“Give him a chance to—” But this time Leaky stopped herself. “You tell it. I’ll listen. I swear I’ll listen.”

“The first wallfold we went to was an evil place. We didn’t understand how evil. All the human beings there were dead. The only person there was Vadeshex, and he isn’t human.”

“A person, and not human? Sorry. Sorry. I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“Vadeshex looked just like Rigg’s father. He was just like him because they’re not human. They’re mechanical men designed to look like people. They’re called ‘expendables’ but they never die. There’s one in each wallfold. Rigg was raised by one.”

“But his father died,” said Leaky.

“His father pretended to die,” said Umbo. “They’re all liars, these expendables, because they think their job is to protect the human race from the human race. They know everything, but they understand nothing. No matter how angry you get at me, it’s nothing to how angry I am at Vadeshex. Because he tricked Loaf into—no, wait. It won’t make any sense unless I explain something first.”

“By Silbom’s right kneecap!” shouted Leaky.

“Loaf is alive. He’s sharper and healthier than ever. But something happened to him in Vadeshfold and that’s what I’m trying to tell you. But some things don’t make sense unless I explain other things first. Please, please be patient with me. I don’t want to fail Loaf again, the way I did the other four times.”

“I thought I was the one who failed!”

“You’re the one who didn’t listen,” said Umbo, “but it has to have been my fault because I went about it wrong. The first time I tried to tell everything gradually and make things seem better than they are. You saw that I was concealing things and so I think you were right to be angry. I thought you were going to kill me, which didn’t seem fair to me, but I did a bad job. I did a bad job all the other times, too, because I failed. But please help me, Leaky. I’m going to make mistakes so you have to help me make up for my stupidity by being patient with me. Please.”

Leaky was astonished to hear a sound like incipient weeping in his voice, as if he was trying not to cry. But she didn’t look at him. “Tell me in whatever order you think is best.”