Jonah felt heat in his face, but surely that was because of the day. It was quite warm outside, after all. Before either of them could say anything further, Douglas ran up to them, waving. He ran the whole way, it seemed; he could barely talk because he hadn't caught his breath.
“Jonah, Vera,” he huffed, “Bast intimated that Jonathan wants to see us all.”
“What?” said Jonah. “In the middle of the day?”
“Yeah,” said Douglas, “but apparently it is necessary. He wants us all in the estate courtyard now.”
Vera looked concerned, but Jonah asked the question. “Does this have anything to do with—?”
“Couldn't tell you, man,” said Douglas. “Don't have the faintest clue. But Jonathan has got to be troubled if he's doing this.”
Jonah marveled at the courtyard of the Grannison-Morris estate. He
