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I press the Colt into Daja’s ear.

“What do you think, boss? Kill everyone and die or take a chance on Zardoz over there?”

“You can’t do this. We’re on a holy crusade. God won’t let you,” she says.

She looks at the Magistrate.

“Will he?”

He ignores her.

“I will go first, Mr. Pitts. What you do after is your affair.”

I try to figure the angles, but I know he figured them before I walked in the room. I’m stuck, and I really don’t relish the look on Mason’s face when I pop into Tartarus.

I nod once. “Talk.”

“Here is my secret: Mimir said nothing about you to me. You were right the first time. She told me to pass the town by. I chose to ignore her and, sadly, we have all paid for my arrogance.”

“Here’s my secret,” I say. “I don’t believe you. You’re a student of psychology. I know we’re playing a game, but it’s not the one you said it is. What’s the real game we’re playing?”

He lays his hands flat on the table.

“You’re right. There is no secret game, that night in the desert or here now.”

“Then what’s going on?”

“You think I can read minds, don’t you? Or the idea has occurred to you. But you are wrong. Do you know how I know what people are thinking?”

My adrenaline is cutting through the laudanum and my side is burning. Plus, I had a little too much Aqua Regia. I say the first thing that comes into my head.

“It isn’t heartbeats. And souls mostly breathe out of habit. That means it’s got to be eyes. Micro-expressions.”

“Yes,” he says, and slaps the table. “I knew you knew the answer. And do you know how I knew?”

“Because I can do it, too.”

“Exactly. But you feel weak here, and lost. Why is that?”

Fuck. This guy knows everything. There’s no point lying.

“It’s harder to read the dead. Without real bodies, the signals aren’t there.”

“Yes they are,” he says. “You just have to recognize them. You have the talent. I can teach you the rest.?

?

“Two minutes ago, you were taking about killing me. Why should I trust you now?”

“Because I know how you really saved me, and I have kept your secret. And I will continue to do so. On this, you have my word.”

“What is going on?” says Daja. “Is he an enemy or not?”

“Which is it, Mr. Pitts? I cannot answer Daja’s question. You will have to.”

I think for a minute. Daja moves. I tighten my grip. Look at the Magistrate.

“Prove you know about me and that you’ve kept your mouth shut about it.”