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	‘Secondly….’ Jack introduced his next question.

Amber nodded patiently. 

He gave a furtive glance to the Chilly, and addressed the question to Amber. ‘Why are we in…’ he looked around at the room to try and better guess the situation, ‘A [i]basement[/i], with that… Chilli?’  

‘You’re a fugitive.’ Amber was quick to respond. 

Jack stared at her, as though expecting a much needed better explanation. 

‘Well, technically we all are now.’ She said in a way that suggested it wasn’t such an uncommon thing to say, ‘It started with the Chilly, who killed the town guard.’

Jack nodded, listening.

She added, ‘But it was apparent that the Chilli’s behaviour has something to do with you, and that made it look like you were involved, and that means they will be after you as well.’  

He continued staring expectantly at her, saying nothing.

‘And now I’m aiding and abetting a criminal,’ she concluded, ‘and that makes me a fugitive too.’  

Jack considered all this. Somehow, it all seemed reasonable enough. 

He asked, ‘Where are my clothes?’ 

‘In the next room,’ she told him, ‘drying by the fire.’ 

‘And where are we?’ 

‘Beneath my shop.’  

‘And that’s safe from being found?’  Asked Jack.  

She said, ‘I lived my entire childhood without ever knowing this place was here. It will do for now.’ 

He now looked directly at the Chilli, who seemed comfortable enough just listening in. 

‘And how about… [i]this[/i]?’ Asked Jack. ‘Are we, you know, safe from being frozen to death then shattered into pieces?’  

The chilly let out a low whining noise, similar to that of a small whimpering dog.

Amber seemed vague about her reply, saying, ‘As far as I can tell, sure.’ She shrugged. 

‘One more question,’ said Jack.

‘Of course.’ 

‘Are there any sheets, blankets maybe? Or any clothes at all I can wear till my own clothes are dry?’