Part 12 (2/2)

”Gentlemen,” Eleazar said. ”Really. Must it come to this?”

He sounded almost bored, and Browning turned on him, the outrage filling him as pain coursed through his jaw. They were turning on each other now, and Eleazar was to blame. Eleazar had brought this to Chestnut Hill. He'd-

Resurrected Charlie.This was the man who'd granted his fondest wish.

Browning's fists dropped to his sides.

”There are other ways,” Eleazar said. ”They may be distasteful, but given the alternative of not returning the children . . .”

”What do you propose?” Browning asked.

Eleazar took a seat again. ”In every village, there are . . . those who are not fully contributing to community life.”

The blacksmith's face screwed up in confusion. ”What do you mean?”

”I mean those who live on the outskirts, both physically and metaphorically.Those living outside the village.Those who drink more than they ought. Perhaps aren't quite as intelligent as others. Perhaps not as mentally sound. Perhaps don't fit in-the native population and such.Are there any of those around Chestnut Hill?”

”Some,” Dobbs said. ”There were little Adeline's parents, but they're dead now.There's others too. Old man Cranston and his wife.They're crazy, both of them.Trapper Mike. He's half-Injun, with a squaw wife. Timothy James, another trapper, when he's not too drunk to remember to empty his traps.”

”See, there's five, with only a few moments of thought. I'm sure there are more.”

Dobbs nodded, thinking it through. Dear G.o.d, was he really thinking it through? No, he couldn't be. Not that way. He was seeing a solution and seizing it, with no thoughts except how this brought his boy back.

”You're . . . you're suggesting we commit murder,” Browning said slowly.

”Hardly. I'm suggesting you remove an unproductive segment of the local population. A potentially dangerous segment. Have any of these people ever caused problems for you?”

Dobbs nodded again. ”Timothy James went after one of Millie Prior's granddaughters a few years ago. Grabbed her in the forest and touched her before she got away. Old man Cranston shoots at anyone who steps on his property. He doesn't even have property. No one knows what he considers his, on account of him being crazy. And Trapper Mike? Folks around here swear he steals from their traps. Never caught him, but he's sneaky. I don't doubt he does it. Then there's Paul over by the lake. Won't tell n.o.body his last name. I hear he's a fugitive. I've been trying to get an accounting from the Mounties, but they haven't come by Chestnut Hill in near on a year.”

”Because you aren't on the railroad route,” Eleazar said. ”The authorities are ignoring you. Leaving you to defend this town all by yourself . . . Sheriff. I'd say it'd be your G.o.d-given right to go talk to those folks, and if they give you any trouble, well, I think you've had enough trouble from them. Who knows what they'll do next? You need to look after your town.”

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