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Two
Richardwalkedovertothewindowandlookedout.Acrossthestreet,Mr.CroupandMr.Vandemarwerecomingoutofthebakery,andHAVEYOUSEENTHISGIRL?wasstuckinaplaceofprominenceinitswindow.
"Aretheyreallyyourbrothers?"heasked.
"Please,"saidDoor."Givemeabreak."
Hesippedhisteaandtriedtopretendthateverythingwasnormal."Sowherewereyou?"heasked."Justnow?"
"Iwashere,"shesaid."Look,withthosetwostillaroundwehavetogetamessageto..."Shepaused."Tosomeonewhocanhelp.Idon’tdareleavehere."
"Well,isn’ttheresomewhereyoucouldgo?Someonethatwecouldcall?"
Shetookthedeadreceiverfromhishand,wiretrailing,andshookherhead."Myfriendsaren’tonthephone,"shesaid.Sheputitbackinitscradle,whereitsat,uselessandlonely.Thenshesmiled,fastandwicked."Breadcrumbs,"shesaid.
"Sorry?"saidRichard.
Therewasalittlewindowinthebackofthebedroomthatlookedoutonanareaofrooftilesandgutters.DoorstoodonRichard’sbedtoreachit,openedthewindow,andsprinkledthebreadcrumbsaround."ButIdon’tunderstand,"saidRichard.
"Ofcourseyoudon’t,"sheagreed."Now,shush."Therewasaflutterofwings,andthepurple-gray-greensheenofapigeon.
