He continued toward the truck, seeing Cora on the other side, pleading with someone who was much taller than she was. It took Kaveh another few seconds to round the armored car, not daring to get near the open door. There he was, looking down at her calmly. She was speaking to him softly. Kaveh couldn’t hear her words, only an incredible heaviness, an incredible sadness in her voice. Jude Atheatos, once known as Ampersand. At his side was a much smaller amygdaline, one that was no taller than Cora.

That must be Obelus.

“I TOLD YOU THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS FOR YOU, DEAR CLEVER CREATURE.”

He gasped, split between relief and dread to hear Nikola’s voice. Kaveh saw Ampersand look in his direction and go on alert, standing up straight, the crown on the back of his head splaying out like peacock feathers, and Obelus went still as a statue. Kaveh turned around, and there was Nikola, his monstrous silhouette black against the orange-blue sky.

“REMOVE HER,” said Nikola. “GET BEHIND ME.”

“Cora!” Kaveh resumed his trot, positioning himself right behind her but unable to take his eyes off Ampersand. He knew that Nikola could overpower the other two easily, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t danger for humans. He took Cora by the arm, every fiber in his being telling him that Ampersand was the one to be afraid of. Cora shrieked as she spotted something over her left shoulder, and Kaveh snapped his attention in that direction.

There were three Similars standing maybe thirty feet away, each bigger than Nikola, even bigger than the Similar Brako. He grabbed Cora by the shoulders and began backing away, keeping his face to the three of them. They seemed as interested in the two humans as the three they were ostensibly here for. One of them even started toward them when he was addressed by one of the others.

By Nikola.

“Nik,” Cora whispered. “What have you done?”

“I HAVE MADE AN ARRANGEMENT,” said the voice in Kaveh’s ear. “THEY ARE HERE FOR OBELUS, NOT FOR US OR FOR YOU. I HAVE TOLD THEM I WOULD DELIVER OBELUS TO THEM, AND HIS OLD BODY, IN EXCHANGE FOR ALLOWING US TO DIE ON THIS PLANET ON OUR OWN TERMS.”

But something already felt off. For the first time, he saw Obelus cut in, and he began speaking to his three former subordinates. Then Nikola’s body language changed; antagonistic, alert, frightened, even.

“LITTLE COUSIN, DEAR CLEVER CREATURE, RUN.”

“Did you hear him?” asked Kaveh, resuming the careful backing away.

“Nikola, what’s happening?” asked Cora.

“THESE SIMILARS ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THE AGREEMENT. THEY WANT BOTH OF THEM, NOT JUST OBELUS. I AM EXPLAINING THAT THAT IS NOT OUR AGREEMENT. THEY CANNOT HAVE OUR DEAR BELOVED AS WELL. I FEAR THEY MAY HARM YOU FOR SHOW. PLEASE, RUN.”

“You heard him,” whispered Kaveh.