If Ghana could escape a lake full of EXE, Silver was confident that the capture of Farrel would take a few hours at most, and he prowled the house all morning in a state of high anticipation. However, Ghana did not return that morning or even that afternoon. By nightfall, Silver felt discouraged and anxious, and a supper composed largely of mouldy bread, upon which Coral had tried a variety of unsuccessful Transfigurations, did nothing to help. Ghana did not return the following day, nor the day after that. However, two cloaked men had appeared in the square outside number twelve, and they remained there into the night, gazing in the direction of the house that they could not see. Razor kept watch on them "Nocturnus for sure. Do you think they know we're in here" "I don't think so, or they'd have sent Infinite in after us, wouldn't they?" Coral said. Razor kept looking "Well, if they're not coming in then Striker's spell is keeping Infinite quiet" "Yeah. Those two are probably watching to see whether we turn up. They know that Silver owns the house, after all".
The presence of the Nocturnus outside increased the ominous mood inside number twelve. They had not heard a word from anyone beyond Haven since Rob's Patronus, and the strain was starting to tell. Restless and irritable, Razor had developed an annoying habit of playing with the Onyx in his pocket. This particularly infuriated Coral, who was whiling away the wait for Ghana by studying The Book of Myths and did not appreciate the way the lights kept flashing on and off "Will you stop it!" she cried on the third evening of Ghana's absence, as all light was sucked from the drawing room yet again. Razor restored the lights "Sorry, sorry! I don't know I'm doing it!" "Well, can't you find something useful to occupy yourself?". It was Razor's turn to look annoyed "What, like reading kids' stories?" "Locke left me this book, Razor" "And he left me the Onyx, maybe I'm supposed to use it!". Unable to stand the bickering, Silver slipped out of the room unnoticed by either of them. He headed downstairs toward the kitchen, which he kept visiting because he was sure that was where Ghana was most likely to reappear. Halfway down the flight of stairs into the hall, however, he heard a tap on the front door, then metallic clicks and the grinding of the chain. Every nerve in his body seemed to tauten. He raised his hand, moved into the shadows beside the decapitated Marmolims heads, and waited. The door opened and he saw a glimpse of the lamplit square outside, and a cloaked figure edged into the hall and closed the door behind it. The intruder took a step forward, and Striker's voice asked "Infinite?". Then the dust figure rose from the end of the hall and rushed him, raising its dead hand "It was not I who killed you, Locke" said a quiet voice. The jinx broke. The dust-figure exploded again, and it was impossible to make out the newcomer through the dense grey cloud it left behind. Silver kept his hand up "Don't move!". He had forgotten the portrait of Elias' Mum.
At the sound of his yell, the curtains hiding her flew open and she began to scream "Mudbloods and filth dishonouring my house". Razor and Coral came crashing down the stairs behind Silver, Talismans raised, like his, at the unknown man now standing with his arms raised in the hall below "Hold your fire, it's me, Knuckles!" "Oh, thank goodness" Coral said weakly. She turned to Mrs Acorn instead and with a bang the curtains swished shut again and silence fell. Razor too lowered his dagger, but Silver did not "Show yourself!" he called back. Knuckles moved forward into the lamplight, hands still held high in a gesture of surrender "I am Knuckles the Echidna. I'm one of the creators of the Chaotix's Map. Known as Guardian. Married to Julie-Su. I taught Silver how to produce a Patronus which is a Nightmare". Silver finally lowered his hand "Sorry. Had to be sure" "Speaking as your Ex-Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, I quite agree. Razor, Coral, you shouldn't be quite so quick to lower your defences". They ran down the stairs toward him. Wrapped in a thick black traveling cloak, he looked exhausted, but pleased to see them "No sign of Infinite, then?" he asked. Silver led him further inside "No. What's going on? Is everyone okay?" "Yes, but we're all being watched. I had to Chaos Control very precisely onto the top step outside the front door to be sure that those Nocturnus wouldn't see me. They can't know you're in here or I'm sure they'd have more people out there; they're staking out everywhere that's got any connection with you, Silver". They descended into the kitchen, where Coral played her flute. A fire sprang up instantly at the nearby grate. It gave the illusion of coziness to the stark stone walls and glistened off the long wooden table.
Knuckles pulled a few drinks from beneath his traveling cloak and they sat down "I'd have been here three days ago but I needed to shake off the Nocturnus tailing me. So, you came straight here after the wedding?". The three of them explained everything that happened after landing in Knothole including running into Scourge and Lightning Lynx "I still don't understand how they found us" Coral said. Knuckles had a grim look "I do. Did you say Finitevus when you were at the Café?". Silver looked to the other two confused "Yeah. So what? We're not afraid to say the name" "Nowadays you should. The Nocturnus now have the full power of the Ministry behind them and have powerful means of tracking people. Finitevus' name has been jinxed". Only Coral seemed to understand as she gasped. Silver and Razor were both oblivious "What do you mean jinxed?" "Anyone who uses the name creates a magical disturbance which makes them easy to find. The trace can even break through low level protective enchantments. In here we should be fine. But out in the open Nocturnus will be on you in seconds. They've been at Order member doors more than once. We eventually caught on". Silver was afraid to ask but "Has anyone been hurt? What happened at the wedding?" "Well, Espio's warning managed to save us. Most of the guests escaped before they arrived" "Were they Nocturnus or Ministry people". Knuckles gave a short laugh "Not much of a difference anymore. There were about a dozen of them, but they didn't know you were there, Silver. Rob heard a rumour that they tried to torture your whereabouts out of Saline before they killed him; if it's true, he didn't give you away". Silver looked at Razor and Coral; their expressions reflected the mingled shock and gratitude he felt. He had never liked Saline much, but if what Knuckles said was true, the man's final act had been to try to protect Silver.
Knuckles continued "The Nocturnus searched Deerwood from top to bottom. They found the ghost but didn't want to get too close and then they interrogated those of us who remained for hours. They were trying to get information on you, Silver, but of course very few people knew that you had been there. At the same time that they were smashing up the wedding, more Nocturnus were forcing their way into every Order-connected house in the country". He noticed the look on their faces "No deaths. Kragok, who's suddenly achieved a very high position in the Ministry, stated that all previous offences against the Dark Lord have been pardoned. Trying to make the new regime look fair and merciful, I suppose. But they've still been rough. They burned down Ron Rabbit's house, but as you know he wasn't there, and they used the Cruciatus Curse on Su's family. Again, trying to find out where you went after you visited them. They're all right. Shaken, obviously, but otherwise okay". Coral looked horrified "But if they're using the Ministry they'd have to give a reason why they're hunting Silver". Knuckles had a grave look before revealing an issue of the Daily Prophet. Silver took it. On the front page was a large picture of him with the headline "WANTED FOR QUESTIONING ABOUT THE DEATH OF LOCKE THE ECHIDNA". Razor and Coral gave roars of outrage, but Silver said nothing. He pushed the newspaper away; he did not want to read any more. He knew what it would say. Nobody but those who had been on top of the tower when Locke died knew who had really killed him and, as Breezie had already told the Wizarding world, Silver had been seen running from the place moments after Locke had fallen. "I'm sorry, Silver" Knuckles said. Coral hit her fist against the table "So the Nocturnus have taken over the Daily Prophet too?" "They've taken over everything" Knuckles said.
Razor couldn't believe it "But surely people realize what's going on?" "The coup has been smooth and virtually silent. The official version of Saline's murder is that he resigned; he has been replaced by Fumfer the Waler, who is under the Imperius Curse" "Why didn't Finitevus' declare himself Minister of Magic?". Knuckles laughed "He doesn't need to, Razor. Effectively he is the Minister, but why should he sit behind a desk at the Ministry? His puppet, Fumfer, is taking care of everyday business, leaving Finitevus free to extend his power beyond the Ministry. Naturally many people have deduced what has happened. There has been such a dramatic change in Ministry policy in the last few days, new laws and all the Nocturnus have been pardoned for their crimes. Many are whispering that Finitevus must be behind it all. However, that is the point. They whisper. They dare not confide in each other, not knowing who to trust; they are scared to speak out, in case their suspicions are true and their families are targeted. Yes, Finitevus is playing a very clever game. Declaring himself might have provoked open rebellion. Remaining masked has created confusion, uncertainty, and fear" "And this dramatic change in Ministry policy, involves warning the Wizarding world against me instead of Finitevus?" Silver said. Knuckles gravely nodded "That's certainly part of it and it is a masterstroke. Now that Locke is dead, you, the Boy Who Lived, were sure to be the symbol and rallying point for any resistance to Finitevus. But by suggesting that you had a hand in the old hero's death, Finitevus has not only set a price upon your head, but sown doubt and fear amongst many who would have defended you. Meanwhile, the Ministry has started moving against Muggleborns. Check page 2". Coral turned the pages with much the same expression of distaste she had worn when handling Secrets of the Darkest Art. She read out the report "Muggle-born Register. The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called ,Muggle-borns, the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets. Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when Wizards reproduce. Where no proven Wizarding ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called Muggle-born is likely to have obtained magical power by theft or force. The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magical power, and to this end has issued an invitation to every so-called Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly appointed Muggle-born Registration Commission".
Razor snatched the paper out of her hands looking horrified. He read through the paper twice "They can't. People won't let this happen" "It is happening, Razor. Muggle-borns are being rounded up as we speak" Knuckles said. Razor looked back down at the paper as if hoping it would reveal to be a joke "But how are they supposed to have 'stolen' magic? It's mental, if you could steal magic there wouldn't be any Squibs, would there?" "I know. Nevertheless, unless you can prove that you have at least one close Wizarding relative, you are now deemed to have obtained your magical power illegally and must suffer the punishment". Razor glanced at Coral, then said "What if purebloods and half-bloods swear a Muggle-born's part of their family? I'll tell everyone Coral's my cousin". Coral took Razor's hand and squeezed it "Thank you, Razor, but I couldn't let you-" "You won't have a choice. I'll teach you my family tree so you can answer questions on it". Coral gave a shaky laugh "Razor, as we're on the run with Silver, the most wanted person in the country, I don't think it matters. If I was going back to school it would be different. What's Finitevus planning for Soleanna?" she asked Knuckles. Knuckles clenched his fist "Attendance is now compulsory for every young witch and wizard. That was announced yesterday. It's a change, because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly every witch and wizard in Mercia has been educated at Soleanna, but their parents had the right to teach them at home or send them abroad if they preferred. This way, Finitevus will have the whole Wizarding population under his eye from a young age. And it's also another way of weeding out Muggle-borns, because students must be given Blood Status, meaning that they have proven to the Ministry that they are of Wizard descent before they are allowed to attend". Silver felt sickened and angry. At this moment, excited eleven-year-olds would be pouring over stacks of newly purchased spell books, unaware that they would never see Soleanna, perhaps never see their families again either.
Knuckles saw his expression "I know, Silver". He leaned forward in his chair "I'll understand if you can't confirm this but the Order is under the impression that Locke left you a mission" "He did and Razor and Coral are in on it and they're coming with me" "Can you confide in me what the mission is?". Silver looked into Knuckle's tired face and wished that he could return a different answer "I can't, Knuckles, I'm sorry. If Locke didn't tell you I don't think I can". Knuckles gave an understanding nod "I thought you'd say that. But I might still be of some use to you. You know what I am and what I can do. I could come with you to provide protection. There would be no need to tell me exactly what you were up to". Silver hesitated. It was a very tempting offer, though how they would be able to keep their mission secret from Knuckles if he were with them all the time he could not imagine. Coral, however, looked puzzled "But what about Su?" "What about her?". Coral glanced at Silver before saying "Well…You're married! How does she feel about you going away with us?" "Su will be perfectly safe. She'll be at her parents' house". There was something strange in Knuckles's tone; it was almost cold. There was also something odd in the idea of Su remaining hidden at her parents' house; she was, after all, a member of the Order and, as far as Silver knew, was likely to want to be in the thick of the action. Coral seemed to be thinking along the same line "Knuckles, is everything all right…You know…Between you and Su" "Everything is fine, thank you" said Knuckles pointedly. Coral turned pink. There was another pause, an awkward and embarrassed one, and then Knuckles said, with an air of forcing himself to admit something unpleasant "Su's pregnant". Coral gasped but then smiled "Oh, how wonderful!" "Excellent" "Congratulations" Razor and Silver said. Knuckles gave an artificial smile that was more like a grimace, then said "So, do you accept my offer? Can I join you? I cannot believe that Locke would have disapproved, he appointed me your Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, after all. And I must tell you that I believe that we are facing magic many of us have never encountered or imagined". Razor and Coral both looked at Silver who was considering Knuckles "Just to be clear. You want to leave Su at her parents' house and come away with us?" "She'll be perfectly safe there; they'll look after her".
He was speaking with a finality bordering on indifference "Silver, I'm sure Shadow would have wanted me to stick with you" "Well, I'm not. I'm pretty sure my father would have wanted to know why you aren't sticking with your own kid, actually". Knuckles's face drained of colour. The temperature in the kitchen might have dropped ten degrees. Razor stared around the room as though he had been bidden to memorize it, while Coral's eyes swivelled backward and forward from Silver to Knuckles. Knuckles gave a sigh "You don't understand" "Explain, then" Silver said coldly. Knuckles swallowed "I…I made a grave mistake in marrying Su" "I see, so you're just going to dump her and the kid and run off with us?". Knuckles sprang to his feet. His chair toppled over backward, and he glared at them so fiercely that Silver saw, for the first time ever, the shadow of the Zilla on his face "Don't you understand what I've done to my wife and my unborn child? I should never have married her, I've made her an outcast!". Knuckles kicked aside the chair he had overturned "You have only ever seen me with the Order, or under Locke's protection at Soleanna! You don't know how most of the Wizarding World sees creatures like me! When they know of my affliction, they can barely talk to me! Don't you see what I've done? Even her own family is disgusted by our marriage, what parents want their only daughter to marry a Zilla? And the child…The Child…". Knuckles actually seized handfuls of his own dreadlocks; he looked quite deranged "My kind don't usually breed! What if it's like me. How can I forgive myself, when I knowingly risked passing on my own condition to an innocent child? And if, by some miracle, it is not like me, then it will be better off, a hundred times better off, without a father it'll be ashamed of!". Coral stepped closer to him close to tears "Knuckles…Don't say that. How could any child be ashamed of you?".
Silver crossed his arms "Oh, I don't know, Coral. I'd be pretty ashamed of him". Silver did not know where his rage was coming from, but it had propelled him to his feet too. Knuckles looked as though Silver had hit him. Silver wasn't backing down though "If the new regime thinks Muggle-borns are bad what will they do to a Half-Zilla whose father is in the Order? My father died trying to protect my mother and me, and you reckon he'd tell you to abandon your kid to go on an adventure with us?". Knuckles moved closer to Silver, he looked furious "How dare you! This isn't about a desire for danger or personal glory. How dare you suggest such a-" "I think you're feeling a bit of a daredevil. You fancy stepping into Elias' shoes". "Silver, no!" Coral begged him. But he continued to glare into Knuckles's livid face "I'd never have believed this. The man who taught me to fight Prelates is a damn coward!". With one swipe of his claw Knuckles launched Silver backward as if punched. He slammed into the kitchen wall and slid to the floor, he glimpsed the back of Knuckles before disappearing around the door. Coral chased after him "Knuckles, Knuckles, come back!" Coral cried, but Knuckles did not respond. A moment later they heard the front door slam. Coral returned "Silver! How could you?" "It was easy" Silver said. He stood up; he could feel a lump swelling where his head had hit the wall. He was still so full of anger he was shaking "Don't look at me like that!" he snapped at Coral. "Don't you start on her!" snarled Razor. Coral got between them "No! NO! We mustn't fight!". Razor sighed and stepped back managing to calm down "You shouldn't have said that stuff to Knuckles" "He had it coming to him" Silver said. Broken images were racing each other through his mind. Elias falling into the Gold Pool; Locke suspended, broken, in midair; a flash of Magenta light and his mother's voice, begging for mercy "Parents, shouldn't leave their kids unless…Unless they've got to" "Silver…" Coral said, stretching out a consoling hand, but he shrugged it off and walked away, his eyes on the fire Coral had conjured. He had once spoken to Knuckles out of that fireplace, seeking reassurance about Shadow, and Knuckles had consoled him. Now Knuckles's tortured white face seemed to swim in the air before him. He felt a sickening surge of remorse. Neither Razor nor Coral spoke, but Silver felt sure that they were looking at each other behind his back, communicating silently.
He turned around and caught them turning hurriedly away from each other "I know I shouldn't have called him a coward" "No, you shouldn't" "But if it makes him go back to Su, it'll be worth it, won't it?". He could not keep the plea out of his voice. Coral looked sympathetic; Razor uncertain. Silver looked down at his feet, thinking of his father. Would Shadow have backed Silver in what he had said to Knuckles, or would he have been angry at how his son had treated his old friend? The silent kitchen seemed to hum with the shock of the recent scene and with Razor and Coral's unspoken reproaches. The Daily Prophet Knuckles had brought was still lying on the table, Silver's own face staring up at the ceiling from the front page. He walked over to it and sat down, opened the paper at random, and pretended to read. He could not take in the words; his mind was still too full of the encounter with Knuckles. He was sure that Razor and Coral had resumed their silent communications on the other side of the Prophet. He turned a page loudly, and Locke's name leapt out at him. It was a moment or two before he took in the meaning of the photograph, which showed a family group. Beneath the photograph were the words "The family of Locke the Echidna". From left to right Sabre holding newborn Desi-Ca; Jenna-Lu; and Dimitri and finally Locke. His attention caught, Silver examined the picture more carefully. Locke's father, Sabre, was a brown echidna with a monocle in his right eye. He had a very kind demeanour about him which was clear even in the faded photo. The baby, Desi-Ca, was little longer than a loaf of bread and no more distinctive-looking. The mother, Jenna-Lu, was red and wearing a brown gown. Locke and Dimitri wore matching white robes, shoulder-length dreadlocks. Locke looked several years older, but otherwise the two boys looked very alike. The family looked quite happy and normal, smiling serenely up out of the newspaper. Baby Desi-Ca's arm waved vaguely out of the robe that was a bit too big for her. Silver looked above the picture and saw the headline.
EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT FROM THE UPCOMING
BIOGRAPHY OF LOCKE THE ECHIDNA
by Breezie the Hedgehog
Thinking that it could hardly make him feel any worse than he already did, Silver began to read.
Proud and haughty, Jenna-Lu could not bear to remain in her old house after her husband Sabre's well-publicized arrest and imprisonment on Prison Island. She therefore decided to uproot the family and relocate to Vigil's Hollow, the village that was later to gain fame as the scene of Silver the Hedgehog's strange escape from You-Know-Who. Vigil's Hollow was home to a number of Wizarding families, but as Jenna-Lu knew none of them, she would be spared the curiosity about her husband's crime she had faced in her former village. By repeatedly rebuffing the friendly advances of her new Wizarding neighbours, she soon ensured that her family was left well alone. "Slammed the door in my face when I went around to welcome her with a batch of homemade Cauldron Cakes" says Siwa-Ra. "The first year they were there I only ever saw the two boys. Wouldn't have known there was a daughter if I hadn't been picking Plangentines by moonlight the winter after they moved in, and saw Jenna-Lu leading Desi-Ca out into the back garden. Walked her round the lawn once, keeping a firm grip on her, then took her back inside. Didn't know what to make of it". It seems that Jenna-Lu thought the move to Vigil's Hollow was the perfect opportunity to hide Desi-Ca once and for all, something she had probably been planning for years. The timing was significant. Desi-Ca was barely seven years old when she vanished from sight, and seven is the age by which most experts agree that magic will have revealed itself, if present. Nobody now alive remembers Desi-Ca ever demonstrating even the slightest sign of magical ability. It seems clear, therefore, that Jenna-Lu made a decision to hide her daughter's existence rather than suffer the shame of admitting that she had produced a Squib. Moving away from the friends and neighbours who knew Desi-Ca would, of course, make imprisoning her all the easier. The tiny number of people who henceforth knew of Desi-Ca's existence could be counted upon to keep the secret, including her two brothers, who deflected awkward questions with the answer their mother had taught them "My sister is too frail for school".
Next week: Locke at Soleanna-the Prizes and the Pretence.
Silver had been wrong. What he had read had indeed made him feel worse. He looked back at the photograph of the apparently happy family. Was it true? How could he find out? He wanted to go to Vigil's Hollow, even if Siwa-Ra was in no fit state to talk to him; he wanted to visit the place where he and Locke had both lost loved ones. He was in the process of lowering the newspaper, to ask Razor's and Coral's opinions, when a deafening crack echoed around the kitchen. For the first time in three days Silver had forgotten all about Ghana. His immediate thought was that Knuckles had burst back into the room, and for a split second, he did not take in the mass of struggling limbs that had appeared out of thin air right beside his chair. He hurried to his feet as Ghana disentangled himself and, bowing low to Silver, croaked "Ghana has returned with the thief Farrel, Master". Farrel scrambled up and raised his hand but Coral was too quick for him "Expelliarmus!". A crystal soared out of Farrel's chest, and Coral caught it. Wild-eyed, Farrel dived for the stairs. Razor rugby-tackled him and Farrel hit the stone floor with a muffled crunch "What?" he bellowed. He was writhing in his attempts to free himself from Razor's grip. Wha've I done? Setting a bleedin' 'ouse-elf on me, what are you playing at, wha've I done, lemme go, lemme go, or-" "You're not in much of a position to make threats" Silver said. He threw aside the newspaper, crossed the kitchen in a few strides, and dropped to his knees beside Farrel, who stopped struggling and looked terrified. Razor got up, panting, and watched as Silver pointed his Talisman deliberately at Farrel's nose. Farrel stank of stale sweat and tobacco smoke. His hair was matted and his robes stained "Ghana apologizes for the delay in bringing the thief, Master. Farrel knows how to avoid capture, has many hidey-holes and accomplices. Nevertheless, Ghana cornered the thief in the end" "You've done really well, Ghana" Silver said, and Ghana bowed low. Silver moved closer to Farrel "Right, we've got a few questions for you" "I panicked, okay? I never wanted to come along, no offense, mate, but I never volunteered to die for you, an' that was bleedin' You-Know-Who come flying at me, anyone woulda got outta there, I said all along I didn't wanna do it" "For your information, none of the rest of us Chaos Controlled away" Coral said.
Farrel scoffed "Well, you're a bunch of bleedin' 'eroes then, aren't you, but I never pretended I was up for killing meself" "We're not interested in why you ran out on Striker" Silver said. He raised his hand threateningly "We already knew you were an unreliable bit of scum" "Well then, why the 'ell am I being 'unted down by Mamrmolims? Or is this about them goblets again? I ain't got none of 'em left, or you could 'ave 'em" "It's not about the goblets either, although you're getting warmer. Shut up and listen". It felt wonderful to have something to do, someone of whom he could demand some small portion of truth "When you cleaned out this house of anything valuable" "Elias never cared about any of the junk!" Farrel yelled. There was the sound of pattering feet, a blaze of shining copper, an echoing clang, and a shriek of agony. Ghana had taken a run at Farrel and hit him over the head with a saucepan "Call 'im off, call 'im off, 'e should be locked up!" screamed Farrel, cowering as Ghana raised the heavy-bottomed pan again. "Ghana, no!" shouted Silver. Ghana's thin arms trembled with the weight of the pan, still held aloft "Perhaps just one more, Master Silver, for luck?" "We need him conscious, Ghana, but if he needs persuading you can do the honours" Silver said. "Thank you very much, Master" said Ghana with a bow, and he retreated a short distance, his great pale eyes still fixed upon Farrel with loathing. Silver continued "When you stripped this house of all the valuables you could find, you took a bunch of stuff from the kitchen cupboard. There was a locket there". Silver's mouth was suddenly dry. He could sense Razor and Coral's tension and excitement too "What did you do with it?" "Why? Is it valuable?" "You've still got it!" cried Coral. Razor rolled his eyes "No, he hasn't. He's wondering whether he should have asked more money for it" "More? That wouldn't have been difficult. Bleedin' gave it away, di'n' I? No choice". Silver couldn't believe it "What do you mean?" "I was selling in Avalon and she come up to me and asks if I've got a license for trading in magical artifacts. Bleedin' snoop. She was gonna fine me, but she took a fancy to the locket an' told me she'd take it and let me off that time, and to fink meself lucky" "Who was this woman?" "I dunno, some Ministry hag". Farrel considered for a moment, brow wrinkled "Little woman. A lizard in a pink dress". Silver dropped his hand. He looked up and saw his own shock reflected in Razor's and Coral's faces. The scars on the back of his right hand seemed to be tingling again.