The voice was hushed. The visage and torso evaporated like a disappearing cloud formation, the firelight dimmed, and the fanatical mob found itself alone—except for Vincent and Arnold, still nearby, unseen witnesses who rubbed their eyes as though they had witnessed a magician perform the greatest stage illusion of all time.
“Vince,” said Arnold. “What do he mean by ‘Two unbelievers among you?’”
“It be us, dummy! Who yer s’pose it mean? It either sensed us or saw us and ordered our execution.”
“You mean they were instructed to kill us?”
“Not us, Arnie. Yer! I’m already dead! Remember?”
“What do we do now, Vince? You got me into this predicament!”
“And I’ll get yer out of it, too. I won’t desert yer now, Ol’ Buddy.”
Those around the campfire began to stir, as though they had just eme
