Summary

In Chapter 17, the next day at lunch, Sashie wandered to a rock that allowed her to see out over the road. She spotted the same imperial guard they had met the day before headed their way. She ran to her family to tell them what she’d seen. Joe told them to switch their costumes to the plain sides and pretend like they were taking a family member to be buried. They pull off the charade and after the soldiers were out of earshot, they began to laugh. As they got closer to L’Bow, however, they saw and smelled smoke. Zayde Sol got upset and wanted to turn around, but Joe told him that was the only road. The disemboweled body of a cat was hung on the sign pointing to L’Bow. When Joe saw it, he ordered the children to...