Rafferty managed to wobble down a deserted hallway before collapsing against the wall, slowly sliding into a sitting position. She tipped her head back against the stone and closed her eyes, glad no one had witnessed her unattractive descent.

Sometime during her involuntary meditation, she realized she had not properly bathed since she left for the Breaks. She wasn't sure exactly how many days that was, and wasn't sure she wanted to know.

When she was able, Rafferty dragged herself to her feet, and walked, pretty much normally, down to the Lists and bumped one of the Jacks from his slot for the shower pool

Sorry, Simon, but I'm filthy and everything hurts. Besides, I haven't used my Hunter status to pull rank, like, all year.

An hour later Rafferty entered the rocky pool that the Abbey residents used to bathe. A small waterfall fell into the pool. The engineers had rigged a perforated metal sheet that diffused the water so it fell like rain. Gus said they used to have showers like this indoors, and that the water used to be hot.

But that was Before, and Before was nice.

Rafferty hung up the red cloth that meant the pool was occupied, and walked to the water's edge. She had just unhooked the first latch on her chest plate when she heard a voice from above and behind her.

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"Well this day keeps getting better and better."

Rafferty whirled around, her hair instantly turning jet black, the way it did sometimes when she was surprised or angry. Her bracelets shimmered in the sun, ready to burst.

"Oh no no no no no," came the voice again. It belonged to a man perched on one of the higher rocks. He jumped down in a surprisingly graceful way, landing on his feet a few paces in front of Rafferty.

He was pretty in a rugged sort of way, if you liked that sort of thing. A red, textured scar crept up from under his collar, brushing his Adam's apple. Rafferty thought he was probably a few years older than her.

"Don't stop. I mean, I didn't want to just spy on you. That would be creepy. But if I'd known you were going to stop I definitely wouldn't have said anything."

"You're about to have a very bad day," she said, taking a step toward him.

"Well if you keep going with those hooks that's sure not true. I'll tell you what, I'll go first," he said. He was wearing a long, textured leather jacket, the kind Roughcoats wore. One hand moved to the top button.

Rafferty thrust out her palm. "No," she said, a little more forcefully than she intended.

The stranger stopped, and sighed. He brushed some of his shaggy hair from his face. "It's fine," he said with a shrug. "You're not fun. Some people aren't fun."

I hate you. I've just met you, and I hate you so much.

"Who are you?" she insisted, for the moment resisting the urge to punch this stranger as hard as she could.

"Vincent," he said, like they both already knew. "Hey, your hair changed color."

Rafferty had to stop herself from reaching up and touching her hair.

"So?" she asked, trying hard to sound as annoyed as she felt.

"My friends and I have some news, and need some help. I heard a fetching little thing with indecisive hair took out a giant tin can. I figure maybe she's the one to help us. I figure maybe that's you," he said.

Rafferty didn't know what to say. Apparently she shouldn't have yanked Simon's shower spot, and this Vincent was the Universe's way of telling her. She stared at him, still resisting a powerful urge to do violence.

"I bet you have lots of questions, and that's understandable. I'll answer them all, but I have one first," he said.

Rafferty paused, and then gave the slightest nod she could.

Vincent's eyes drifted downward.

"That hair changing thing… Does that work, like, everywhere?"

That powerful urge to do violence?

Rafferty stopped resisting it.