Memphis reached the X and swung out of it with one hand. He took the nozzle and jammed it into the hole in the middle of the curved plate over Collup’s chest, then twisted, locking it in place. He dropped then, tumbling elegantly in mid-air before landing.

Lethe went to the slab and stood there, hands over the carved box. He hesitated a moment, then opened it, and took out Abyssinia’s heart.

Valkyrie couldn’t see it that well, but it looked small and dry and pretty unimpressive. She didn’t say anything, though. She was too busy not passing out.

Lethe turned to Melior. “Richard, if you would kindly get this show on the proverbial road …”

Melior appeared frozen to the spot. “I … I can’t.”

“We’ve made it easy on you, Richard. Our sacrificial lambs are killers. You’ll do the world a favour by dispatching them.”

Melior still didn’t move. Lethe walked over to him, put a hand on his shoulder.

“I understand,” he said. “You’re conflicted. You don’t want to release a centuries-old evil into the world, but then again you don’t want to never see your husband again. That, Richard, is a conflict. That is a true dilemma. I only ask that you listen to your conscience. You do what is right for you, Richard. Forget about the three people dangling overhead – two of whom are self-confessed murderers of perfectly innocent people and the third being ultimately responsible for the senseless deaths of 1,351 poor unfortunate souls. Forget about that. Forget about their red faces. Forget about all the people who will die as a result of Abyssinia’s return. That’s not on you. That’s on us. We are doing this willingly. But you? You have been forced into this position. You don’t have a choice. If you choose not to resurrect Abyssinia, you will never, ever see Savant Vega again. You will condemn him to his fate. But, if you choose to do this, Savant will be returned to you, you have my word, and you will both be allowed to leave.”

Melior didn’t take his eyes from the heart. “And then what?”

“Then events will unfold,” said Lethe. “Abyssinia will succeed in her plans, or she will not. That part of the tale has nothing to do with you. Do you want your husband back?”

“Yes.”

“Then by all means … proceed.”

Melior approached the slab. He raised his hands over the heart, but hesitated.

“No,” he said, so softly Valkyrie barely heard him.

“Sorry?” Lethe asked. “What was that? You’d rather never see Savant again?”

Melior stepped away from the slab. “I can’t be responsible for what Abyssinia will do.”

“You won’t be,” said Lethe. “We will. I just explained this.” He looked around. “Didn’t I just explain this?”