Jamie heaved a bloody Racetrack onto the couch in the lobby of the Lodging House. She gt a few old shirts and some warm water. As she began to clean up Racetrack's wounds ten or twelve newsboys ran in.
"What happened!" David demanded. Jamie ignored him and spoke directly to Jack.
"How'd you know to come here?"
"Boots saw you carrying Race and found me. He said it looked serious. Is it?" Jack asked. Jamie sighed.
"Race came with me to Brooklyn. While I was talking to Spot privately, two guys beat up Race real bad. When me and Spot were done and found him I was stunned. Spot didn't even acknowledge the damage. He just said 'goodbye'." Jamie answered distantly. It was Jack's turn to sigh.
"Did you expect him to act differently?" Jamie didn't answer. She headed to tell Kloppman about what had happened to Racetrack. However she decided against it and sat down on the front steps. The city was unusually dry this year which resulted in a large amount of dust. Jamie could see the tiny dust particles dancing in the sun rays. A tiny tear poked out of Jamie's green eye and crashed to the thirsty earth. It was immediately eaten by the ground, never to see the light of day again.
Jamie sat outside until the sun sank beneath the earth. She thought about many things. About Spot, her parents, Ireland, Jack, Racetrack's condition, and the eternal feud between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Jamie would have stayed there until Kloppman made her go inside, but she was drawn out of her pensive mood by an onslaught of newsboys running down the steps. None of them offered and explanation. Jamie's mouth formed an "o" in horror. Jack sauntered down the steps after the boys, hands in his pockets, his usual stance.
"Where are they going?" Jamie asked, knowing something was up.
"Brooklyn." Jack answered calmly. Jamie furrowed her brow.
"Why?" Jack took her arm and lead her inside as he replied, with a smirk, "Retaliation."