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“If it makes you feel any better, I stabbed him once when he pissed me off.”

“But you let him live? Bollocks to you, mate. From now on, just keep your distance.”

“I wouldn’t order the Abomination around,” says Alice. “Not if you want to make it to Heaven.”

“Fuck Heaven and fuck him.”

I don’t need to read micro-expressions to see that Frederickson, Billy, and Barbora are with Johnny on this. Gisco seems all right. Hell, I think he’s the only one having a good time. I’m not sure about Wanuri and, especially, Daja.

Vehuel looks at the dirty pocket where I put the golden knife.

“I take it that you intend to keep Simiel’s dagger?”

“That’s exactly what I intend.”

“Be careful,” she says. “Some angels won’t appreciate you having it.”

“You mean a dirty Abomination?”

“I mean someone who, until very recently, was as much our enemy as the rebellious angels.”

“But now you and me are on the same side, so relax.”

“Angels aren’t exactly kick-back-and-relax types. But you know that,” says Alice.

She looks at Vehuel.

“I’ll talk to him.”

“I don’t need a talking-to,” I say.

“You sure do, dummy,” says Alice.

The Magistrate says, “I think that we should end our meeting for now. As Daja said, the havoc will be getting restless. If our angel guests will join us outside, I will address the camp and tell them the wonderful news that you will lead us to our next stop on the crusade.”

“What are we supposed to say about him,” says Daja, giving me the evil eye.

“Nothing. He remains Mr. Pitts for now. A lost soul crazy enough and lucky enough to trick an angel into destroying itself.”

The Magistrate leads Vehuel outside. Alice goes next and I follow her.

Traven claps me on the back and nods to Alice before going back to his camper to write everything down. Always the record keeper.

Daja shoots me a look as she goes past. Johnny spits by my feet. Barbora and Billy don’t look at me. Gisco says something to Alice and she says something back that makes him smile.

“Great. Now that you have your wings, you can understand languages, too.”

“Yep. Every one ever spoken.”

“Show-off.”

“Jealous.”

Doris comes out and pats me on the cheek.

“I knew you were a good boy.”

Wanuri stops in front of us. She looks at Alice.