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I coh a break to my left I see land far below My stoh theBut the cloud holds, supporting me like the water in the first world I visited

Shark steps through after me, Dervish just behind hi on Turn to dive back through the"It&039;s OK!" I shout "We won&039;t fall"

They pause, glance atthe truth - othere&039;d have already dropped

The noo-headed demon is on another bank of cloud ahead of us When it spots us, it squeals with fear and bounds away Shark starts after it, but Dervish calls him back "We&039;re here to find Beranabus, not kill a stray demon"

Shark pulls a face, loath to let the dehs "OK, kid Tell us how you plan to find him"

"I&039;ll open a ," I say, as the one we stepped through coive me a few minutes to find the patches"

" &039;Patches&039;?" Dervish echoes, but I don&039;t answer Looking around, I&039;ht in the air, despite the fact that we&039;re standing on top of a cloud I start thinking about Beranabus,he&039;s still alive and that I have the power toBut before panic has a chance to set in, a pink square by on Soon, dozens of the patches are pulsing and I merrily set to work

I&039; while I build theDervish is co about the cold His leather jacket is too small to button up properly - it&039;s for style, not warhts

"Usethe way I instinctively repaired my broken arm "You can warm up if you think yourself waro, andhis jacket off and tying it around his waist

"Youtime to know so much," Shark says

"Actually, I don&039;t think it&039;s been er I&039;ll tell you about it later, if we have tiuidance I don&039;t hurry Pleased to note I&039; at the way this universe works I start wondering if we could float down to the ground from here, but then the assembled patches pulse as one and a brownishopens "Here we go," I say sly

"I didn&039;t think s could be opened that quickly or simply," Shark says

"It&039;s easy-peasy when you kno"

Shark steps up besideof the tour?"

"Hurm," Dervish says uncertainly "Do you knohere that leads?" he asks me

"No But Beranabus will be there" I hesitate "When I left hiht have to help hihs

"Thanks for warning us," Dervish says, then takes up a position to h the

It&039;s the saht Three moons shine, closer than the ht to see if there are any giant de overhead

Corpses are scattered across the hard yellow ground Demons in an advanced state of decomposition, most rotted to the bone Either demons rot quickly here or this is one of those places where time runs faster than in the hu on aShar earth I guess it&039;s Raz&039;s final resting place, that she and Beranabus - probably just her - dug a grave for the fallen Disciple

I get a lump in my throat when I think about how Raz died, but there&039;s no time to cry I didn&039;t believe I could be so matter of fact about the death of a friend, but I&039;s is that in times of severe disorder, you can&039;t worry about the dead, only the living I still think Art is alive He&039;s the one I have to focus on I can&039;t do any good for the dead Raz Warlo

"Beranabus!" I call "It&039;s ician&039;s head whips round and Sharmila&039;s jerks up They stare at me in disbelief, then at the two men with me Then Beranabus cheers - the first time he&039;s acted like an ordinary human since I met him - and rushes across to pick me up and whirl me around

"Kernel Fleck!" he boo to build ato you for days And here you pop up, cool as a breeze! You&039;re the most remarkable human I&039;ve rinning at hiician before But now I see he can be as es better thanforward, hand outstretched

Beranabus shakes the hand briefly, frowning Then he points at Shark and says, "Octopus?"

"Shark," Shark laughs

"Ah I kneas so like that" He looks at Dervish blankly

"This is Dervish Grady," Shark introduces him "My latest recruit"

"Another Disciple," Beranabusshortly at Dervish "How many does that make?"

"If you don&039;t know, I&039;s "I never was good at numbers Anyelcoer than sorave

"It is good to see you again, Kernel," Shar me She looks drawn and miserable, but has reattached her arm and healed her wounds since the battle

"I&039;m pleased you made it," I whisper

"It was close My injuries were fatal If not for Beranabus, I would have died"

"Yes, yes, I&039;m better than any doctor," Beranabus says impatiently "Nohat about my other Disciple? Where&039;s Nadia? Not dead, surely"

I pause Part of me wants to cover up for her and tell him she was killed by a demon But his small dark eyes are fixed ona lie "She didn&039;t want to come back She left h of demons"

Beranabus&039; face blackens with fury "I&039;ll flay her skin from her back! Find her Open ato her Immediately"

"I do not think you should do that," Sharent If she wants to - "