Chapter 22: Notrespass

They held the sentencing at the stump, because it was the only thing on the island with a step.

Lyle sat on the ground in front of it with his ankle in a splint of tent poles.

Two hundred and fifty people stood around him.

Dot had hung a new lanyard over his head herself.

It was blue, and it said TIER 3, and under it, in small print, FOR KITCHEN USE.

"Your rating," Dot read from the clipboard, "is a one."

"As a guest," said Teddy, helpfully.

Katja climbed the stump and took out a card she had written during the haul.

She did not have a conversation to spend, because she was well over her budget for the week.

She held it up, and Dot read it out in her loudest voice.

"LYLE CARRIES THE WATER. TWO BUCKETS TO LANDING EVERY MORNING. TWO BACK EVERY NIGHT."

Lyle opened his mouth.

"There's a second line," said Dot. "AND HE ASKS AT THE SIGN."

"What sign?"

Katja pointed.

On the bridge-end pine there was still the card she had written with the marker.

She had nailed it up on the first day.

NO TRESPASSING. THIS IS MY ISLAND.

"Every time you cross, you stop under it," Dot read. "You read it out loud. You ask to come in."

"And she says?"

"She'll answer when you ask," said Dot. "Some days it'll be FINE. Some days it won't."

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