. . .

Edmund is down on the ground beside them now. He helps Jane and Tom up. “That must be our slender chance,” he says. “Narrow as a thread. Desperate as a chain. Complete a marvelous immortality elixir and become Taoist deities — or else we die!”

Jane stares at him.

Linus drops down to the ground. He loses his balance and steadies himself against the broad back of his black dog. It pants.

Jane blinks.

The dog is gone.

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