The Golem's Eye

there tomorrow."
    "I know." He tugged at the hat brim. "Think I'll pass through?"
    "Oh yes. They're not looking for us, are they? The passport's only a precaution."
    "Mmm. But with my face—"
    "They won't give it a second look. Trust me."
    "Okay. Are you sure you won't...?"
    "I can always follow on. Are you going to give that guy your case?"
    "I suppose so."
    "Go and do it, then. I'll wait." With only the briefest of hesitations, he moved away. Kitty watched him pass slowly through the hurrying crowds, and was pleased to see that no one so much as glanced at him. The ship's whistle blew, and somewhere nearby a bell rang. The quay was alive with activity now, with sailors, cargo men and merchants hurrying past, with final orders being given, letters and packets being exchanged. On the deck of the ferry, many of the embarkees were standing at the rail, faces shining with excitement, talking happily to one another in a dozen languages. Men and women from distant lands—from Europe, Africa, Byzantium, and the East... Kitty's heart beat fast at the thought, and it made her sigh. More than a little, she wished to join them. Well, perhaps she would in time. She had other things to do first.
     
     
    On that terrible morning, they had fled, the two of them, to the Hyrnek factory, where Jakob's brothers concealed them in a disused room hidden behind one of the printing machines. There, amid the noise and fug and the stench of leather, Kitty's wounds were tended, and their strength revived. Meanwhile, the Hyrnek family prepared for the inevitable repercussions, for the searches and the fines. A day passed. The police did not arrive. Word came of the golem's march through London, of the downfall of Duvall, of the boy Mandrake's promotion. But of them—the fugitives—they heard nothing at all. There were no searches, no reprisals. Each morning, magicians' orders arrived at the factory as usual. It was most curious. Kitty and Jakob appeared to have been forgotten.
    On the end of the second day, a council was held in the secret room. Despite the authorities' apparent indifference, the family considered it highly unsafe for Jakob and Kitty to remain in London. Jakob, in particular, with his distinctive appearance, was vulnerable. He could not remain in the factory forever, and sooner or later the magician Mandrake, or one of his associates or demons, would find him. He had to go somewhere safe. Mrs. Hyrnek expressed this opinion forcefully and at volume.
    When she had subsided, her husband stood up; between puffs of his rowanwood pipe, Mr. Hyrnek made a calm suggestion. The family's prowess at printing, he said, had already enabled them to bring down vengeance upon Tallow, doctoring his books so that his own spells brought about his destruction. It would be a simple matter now to forge certain documents, such as new identity papers, passports, and the like that would make it easy for both children to leave the country. They could go to the Continent, where other offshoots of the Hyrnek family—in Ostend, Brugges, or Basel for instance—would be happy to receive them.
    This suggestion was greeted with general acclaim and Jakob accepted it at once: he had no wish to fall afoul of the magicians again. For her part, Kitty seemed distracted. "That's very kind, very kind of you," she said.
    While the brothers set to forging the documents, and Mrs. Hyrnek and Jakob began preparing supplies for the voyage, Kitty remained in the room, lost in thought. After two days' solitary pondering she announced her decision: she would not be traveling to Europe.
     
     
    The white hat with the broad brim came rapidly toward her through the crowd; Jakob was smiling now, lighter of step. "You gave him the case?" she said.
    "Yes. And you were right—he didn't give me a second look." He glanced across at the gangway, then at his Watch. "Look, I've got only five minutes. I'd better get on board."
    "Yes. Well... see you, then."
    "See you.... Look, Kitty—"
    "Yes?"
    "You know I'm grateful for what you did, rescuing me and all. But frankly... I also think you're an idiot."
    "Oh, cheers."
    "What are you doing staying here? The Council of Brugges is made up of commoners; magic hardly figures in the city. You can't imagine the freedoms, my cousin says—there're libraries, debating chambers, stuff right up your alley. No curfews—imagine that! The Empire keeps its distance, most of the time. It's a good place for business. And if you wanted to carry on