Lock and Barrel both laughed.

"It sounds like--" Lock said.

"--A lesson--" Barrel continued.

"--To be learned.

Both boys grinned.

"Be right back!" they said together.

Barrel ran back to the tree house for some better bait than pumpkins. Lock started scouring the pumpkin patch to track a few rats, and set up a trap until Barrel returned with the bait. It wouldn't take them too long to catch a few for Carver to eat. By that time, though, Lock had to get going. He knew better than to keep Lillith waiting.

"That should do it," he said. "Oh, by the way. You're gonna want to be in the square this afternoon."