“I know!” Alice furrowed her brow. Think, think, think. A ringing crash came from the other side of the room as the giant slammed against the wall. “You said it was an animating spirit. What does that mean?”

“It means he’s not a giant steel monster,” Isaac said. “He’s a real statue, but he’s possessed by some kind of incorporeal creature.”

“How do we kill it?”

“I have no idea. But damaging the statue isn’t going to do it, and I don’t think the Siren will help either.”

“If damaging the statue doesn’t help, what can we do?”

Dex cleared her throat. “While Brother Isaac is correct that we may not be able to kill him by damaging the external shell, that doesn’t mean it will not help. He would be very little threat if we could tear him to pieces.”

“Right,” Alice said. “Right. He’s made of solid steel. How can we damage it?”

“I doubt my swords would make much of an impression,” Dex said. She looked at Isaac.

He shifted uncomfortably. “The salamander might be able to melt through. If I summon it, it only gets as hot as a cook-fire, but when I use the power myself I can make it much hotter.” He shook his head. “But it only works by touch. If I try to get close enough to touch that thing, it’ll mash me to jam!”

“I don’t think he’s very bright,” Alice said. “The way he came after us . . . I have an idea. Dex, I’m going to need your help . . .”

Chapter Twenty-two: Alice and Goliath

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

ALICE AND GOLIATH

“SORANNA!” ALICE STOOD with her hands cupped to her mouth, trying to make herself heard over the rumble of falling stone and the huge booms of the giant’s footsteps. “Soranna! Over here, quick!”

For a moment Alice thought the statue had finally caught up to the girl. Then Soranna appeared out of the cloud of dust, moving at a clumsy jog. There was blood on her arm, and she looked tired and in pain. Alice waved her closer, and Soranna broke into a desperate sprint.

Behind her, the giant had heard Alice’s shouts. His blank eyes turned toward the two girls in the middle of the room. A single step brought him close enough to swing a hand down toward them, and Alice ran for it alongside Soranna. The great steel fist slammed into the floor just behind them, sending cracks spidering outward through the stone floor.

“Over there!” Alice shouted in Soranna’s ear. “Run to the pillars and hide. I’ll take it from here!”

“But—”

“Just go!”