I let my head fall back against the pillow, feeling the strange ease of one about to die, who sees the headsman’s axe halted midair by royal pardon. «It doesn’t matter anymore. We have Bridger.»

«So?»

I smiled. «So no one will care about Sniper’s rebellion when Jehovah starts handing out immortality. That’s why They’ve come to power now, don’t you see? It’s Providence. For the first time in history all the governments of the Earth will be united, not one common ruler right away but one Heir binding all rulers together. Ἄναξ Jehovah will make sure Bridger’s gifts are distributed evenly to all, with no Hive privileged and none left out. They’ll save everyone.»

The old man could not help but cock an eyebrow. «Bridger can really do that?»

«Bridger can do literally anything, they just need protection and support to do it. With Jehovah to oversee the transition they’ll save everyone, even the dead. You think Tully Mardi will keep preaching when Bridger resurrects their parents? And Apollo?»

“Where is he? Where is my Son!” It was Madame’s voice, shrill with love, which trumpeted down the hall outside in flagrant violation of a patient’s right to hush.

Utopia: “We’re running tests. They’ll be back shortly. Please wait in here.”

Madame: “What tests? Is there a problem?”

Utopia: “We’re just gathering data. Please wait inside.”

Madame: “No! Enough waiting! I must see my Son!”

Felix Faust: “Let it be, Joyce, you’re scaring them enough already.”

Caesar and Martin rose as the lady entered, Papa too. She wore a sleeved traveling cloak, black velvet and long enough to cover the full circumference of her skirts, like the outer leaf of a head of lettuce. She had shed nothing of her home costume, not the mask of makeup, not the quaint block-heeled shoes that made speed impossible; even the wig stayed, silvery beneath her hood, though far less monumental than her usual.

Caesar spoke first. “You came?”

“Of course I came!” she cried. “It’s been a nightmare, Cornel! I haven’t ridden in a car in fifty years! I had Utopia take me, but Romanova has all these ridiculous emergency restrictions. They kept asking questions, said I needed ‘known Members’ to vouch for me. Flagrant Blacklaw discrimination!”

The scowl on Felix Faust told the other half of her story: his sister, monstrous in her skirts and corset, clinging to his arm, while he, still in the Brillist sweater of his public office, drew stares like a magnet.

“But what’s happening, Cornel?” Madame pressed, seizing Caesar’s arm too without relinquishing her brother’s. “Is there any news?”

“Jehovah’s fine,” MASON answered.

“Is it true what I saw on the news? They came back from the dead!”

“As next of kin, Madame, I’m sure you’ll be the first to hear when anything is certain. For now, we wait.”

Her eyes, wrath-hot and hungry for a culprit, locked on Martin. “You’ve some nerve, sitting here cozy when your master nearly died. Why didn’t you throw yourself in front of the bullet? That’s what you’re for, isn’t it?”