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“He says that Death is on our side,” says Alice.

The boss angel looks at me.

“Is that true?”

“I saw him like a half hour ago. Everything is going to be fine.”

Vehuel frowns.

“I’m surprised. That doesn’t sound like Death.”

“Hey, if you want to go out there and eat stale donuts and sit in the fucking dirt for a week, be my guest. I’m telling you what he said and if you don’t like it—”

Alice pats me on the back.

“Okay, tiger, ease off the throttle a little.”

Vehuel is standing very tall, very upright. I don’t think people talk to her like that too often. But I’m a gentleman. I know what to do.

I take out the golden blade and hold it out to her.

“Here. Why don’t you have this back?”

She looks at me like she’s waiting for a punch line or a trick. When she doesn’t get either she takes the blade.

“Thank you. A number of angels will rest easier tonight,” she says in a low melodious voice.

That wasn’t the nicest way anyone ever said “fuck you” to me, but it sounded the prettiest.

“Did I miss anything while I was gone?”

“Lots,” says Alice. “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”

“Good.”

“Lots more people ran away. Some into the tunnels, others went upstream.”

“That’s good? What the hell is the bad?”

“The ship with all the trucks and cars sank.”

Being dead just keeps getting better and better.

Frederickson says, “Look what the cat dragged in.”

“Mr. Leisure Time,” says Johnny. “Have a nice walkabout, did you?”

“I did. The donuts were great. I would have brought you back one but, you know, fuck you.”

Barbora, Frederickson, and Billy surround Johnny with the other assholes I never really got to know behind them. Daja, Wanuri, Doris, and Gisco are a few feet away. I get the distinct impression that while I was gone the dog pack split into the kind of factions that aren’t ever going to kiss and make up, even if they’re supposed to be on the same crusade. Great. Another bunch I don’t want getting behind me.

I go to where Daja and her group are bunched up.

“Where’s the Magistrate? I have some news for him.”

“Good news?” she says.

“He should be happy.”