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Nick sat her down and told her about the McGill, his ghost ship, and his cargo of captured Afterlights "I know you never really believed in the McGill…"

"No," said Mary "I’ve always known he existed-- but like the Haunter he kept away"

"Allies figured out a way to defeat him"

"Allie!" Nick could hear the disdain in her voice "Allies a very foolish girl

She’s learned nothing from what happened with the Haunter, has she?"

"I believe her," Nick said "No matter what you think of her, she’s s out of her hand"

Mary sighed "So then, what does she want me to do? "

This "was the hard part Nick knew he had to sell this, and sell it right "She wants you to bring your kids to Atlantic City It’ll take all of theht the McGill"

Mary shook her head "No! I can’t do that I won’t put er"

"Allie says there’s a powerful gang there--a gang that defeated him before, so on’t be alone"

"She doesn’t knohat she’s talking about!"

"Then all the s she doesn’t" And when Mary didn’t say anything more, Nick put his cards on the table "If you don’t help then I’ll go there without you"

"That," said Vari, slumped in a chair in the corner, "is the best idea I’ve heard yet"

They both ignored hiht hiht, but if you won’t help, I’ll have no choice but to go alone"

Mary turned away, and pounded a fist against aNick couldn’t tell if she was angry at him or herself "I… I … can’t…"

Nick was not bluffing, and soon Mary would realize that He knew his feelings for her were strong, but he also knew that soer "I love you, Mary," he said, "but there are things I have to do, even if you won’t" And he turned to leave

She called to hiht she wouldn’t, because, in his experience, when Mary ing, too

"I won’t putnervously with the locket around her neck "But I can’t leave a thousand children in the McGill’s hands either So I’ll go with you"

"What!" said Vari

Nick wasn’t expecting that either "But… but that won’t help We need an arht the McGill"

But apparently Mary knew better, as Mary always did

Mary had a secret cache of clout that ran deeper than anyone knew In other words, she could get her hands on things that hts could only dreaed luxury transportation: a ghost train out of old Penn Station

She did not say good-bye to the children, because she didn’t want to worry thee, and Vari, who refused to be left behind, beca party "Do you think I’lory?" Vari told Nick as the three of the to end up on top Just see if I don’t!"

"Personally," said Nick, "I think you’d look best hanging upside down by your ankles"

Vari sneered at hiot more chocolate on your mouth than ever Pretty soon it’ll cover your whole stupid face"

Nick shrugged "Mary doesn’t seem to mind"

Nick suspected that if Vari had had his violin he would have kabonged him over the head

"Will you two stop," chided Mary "We’re supposed to fight the McGill, not each other"

Actually, Nick found hi with Vari--maybe because he finally had the upper hand