"My family has money and power you can't even dream about," she said. "I don't need to sneak."
No, she was a typical pinchworm after all. And a liar too. Perhaps more than anyone, I had experience in sneaking. By now, I could recognize it anywhere.
I steadied the girl's boat and then dra
gged it toward the shore, making myself plenty wet in the process. That wasn't all bad, though. The water cooled the itch on my leg and washed the vinefruit juice from my arm.
"Can you help me to shore?" the girl asked. "I mean, without getting me wet?"
"Sorry," I said. "You're on your own for that." Aside from the fact that I had been accused of having the Scourge, if I was halfway in the water and surviving, then this girl could surely dip a toe in it too.
"Stop right there!" a voice shouted, followed by the sharp cock of a pistol's hammer. Warden Brogg. My heart sank. If I had put aside my pride and just helped this girl get out, I'd have her boat by now.
The girl immediately reached out and slapped me hard across my cheek. "How dare you steal this boat?" she said. "Filthy grub!"
Stealing? Well, sure, I had planned to steal it, but not while she was still inside. I was so stunned by her accusation that I didn't know how to react. I even opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Brogg edged down the shore and wrestled me out of the water. "So, Ani, you're a thief too?" he snarled. "I should've expected this from a grub."
"I didn't--" I started to say, then let it go. Trying to fight this would be like taking a swing at a snake. I might hit its mouth, but it'd swallow my arm. There was no way to win.
"How many more crimes will you commit today?" he asked.
Hot tears stung my eyes, but I pushed them away. The answer was, as many crimes as it took to get away from this place. I just wanted to go home.
Brogg held me while Warden Gossel came down to help the girl out of the boat.
"My name is Della Willoughby," she said, and then pointed. "My home is right there. This grub--Ani?--dragged my family's boat over here to the water. I heard it and came outside to stop her. She forced me into the boat and who knows what she'd have done once we got away!"
Gossel turned to me. "Is this true?"
I was too furious to speak. Of course I could deny the charges, but what would be the point? There was no way these wardens would take my word over hers, especially since I had just escaped from their cell. Obviously I had been trying to escape, making Della's story more plausible than mine.
"Where's your friend?" Gossel asked. "The boy who was with you?"
I kept my eyes straight forward, refusing to look either up or down the river. Weevil would be somewhere nearby--I knew it. But the last time he revealed himself, he ended up with a bump on his head and a long ride in an isolation wagon. I prayed he would not reveal himself now, not even for me. Especially not for me.
"We'll find him," Brogg said. "We always find the escapees."
"So a lot of people escape that cell?" I asked. "Does the governor know how bad you are at your job?"
Ignoring my questions, he pulled me with him up the steep riverbank, and then Gossel took Della's arm as well, to help her along. Once we reached the road, Brogg led me toward his horse, but Gossel said, "She walks."
"Her ankle is injured," Brogg said. "She's limping."
"If she could limp away from the cell, she can limp back to it."
Brogg frowned at me, as if the injured ankle was somehow my fault. Then he tied my hands in front of me and climbed onto his horse, tying the other end of the rope to the back of his saddle. I barely looked at him. He could ride as fast as he wanted. I'd keep up with the worst he could do. Or at least, I hoped I could. My ankle was throbbing worse than ever.
"This other girl should ride," Gossel said.
It took Della a moment before she realized they were talking about her. Then she stepped back. "No, my home is over there. I can walk."
"The grub is suspected of having the Scourge," Gossel said. "You came in contact with her, so I'm afraid we'll have to test you too."
"What?" Della turned to me with a look that could have started fire. "You have the Scourge?"
"I'm half-dead already," I said, and coughed, just to make it sound worse. "You probably caught it when you accused me of stealing your boat." If she could lie about me, then I'd feel no guilt for lying to her.