“What he should say,” the MasterMind snapped, “is that his partner is a genius at coding. I’ll get this ship back up and running. Don’t be so gloomy.” She rubbed her arm, and added quietly, “It’s not like I have anywhere else to go anyway.”

The Architect, too, looked away for a long minute. “And I . . . I want to know what happened to my mother. Where she is in here. What the jinn said, about getting rid of her . . . I’ve been scared. If she’s in here, somewhere, at least I can see her one more time.”

“And you’re just going to let us go?” Winnie narrowed her eyes at both of them. “When you know you’re staying here and might die?”

But Ahmad understood. Paheli was something that was part of his world, but not in the same way it was for Lord Amari. It was his whole world.

Instead he said softly, “This is your chance, you know. To make Paheli different this time. To let go of the game.”

Lord Amari looked at him, saying nothing.

“You can’t—” Winnie started again.

“Don’t make us regret letting you go,” the MasterMind snapped back. “Just go home and count your lucky stars you made it out in time. You have two minutes left.”

“Thank you,” Ahmad said. It didn’t even surprise him now that he meant it. “I hope you guys survive this. I hope Paheli is able to live for itself now.”

“Just get going,” the Architect said, but both of them looked surprisingly touched.

Ahmad turned, and then his eyes widened.

“But . . . Vijay Bhai! Where is he?”

“Look out below!” a voice called cheerfully from above.

Winnie looked up, gasped, and shoved Ahmad aside.

“Move! Quick!”

Moments later, a lanky body tumbled down, hitting the sand with a painful sounding “oomph.” The MasterMind winced delicately.

“Nice job,” the Architect said sarcastically.

“I’m okay,” Vijay Bhai said, muffled by the sand. He sat up slowly and brushed himself off, grinning at his nephew.

“Like I would let you go home without me.”

“Your loyalty to Paheli is admirable,” the Architect said, and then cowered as Vijay Bhai slowly rose to his feet. He stared down at the spoiled boy with distaste.

“I wish I could say you’ve grown, but you obviously haven’t.”

Winnie let out a nervous-sounding giggle. “Ouch,” she whispered to Ahmad.

“Yes, well,” the Architect blustered, trying to pull himself up higher. “Be glad that you aren’t feeling my wrath and—”

The MasterMind elbowed him in the ribs again. “Just get going,” she said to the trio as they dusted themselves off again. “Before he really picks up steam.”