Ampersand looked at Enola for a very long ten seconds or so. “He is unnaturally producing a chemical that changes his mind and body. That is why his skin has changed to this color; his bodily fluid is flushed with it. If he remains bound, he cannot produce more substance, and if I don’t extract the substance from his system slowly, over a period of hours, he will die.”

She stood transfixed by the horrible, wretched creature. A part of her wanted Ampersand to put it out of its misery. “Jesus.” She tore her gaze away, looked at Ampersand. “You’ll take him back to the cave?”

“It is my last secure safe location. I have to do a transfusion, and do it slowly.”

“But Obelus . . .”

“Obelus’s life is in no immediate danger. If I do not do a slow transfusion to get this toxin out of Enola’s system, he will die. I cannot lose another symphyle, dear one.”

At this, something stung in her throat. The wall had thinned somewhat, and she felt his desperation. Three symphyles, all right here, and they all had to survive. Obelus could wait, Enola needed attention now, and Cora was the closest thing he had to help. Triage.

She looked back at Murderguy, who was looking at her as if she were a terrorist who had taken him hostage, half-afraid, half-disgusted. “Okay. I’ll use his car to drive back up to the cave and tie him up somewhere and question him later.”

“Move quickly. I will not leave you alone with him until he’s restrained.”

Ampersand returned his attention to Enola, and Cora marched toward Murderguy, “gun” drawn, flashlight beaming directly into his eyes. “On your feet.”

He sprang up, keeping his eyes locked on hers and not the “gun.” Here was that expression again, the one she’d seen on him earlier that day, the one that betrayed a mind running through all the ways he’d like to hurt her.

“Hands behind your head,” she said, hoping that it would make her look like she knew what she was doing. He complied. “Do not make a sound. Walk to your SUV.”

Without pause, he obeyed, walking in front of her while she followed about three feet behind, holding up the gun that could not harm a human. Once they reached the car, she ordered him to open the back of the SUV.