“What’s a norm?”

She sighed. “A normal person, you insipid berk. Of course, we advanced thinkers in the Diberi have a more sophisticated idea of morality, and what is good and bad and what is simply neutral. Is it evil to want to create a better universe for the few people who actually deserve it, while kicking the dross out of this world? Is it evil to want to take back control of our half of the Great Library and be masters of our own reality? Did you know that everything that exists here in the Realworld is controlled by a group of pathetic librarians in a remote corner of the Otherworld? Doesn’t that make you angry?”

Terrence did know this. Sort of. But it didn’t make him particularly angry, because he had no idea what it meant. Skylurian had said something like this to him once, as well, but he hadn’t been listening properly because he had been hoping she might kiss him.

In fact, even though he missed Skylurian desperately, and even though he had vowed never to let another woman into his heart—particularly not one who kept calling him “silly” and a “berk”—Terrence was rather hoping now that Lady Tchainsaw might kiss him. Was he really that fickle? But perhaps the heart must move on. And Lady Tchainsaw was resplendent tonight in a black velvet gown and vintage velvet sock-boots with heels that looked alarmingly like the skulls of yet more dead creatures, but dipped in silver and placed on top of one another. She reminded Terrence in some way of dear dead Skylurian. Which was nice, really.

Would she kiss him? It was the only question in Terrence’s mind.

She moved toward him. Was now the time. . . . ?

“Ouch!” said Terrence again, as she slapped him. “What was that for?”

“You are not paying attention. Why we are resting the ambitions of the Diberi on you, I have no idea. You are a stupid, vain, pathetic little man. . . .”

“I don’t mind if you’re horrible to me,” said Terrence. “I don’t even mind if you slap me. But could you just give me a little . . .”

“A little what?”

“Kiss.” The word came out like a tiny squeak.

“I will kiss you afterward,” she said. “As a reward. Once our mission is complete. And, it should go without saying, only if our mission is successful.”

“All right,” said Terrence. “You’d better tell me again exactly what you want me to do.”

“You need to understand the concept of pedesis,” said Lady Tchainsaw, picking up the book by Thomas Lumas. “And you need to practice.”

“I’m terribly sorry,” said Terrence. “Remind me what pedesis is again?”

“Oh, you dim man. It’s when you enter someone’s consciousness and then travel through time by surfing on a great wave of their ancestors. Have you not been paying attention? The subject was dealt with most thoroughly in that novel I gave you.”