"Max has built an army out here," I said. "He's working with a bald girl."
"That's Ingrid." Becky didn't hesitate. The name arrived complete, as if she had been waiting for someone to ask it. "She's our half sister. And don't underestimate her, Bram. Whatever you're thinking about her, revise it upward."
"I can't underestimate anything right now. We're surrounded. We want to negotiate with him and I don't have his number."
A pause on the line. Outside the shell the converted street continued its low wrong motion. Bagins watched my face. The blue edge of the charge put a thin line of light along his jaw.
"You know he hates you." Her voice dropped. "You do know that."
"We just want to try."
"Okay. I'll send it." Another pause. "But listen to me. When you get up there, if he won't agree, you leave. You don't argue with him, you don't push him, you just go. And Bram, Ingrid is a good person. She's the best of us."
I noted it and said nothing.
