The second time he said it, he was bringing in the trade goods from Hilltop and a kickball went bouncing past the truck and into the street beyond the gate. A couple kids who had been chasing it slowed down and stopped before crossing the line, grumbling to themselves.

Jesus could have easily kept the truck going, but he pulled to a stop and climbed out. He walked around the side and made a show of pulling on his gloves and bandanna, like it was the most important undertaking he'd ever been involved in.

"If I don't make it back," he said to the two, meeting their eyes and making it sound like a promise they had to keep whether they agreed to it or not, "Tell Daryl I love him."

The confused looks broke away into laughter as Jesus turned and darted out the gate, rolling to crouch next to the tire of one of the cars. He rolled again, across the street, into the shadow of another car, looking wildly around to make sure the coast was clear before he rushed towards the ball and claimed it as his prize.

More laughter joined the kids as Rosita realized what Jesus was doing from the watch post and he made his way back, taking an even more complicated route that involved the roofs of three cars and hanging from the gate before climbing over the side of the wall and coming down to the ground half-way between the watch-post and the Name Wall.