Page 74 of By Any Means

“He’s not talking to you,” Laurie murmured. Chary shut his mouth. “Which ones are they, copper?” Laurie said, only slightly louder, to Brasher.

Brasher gave him a mild look as he handed Sumner a towel. “Back left of the pool, deep end, on the ropes. Two. Look like they can’t swim, but they’ll corral us fast when it comes to it.”

Corral. Chary felt mildly ill. Perhaps Brasher had been a cowboy in truth, like Laurie insisted, and it was natural language for him. The comparison was sickening nonetheless.

“And?” Laurie prompted.

“Dressing room, closest to the entrance. Two. There were three, but one is still enjoying himself,” he said, disgusted.

“How do you know when things are truly imminent?” Chary asked.

“They’ll slip away to block the exits at the last. One’s left to give word to the squadrons just now.”

“All right!” Laurie said. “That’s good enough for me. Let’s get our belongings and go.” He tugged on Chary’s hand.

“Wait,” Chary whispered. “W-wait.”

Three men looked at him, confounded.

“I wouldn’t advise waiting,” Sumner said. Perhaps he was secretly a solicitor.

“This is my fault,” Chary said.

Laurie said, “No⁠—”

“These men here haven’t done anything to deserve this,” Chary went on. “Without a doubt, some of them have already been witnessed. They’ll be trapped. Ought we not warn them all? We haven’t done anything witnessed. Even if we’re arrested⁠—”

“Maybe you haven’t,” Sumner said, brows wry. Brasher turned pink from the neck up.

Laurie wanted to argue it, he could see, but instead of angry, he merely looked concerned. “Chary, your reputation... An arrest would⁠—”

“Yes. Maybe. I don’t care.”

“Twenty years’ maximum penalty⁠—”

“You’re the one with a tattoo,” Chary said, gesturing. “As well as a life that depends on your name. You go on; I don’t mind. But I must try to warn as many as I may.”

Brasher grunted, seemingly neutral. Sumner looked gleamingly anticipatory, with the dangerous approval of a predator. Laurie looked… conflicted. Not angry but… contemplative.

Chary said quickly, “In no way do I call you a coward⁠—”

“Shh.” Laurie pulled Chary to him, slow but inexorable; Chary went. “Stop being so damned unexpected; I can’t take it,” Laurie whispered. “Let ’em witness this.” He kissed him.

After, as Chary reeled back, Laurie said, “I’m not going anywhere.” He grinned.

“But—”

“Not the first time I’ve been arrested; you know it isn’t.”

Chary nodded. He shouldn’t have been surprised. “All right. How do we do this? How do we warn as many as possible?”

“Going to be chaos,” Brasher summed up, “however it’s done.” He looked up to the ceiling skylight. “Two floors…”

“Second floor’s sleeping rooms,” Sumner said.

“Don’t wanna let ’em go on the roof,” Brasher considered.

“Fire escape?” Laurie asked.