. . .

Billows of smoke fill the kitchen.

Tom takes Linus’ arm. He drags him towards the door.

“But,” says Linus. “But. But. She can set it to holy. She can kill me. I could die.”

“No,” says Tom.

They stagger through the smoking ruins. They meet up with Jane and Edmund. Edmund is swallowing the smoke, gulping it down into his wolf-stomach, to keep a little space clear for them to breathe.

“We’ve got to get to Amelia’s study,” hisses Jane.

“Got it,” Tom says.

“But I could die,” says Linus. “I mean, wouldn’t that bite the Devil’s butt?”

“There’s nothing good about biting the Devil’s butt,” says Tom, as Peter, were he there, would almost certainly confirm.

<< . . .

. . . >>