Around the corner he heard a voice. "And now would you please explain it to me? It's not every day that I'm called on to declare war. I think I did it rather eloquently. Now tell my why." (Jon remembered the trick of acoustics which as a child enabled him to stand in this spot and overhear his sister and her girlfriends' conversation just as they came into the house.) "It's your brother," came the other voice. "He's been kidnaped." "He's been what?" asked the King. "And why? And by whom?" "We don't know," answered the official. "But the council thought it was best to get you to declare war." "Oh," said the King. "So that's why I made that little speech in there. What does mother say?" "It wouldn't be polite to repeat, sir. She was locked in her room, and very insulted." "She would be," said Uske. "So, the enemy has infiltrated and gotten my silly brother." "Well," said the voice, "they can't be sure. But what with the planes this morning, they thought it was best." "Oh, well," said the King. There were footsteps. Then silence. Coming round the corner, Jon saw the coat closet was ajar. He opened the door, took out a great cape and hood, and wrapped it around him, pulling the hood close over his head. He stepped into the foyer and went out past the doorman. * * * * * At the edge of the Devil's Pot, the woman with the birthmark on the left side of her face was tapping a cane and holding out a tin cup. She had put on a pair of dark glasses and wandered up one street and down another. "Money for a poor blind woman," she said in a whiny voice. "Money for the blind." As a coin clinked into her cup, she nodded, smiled, and said, "Welcome to the New World. Good luck in the Island of Opportunity." The man who had given her the coin walked a step, and then turned back. "Hey," he said to Rara. "If you're blind, how do you know I'm new here?" "Strangers are generous," Rara explained, "while those who live here are too frozen to give." "Look," said the man, "I was told to watch out for blind beggars who weren't blind. My cousin, he warned me ..." "Not blind!" cried Rara. "Not blind? Why my license is right here. It permits me to beg in specified areas because of loss of sight. If you keep this up, I'll be obliged to show it to you." She turned away with a huff and began in another direction. The man scratched his head, then hurried off. A few moments later, a man completely swathed in a gray cloak and hood came around the corner and stopped in front of the woman. "Money for the blind?" "Can you use this?" the man said. From his cloak he held out a brocade jacket, covered with fine metal work. "Of course," said Rara softly. Then she coughed. "Er ... what is it?" "It's a jacket," Jon said. "It's made pretty well. Maybe you can sell it?" "Oh, thank you. Thank you, sir." * * * * *