He steps forward, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“Akuji ain’t long on words,” he says, in what could be an Australian accent. “Never says nothing. All telepathy. But, mate, can she dance with those sticks.”

“Akuji mightn’t speak,” Malik says, “but Vidhan sure does. Once he starts, he hardly ever stops. We call him the Professor. Most people think it’s irony.”

Vidhan grins. “Really, it’s because of my giant brain. Almost as big as Malik’s ego. But let’s not go down that rabbit hole.” He cocks his head, considering me.

I look back at him and say nothing.

“So,” he says. “We met before.”

“No. I don’t think so,” I say, finding my voice. “I’d remember.”

“Nah. Ya wouldn’t. It wasn’t really you. It was the other you.”

“What?”

“Your Lūna self. It’s an ugly business, Falling. Plenty loose ends. We had to keep her out the way until Malik here could make contact with you. But don’t worry, she’s home now, memory blunted, tucked safely back into her bed. Probably about to get woken by the dog.”

I look from him to Akuji in amazement and give a little half-hearted laugh.

Akuji ignores me and turns to Malik.

This is a bad idea.

Her words appear in my head, the same way Malik’s words formed there. She thinks the words to him and, amazingly, I can understand them, as if I’m plucking them out the air. More than that, I can understand their tone. The disdain in them.

Akuji swivels and shoots me a look of spectacular severity.

“That’s right,” Malik says to her. “She can read you.”

I try to say something, but I can’t. I feel edgy, uneasy. Can I throw back my own thoughts? The questions buzz, unanswered in my head.

“I see it,” Vidhan says, watching me. “In your eyes. You’ve got gifts. But you’re as green as the grass—a Noob. Anybody can bloody see that too.”

“Noob?” I sputter. “Hell do you mean by that?”

“Vidhan!” Malik says. He turns to me. “You’ll have to forgive him. Vidhan can be…well, Vidhan. But there’s no one better to have on your side. No one faster. And you want answers, he’s your man.” He glances at Akuji. “But you need to understand that these are dark times. There are spies everywhere. Those that seek to undermine what we stand for. So everyone’s on edge. When Prof says you’re a Noob, he only means you’re new to all this.”

Vidhan watches me. He looks sensible and calm. But for all his laid-back body language, I sense hidden reserves of energy.

“By all this,” I say. “I take it you mean, the multiverse?”

“It’s difficult to process,” Malik answers. “I get it. But—”