childhood as a victim of statistics. "Might be genetic. My ma was five foot three."

She whistled. "Damn! Lucky her, my cousin's first kid was one of those randomly tall ones, and his wife had a real rough time with the pregnancy. You mom probably had it easier."

"I hate to cut this short," said Kerstin, "but we've got a lot more deliveries to get through, and I don't want to run late."

"Right, right, Joanie will have your heads if you do." She nodded. "Thanks for helping her out!"

With a quick goodbye, they were off to the next house. Thespius spoke up. "I wasn't gonna ask," he said, "but how does that one-in-two-hundred thing work?"

Hector shrugged. He felt a sliver more at ease after getting by unrecognized. "Just like that, really. It's a random mutation that makes yew tall." He glanced up at Thespius, who had over a whole foot of height on him. "Tall for drainfolk, anyhow."

Thespius nodded. "You said it was genetic, too?"

"Eh, might be. That or my ma just got unlucky twice."

Kerstin gave him an odd look. "Unlucky?"

He blinked. "I mean, yeah. She always told me how she was bullied in school for her height. She didn't want that for me, but it happened anyway. Just bad luck."

"That's not anyone's fault but the bullies'."

"Eh." He waved a hand dismissively. "It was years an' years ago. Doesn't matter now. Who's the next house?"

The next house was answered by an older man who thanked them profusely and hurried back inside. The house after that had a very pregnant woman who called for her partner and told them to leave the bag on the doorstep. After that, a man in a formal suit snatched the bag from them and shut the door without a word.

One house after the other. Hector's legs hurt and slowed him down.

Thespius noticed. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Do you need a break with the cart?"

He shrugged. "It's gettin' lighter. I'll be fine."

"You sure? If you need to rest…"

Kerstin put her hand on the cart's front, stopping Hector. "We'll take a break," she said. "For me, if it makes you feel better. My feet hurt."

Hector relented. "Alright," he said.

They were near a set of benches surrounding a small garden, filled with vines and a few dull flowering plants. Behind the benches, the rock wall gave way to a small cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites, fenced off with a sign informing them of the ecological damage done by trespassers.

Hector saw Thespius' face light up at the sight of the rock formations. "Oh!" he said. "That's all natural?"

"Don't think you can make them any other way," Hector said.

"Right, right." Thespius sat down with his back to the cave, though he kept glancing over his shoulder to look at it.

Kerstin smiled. "This really is all new to you, huh?" she said.

Thespius nodded back. "There's nowhere on Earth like this," he said. "Caves, sure, but no one's made a home out of them. It's really incredible."

Hector rolled his eyes and fiddled with the frayed edge of his sweater.

"I'm glad you think so," Kerstin said. "Lots of people don't think very highly of us, living down here." She looked at the neighborhood around them. "But this is where I was raised, and it's where I'm raising my kids. I don't blame anyone for leaving, but I wish it was easier for people to stay."

Her words felt sharp in his chest. Hector took a deep breath and stood up.

The other two turned to him. "Where're you going?" Kerstin asked.

He swiftly came up with an excuse. "I just need th' bathroom," he said. "I might be a minute."

The tunnel had only two directions: forward and back. Hector walked back the way they came.

He didn't feel better after walking all the way to the main road. Hector went to the lowest tier of the street and stared down at the water, watching dead leaves and other items from the surface float by.

He would have to go back soon. He had walked a long way, and he couldn't leave Kerstin and Thespius to finish the deliveries by themselves. He sighed and went back to the stairs.

"I see you've been recruited for grocery deliveries."

He stopped mid-ascension.

On the level above him, Hector recognized the governor of the Drain looking down at him. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Do you have time for a chat?" she said.

She was dressed the same as she was when she spoke to Kerstin–including the gun, still sitting in its holster. Hector furrowed his brow. "What do yew want, Governor Melodie?"

Melodie's smile fell. "I'd like to not have this conversation in public, for one," she said. "Unless you think you'll be safer otherwise."

"Fine," Hector said. "Here."

There was a small opening underneath the stairs, just tall enough for him to stand up straight. Hector figured it would be safer if he chose a spot instead of Melodie. He immediately regretted it when he saw the wall.

A water-damaged mural depicted Inspekta above a crowd of drainfolk, all knelt in prayer. Inspekta beckoned them towards him with dozens of hands. His eyes weren't visible. Hector faced Melodie and prayed she wouldn't comment.

Melodie picked up her radio and listened for a moment, though Hector couldn't hear any noise from it. "Okay," she said quietly, then put it in her pocket and raised her eyes to Hector.

"I was told you're here to fix our communications problem," she said.

Told by who? Hector wondered. "That's about right," he said.

She nodded. "Which means you must be aware that it's not the usual interference."

"It's somethin' weird, for sure."

Melodie crossed her arms. "I can tell you that you'd have access to more resources and information with the government than you will with your current host," she said. "If you come with me to the offices, I can help you and your Grove friends."

Hector rolled his eyes. Melodie bristled, her tail twitching.

"Sorry," Hector said, "but I don't believe yew. Yew don't just want to help, right?"

"I don't know what you're implying," Melodie said.

"Sure, sure." Hector shrugged. "Yesterday, yew said yew just wanted to thank me. What do yew really want, Melodie?"

Her hand twitched. Melodie clenched her fists and took a deep breath.

"You're right," she said calmly. "I'll be honest with you, Hector. I need your help, too."

"Right then," said Hector. "So what is it?"

Melodie looked back towards the street. "I'm aware of the group Kerstin volunteers with," she said. "Handing out food, giving people couches to sleep on… it feels like a nice thing to do, but it's not solving any real problems."

"Hunger's a real problem."

"It's not addressing the cause," Melodie said sharply. "You know that Earth treats the Drain like dirt. At any moment, there could be another flood, another disaster, another tragedy, and they're not doing anything about it. I–" She gestured at herself. "–have the most political power out of anyone here, but I was put in power during a crisis, and was nobody's first choice. I didn't ask for this, I wasn't prepared for it, and all I can do is try to clean up the mess the previous governor left me."

She paused, staring at Hector's face. He stared right back and waited for her to continue.

"And you," she said. "You showed up in an emergency situation as a stranger, gave orders, and people actually listened to you. That's not something anyone can do. I–" She stammered for a moment. "–I can certainly respect it. You knew the right course of action, and you knew how to carry it out. It's not an exaggeration that you saved lives that night."

"Not all of them," Hector said.

"Regardless," Melodie said, "you're still a leader."

His shoulders tensed. "So what?"

"The Drain needs people who can lead, and I can't do it by myself." She held out her hand. "If you stood by me, they would listen to us, and we'd have a shot at finding permanent solutions to the problems down here." She paused. "Then maybe, one day, we won't lose any more people to floods."

Hector didn't hesitate. "No."

Melodie took a sharp breath. "No?"

"No." He crossed his arms. "Yew know who I am. Yew know what I did. I had the power of the gods, and I used it to hurt people. I'm not letting myself do that again."

"Who says you would? If you know it was wrong–"

He cut her off. "I'm not a leader anymore, and I don't want to be. Even if I trusted yew, I wouldn't do it."

Melodie stared at him, breathing hard. Her radio crackled something unintelligible.

"Fine," she said. "Fine! But–" She jabbed a finger up at him. "You'll find not everyone will be as eager to help you. Plenty of people aren't happy that you've come back here, and you'll run out of options soon enough."

Hector kept his expression neutral.

Melodie took a step back. "When that happens," she said, "my offer will still be open."

She left, her tail held low.

Hector glanced at the mural again, resting his palm against it. A few lines of a hymn were legible, minus a few words.

Give us courage, holy leader,
lift — from our hearts.
Let conviction —,

The rest was too stained and damaged to make out.

He glared at Inspekta. "What're you lookin' at?" he muttered, and stalked back into the street.

---

Kerstin and Thespius didn't ask where he had gone or why he had taken so long. "Alright," Kerstin said when he returned to the benches. "We should get going again."

Hector nodded and resumed his role of pushing the cart.

They dropped off a few more bags without incident. The people they delivered to thanked them, shut the door, and, in one case, recognized Kerstin and tried to invite her in. They had gotten through nearly all the bags for this street, and they would return to Joanie with time to spare.

Maybe it was his fault, then. He let his guard down.

At the next house, the man who opened the door stared at them, barely listening to Kerstin's introduction. Kerstin gestured for Thespius to hand her the bag, speaking quickly. "We'll just drop this off–"

"Do you know who that is?" the man said.

"Sorry?"

He pointed at Hector and raised his voice. "Do you know who that is?"

Hector tensed. He broke off eye contact and fiddled with the grocery bags.

Kerstin kept her voice calm. "We're just helping with the deliveries," she said. "We're on a tight schedule, so–"

The man pushed past her and stormed onto the street. Hector tightened his grip on the cart as the man approached him, keeping his head down.

"How dare–" He sputtered for a moment. "How dare you show your face here! After everything you did–"

Thespius swiftly put himself between them. "Leave my friend alone, please."

"Your friend?" the man said incredulously. "Are you serious?"

"Whoa, whoa!" Kerstin went to Hector's side, her hands raised. "We're not trying to make trouble. Just take your bag and go back in."

"What," the man said, "like he thinks he can–can just come back here, handing out bags?" He tried to move towards Hector, but Thespius moved to block his way. "Like nothing happened?"

Hector opened his mouth, but decided against speaking. He felt his heart pounding.

"Why did you come back?!" the man shouted. "Is the Grove just dumping more of their trash down here? Is that it?"

"Hey!" Kerstin snapped. "Don't talk like that!"

"It's true, isn't it? Not even the gods wanted him!"

Thespius clenched his fists. "You do not speak for the gods!"

The atmosphere crackled. Hector's fur stood on end. Thespius didn't move, but they could all feel the energy radiating from him. The man's jaw dropped, he took a step back, and turned to run inside with his tail between his legs. The door slammed.

The moment passed. Thespius swayed and fell to one knee.

"Oh, gods–" Kerstin approached him hesitantly. "Are you alright?"

Thespius raised his hand to stop her. "Just lost my temper," he said. "Hector, are you–"

"'m fine," Hector mumbled.

His hands shook. Thespius looked back at him in concern. "Are you sure?"

"I'm fine," he repeated. "It's t' be expected, right? Not everyone's going to like me."

"I'm so sorry," said Kerstin. "If I had–"

"I said it's fine." Hector straightened up and grabbed the cart handles. "Let's just get this over with."

There were only three addresses left on their list. Hector waited for Thespius to stand, then pushed the cart onward down the street. The others could only follow.