Pat looked at him with that weary look that said, Maybe that meant something to you, but not to me.

Then she remembered. “The slaves of Set.”

“Rather his fellow travelers. They don’t have his power to take over people’s minds or bodies. But they still insinuate themselves, destructively, into people’s minds. I wonder what they’re whispering to that poor girl—look, the prets are almost a raincloud all around her head.”

“I know exactly what they’re saying. You’re so ugly, nobody really likes you, even your friends would hate you if they knew what you’re really like, no boy will ever want you, why are you even alive, if there’s a God he’s sick of you and your sad little prayers, why do you bother getting out of bed, just get home and sleep, that’s the only place where you get relief, sleeping, only why should you wake up? Why not sleep and sleep forever?”

“Stop it,” Danny said softly. “You know that monologue all too well.”

“Do you suppose I had my own cloud of Sutahites around me all these years?” Then a thought crossed her mind and she said, “Danny, look at me and tell me—do I have one now?”

“No,” he said.

“Good,” she said. “Because I haven’t thought like that in years. Before I met you, when I was still in middle school, I decided to be content with myself. To revel in the things I was good at, like classes and reading and seeing how ridiculous everything is.”

“I wonder if they left you alone after you made that decision,” said Danny. “Or if they didn’t abandon you until you died.”

“You really shouldn’t say that out loud here,” said Pat. “We might be overheard.”

“And I’m sure whoever heard us would believe it,” said Danny. “Besides, I can barely hear you, so I doubt anybody else can.”

“You’d be surprised what you can hear if you’re standing in just the right place.” And she gestured toward a freshman a little way down the corridor. “For all we know, the lockers are transmitting our voices like a megaphone, right to him.”

“Hello, Tillman,” said Danny, remembering the boy’s name.

Tillman probably didn’t hear him. But he did turn and walk away along the corridor right at that moment. So … maybe.

“All these Sutahites,” said Pat. “How strong are they?”

“They only have the power to bring thoughts into your head,” said Danny. “To remind you of desires you already have. So … they’re only as strong as their victims let them be. How strong were they with you? Back when you still listened?”