Hugh watches the man -- Cricket -- poke about the furnace, eyes catching the sparks and staring for a long moment or two. It's the reply that elicits a sharp gasp from the boy, unexpectedly, and he regrets being so obviously surprised.

But, The United States... They're in America.

He's still wide-eyed as he's asked who brought him here, and Hugh isn't one who can spill deception easily. He can survive well enough on his own, he's a resourceful lad -- or has learned to be. But being dishonest is a different story altogether... His tongue catches on itself, words stuttering.

"The people handling orphans. I was-- I'm an orphan."

That much is true, but he can't divulge the finer details of that truth, can he? That the people after him are rounding them up, all the young parentless oddities, selling them off. It's common knowledge that many Peculiar children end up forced into working for side shows. And far worse places than that. The boy wets his lips, nervous again, taking a slight step backwards. He looks as though he might try to run again.

"I can't go back to them."