Metz swung his gun. When it connected, the little machine exploded with a ferocious blast that ripped off the shotgun’s stock and sent Metz crashing to the floor, lying across the salt line.

A flier shot out from the hole in the floor straight for him, fastening itself to his neck.

Eardrums ringing, Alex ran with Kingdom to help Metz. The little machine buzzed hungrily at the man’s throat like an awkward metal vampire bat as they tried to drag him back. Alex flung more salt. The robot darted off, disappearing beneath the floorboards.

Alex’s grandfather leapt forward, scattering salt at the rest of the spiders. Most jumped out of reach, but two were caught and started sprinting crazily, before running into one another with another horrendous explosion. Alex felt the heat on his face. Kingdom bent to inspect what was left of Metz’s mangled weapon, then kicked it away.

The barricade across the room fell in as the door was shoved open wider. Two life-sizers could now be seen, struggling in the doorway. One managed to reach in and began shifting the blockage, tossing chairs away.

“C’est la fin.” Metz lay cowering on the floor, staring at the giant robots. He kept repeating the phrase, hoarsely, woozily, fainter all the time. “C’est la fin.”

“Philippe,” Kingdom said. “We need you. If you can. Philippe?”

She spoke without looking at him, holding her shotgun trained on the door, studying the life-sizers as they dismantled the barricade. Alex’s grandfather stood with his box of salt, not much left now, watching the spiders warily.

Alex glanced at Metz. He lay motionless, a red, raw spot on his neck. Alex knelt to listen at the man’s chest.

“Alex?” his grandfather said.

“He’s alive. Unconscious.”

Alex stood and pulled the toy robot from his pocket. His fist tightened as he screwed his eyes shut, picturing the toy, picturing the tablet, lining up the doors he needed to move through. He strained to connect.

There was a sudden wispy scuttling on the floorboards. Alex looked to see spiders darting forward, then stopping as his grandfather scattered a meager handful of salt. He closed his eyes, pushing harder. No use. No time.

He opened his eyes at another sound. The last of the barricade had been pushed away. A life-sizer was striding across the room.

When it was ten feet away, Kingdom fired. The giant robot went into a frenzy, then fell, landing on four of the spiders. The resulting explosion ripped off its arm and sent the metal limb flying across the room, where the ragged shoulder embedded itself into the wall. The disembodied arm hung there, hand groping hideously for a few seconds, before falling lifeless.

“That’s one,” Kingdom said. She suddenly lifted her gun higher.