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“Sorry we’re late,” Shark says, hugging Meera and lifting her off the floor

“How is he?” Shar directly to Dervish

“He’s been like that since the attack,” I tell her “No change”

She stares at me suspiciously “You must be Bec I have heard about you”

“The dead girl who ca at …”

“…I stole Bill-E’s body?”

“Yeah”

“There’s nothing of Bill-E left,” I tell them “Except his memories That’s how I know you and Sharmila”

Shark frowns “I never met him”

“I did,” Shar”

“I know But he rin weakly at their confusion

“Bec can tell you about that later,” Meera snaps “What’s happening outside?”

“Nothing,” Shark says “All quiet Your birds have flown the coop”

“You’re positive? It isn’t a trap, to lure us out of hiding?” Shark shakes his head “Then let’s get Dervish straight to a hospital We can talk about the attack on the way But I’ll tell you this much—they weren’t birds They were Lambs”

Shark and Meera carry Dervish up the steps out of the cellar as gently as they can Shark gru to do to the Lambs when he catches up with them He drove here in a van There’s a hospital trolley in the rear We strap Dervish down and Sharmila produces a drip and heart monitor She hooks Dervish up I watch with interest—it’s the first time I’ve seen such apparatus