“You might have,” the Dragon said. “You have a great deal of talent, but as a Reader you are still just beginning. When a Reader summons a creature, it is her energy that sustains it, calls it into this world from the world of the prison-book. The more powerful the creature, the more energy is required. Your energy was not sufficient to summon me, and the attempt to do so was tearing you apart.”

Alice’s voice was a whisper. “So what happened?”

“I used my own power to . . . make up the difference, you might say. It cost me a great deal. Replenishing my power is difficult while I am imprisoned.”

“Oh.” Alice blinked away her tears. “I’m sorry.”

“No. You had no alternative, and Torment needed to be . . . dealt with. However, it does mean I will not be able to appear in this way for some time. Perhaps quite a long time. Even speaking to you will be difficult. I will . . . sleep, if you like.”

“I don’t . . . I didn’t want that.” Alice took hold of the Dragon’s tail and pressed it to her cheek. She felt a sudden closeness to this vast, alien creature, with its insect-black eyes. It was the way it spoke to her—without sentimentality or condescension, like an equal. She felt tears pricking her eyes again. “But I need your help. I still have to find my father.”

“Alice . . .” the Dragon said.

“Could Torment have been . . . lying, in the magic mirror?”

“No. Not here. Not to me.”

“Then the ship really did go down.” Alice balled her hands into fists. “It has to be something else, then. One of them sucked him into a book, or some creature grabbed him, or . . .”

She trailed off. That can’t be it. Not just like that. The world could not bring her all this way, through all these dangers, for this to be the end. In a place full of magic—of swarmers and Readers and talking cats—there had to be a way out. There has to be.

“Alice.” The Dragon’s voice was soft. “What motive would Esau or Geryon have to do such a thing?”

“I don’t know!” Alice said. “Geryon lied to me. He’s been lying to me all along. Who knows what his real plans are?”

The Dragon’s head swung around in front of her. She could see herself reflected in its trio of dark eyes, three tiny, haggard girls staring back at her.

“There has to be something,” Alice said in a small voice. “Or else . . . what was the point of any of this? What’s the point of anything?” She sucked in a long breath, fighting tears. “What am I supposed to do now?”

The Dragon was quiet for a long time. Alice could hear the puff of its breath, like a vast bellows.