The willow branches pulled up short, stretched out as far as they could go, fronds straining after her horizontally as though whipped by a hurricane. They fell back, finally, exhausted by the effort. The swarmers huddled together outside their range, a mass of beaks and rubbery dark fur.

There was a moment of flowing, melting confusion. Then, in place of a hundred tiny creatures, there was one girl lying in the grass, bloody and panting for breath.

Chapter Twenty-two: A Decision

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

A DECISION

‘Geryon!’ Alice shouted, as soon as she had her breath back.

Her heart still hopped and jumped in her chest, though she couldn’t say whether it was from fear or exhilaration. That first moment of dissolution, her body dissolving into dozens of different pieces – Alice was certain she’d have nightmares about it until the day she died, if she lived to be a hundred and ten.

‘Geryon! I know you can hear me.’ She sat up, feeling a little wobbly. ‘It’s over, all right? I can’t do it. Get me out of here.’

There was no answer. She hadn’t really expected one. She wasn’t even sure if he could get her out, once she’d gone inside, but she didn’t think he would even if it was in his power.

All around her, the wind whistled gently through the grass, sending silver, rustling waves all the way down the hill and through the distant valleys. Beyond that, the mountains loomed, distant and somehow vague, as though they weren’t quite completely defined.

It’s not real, Alice thought. None of this is really real, except this hilltop and that tree. And that . . . thing. There’s no way out, except through there.

‘But how am I supposed to kill something like that?’ she said aloud.

It had seemed impossible even before the entire willow tree had turned on her. She’d caught it off guard and got away, but she wasn’t sure if she could manage it a second time. She wondered what would happen if some of her was caught while she was the Swarm. Would she reassemble herself without a finger, or a big toe?

Alice laughed, a little giddily. She clambered to her feet and shook out her arms and legs. The air here was just cool enough to be bracing. She’d lost her shoes during the transition, somehow, and the grass and soft earth were gentle on her bare feet. She stretched, taking several deep, calming breaths, and turned back towards the tree.