"Washerwomen?" said Igorina. "But this is a war!"
"Clothes still get dirty, I suppose," said Polly.
"Dirtier, I should think," said Maladict.
"But... our countrywomen? Washing clothes for the enemy?" said Igorina, looking shocked.
"If it's that or starve, yes," said Polly. "I saw a woman come out carrying a basket of loaves. They say the Keep is full of granaries. Anyway, you sewed up an enemy officer, didn't you?"
"That's different," said Igorina. "We are duty bound to thave our fellow ma - person. Nothing has ever been said about his - their underwear."
"We could get in," said Polly, "if we disguised ourselves as women."
Silence greeted this. Then: "Disguised?" said Igorina.
"You know what I mean!" said Polly.
"As washerwomen?" said Igorina. "These are thurgeon's hands!"
"Really? Where did you get them?" said Maladict. Igorina stuck out her tongue at him.
"Anyway, I don't intend that we should do any washing," said Polly.
"Then what do you intend?" said Igorina.
Polly hesitated. "I want to get my brother out if he's in there," she said. "And if we could stop the invasion that would be a good idea."
"That might take extra starch," said Maladict. "I don't want to, you know, spoil the spirit of the moment, but that is a really awful idea. The el-tee won't agree to something as wild as that."
"No, he won't," said Polly. "But he'll suggest it."
"Hmm," said Blouse, a little later. "Washerwomen? Is that usual, Sergeant Jackrum?"
"Oh, yes, sir. I expect the women in the villages round here do it, just like they did when we held the Keep," said Jackrum.
"You mean they give aid and comfort to the enemy? Why?"
"Better than starving, sir. Fact of life. It doesn't always stop at washing, neither."
"Sergeant, there are young men here!" snapped Blouse, blushing.
"They'll have to find out about ironing and darning sooner or later, sir," said Jackrum, grinning.
Blouse opened his mouth. Blouse shut his mouth.
"Tea's up, sir," said Polly. Tea was an amazingly useful thing. It gave you an excuse to talk to anyone.
They were in what remained of a half-ruined farmhouse. By the look of it, not even patrols bothered to come here - there were no signs of former fires or even the most temporary occupation. It stank of decay and half the roof was gone.
"Do the women just come and go, Perks?" said the lieutenant.
"Yes, sir," said Polly. "And I had an idea, sir. Permission to tell you my idea, sir?" She saw Jackrum raise an eyebrow. She was laying it on thick, she had to admit, but time was pressing.
"Please do. Perks," said Blouse. "Else I fear you may explode."
"They could be spies for us, sir! We could even get them to open the gates for us!"
"Well done, private!" said Blouse. "I do like a soldier to think."