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“That’s where the oar goes,” Dervish growls, pushing Kirilli aside

The lifeboat slides towards the edge of the ship, but comes to a sudden halt just above the rails “It’s stuck,” Dervish grunts, pushing at it, looking for so—else to pull

“No,” I sigh, keeping an eye on several zo our way “It’s the barrier The ship’s still encased in a bubble of ic”

“Nonsense,” Dervish snorts “That’s gone My heart wouldn’t be ha like a pneumatic drill if—”

“The barrier’s still there,” I stop him “I don’t kno, but it is” I point at the nearest zorab her and throw her overboard”

“With pleasure,” Kirilli says—the zombie is much smaller than him He runs across, picks her up and chucks her over the rail She bounces off an invisible wall and lands on top of Kirilli As she chews his left forearlares atto happen!”

I ignore the irate conjuror and lock gazes with Dervish The fight has sapped his strength He looks like an old man ready for death

“The barrier ests, more out of wretched hope than any real conviction

“It’s as strong as e arrived,” I disagree “We could have h the hole in the botto in—but we can’t get back to the hold to try”

“The zoain “We can use theh the barrier I did that in Slawter, exploded a dey It worked there—it can work here”

“I’hts on a zo extra power froainst the invisible barrier and holds it there with ic

“Sharrunts “Blast it!”

The old Indian lady tries to focus, but she’s too exhausted

“Leave this tohi card out from underneath his torn, chewed sleeve, takes careful aim and fires it at the zombie When it strikes he shouts, “Abracadabra!” and the card and zombie explode “There,” Kirilli sht, am I?”

“Nobody could be,” Dervish murmurs, but the humour is forced The explosion hasn’t dented the barrier It holds as firmly as before