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“Nothing.”

“Would you turn him into the same thing you’d turn me into?”

“What do you think I am, Annie? Some kind of monster?”

“I’ve seen what you are.”

“I wouldn’t do that to Charlie. We formed quite a bond on the way up here. As I said, he’s a fine boy.”

“What will happen to him?”

“I’ll see that he gets home, back to the West Village, back to your place on Bank Street.”

“But without his mother.”

Nabler sighed. “Yes. But there is extended family, is there not, who will take him in? And a substantial estate by now. You’ve had a very successful career. The boy will be well provided for. No worries there.”

“What will the story be? I’m just missing? Presumed dead?”

“Mere details. Don’t trouble yourself with them.”

“Will he remember? Won’t he know what happened here, what happened to his mother?”

“No.”

“What do I... become?”

“Something so much bigger than yourself. I can help you with that. I’ve never brought anyone into the sliver before, but it’s been done. And once it is, you’ll wonder why you ever had any objection.”

“What will you do to him if I refuse?”

“Well, in that case, it will be the status quo around here, even if the market for toy trains isn’t what it once was. The layout needs some freshening.” Nabler thought a moment. “His fingernails would make excellent patio stones.”

Annie said, “Okay. I’ll do it.”

Fifty-Seven

“But I want a moment with Charlie first,” Annie said. “And not some miniaturized version of him. I want my real son.” She paused, bit her lower lip. “I want to be able to say goodbye to him.”

Nabler nodded in agreement. “Of course.”

“You’ll see that he gets home?”

Nabler crossed his heart. “Hope to die.”

Like that means anything. She did not expect him to allow Charlie to survive this, but felt she had to make Nabler think she did. She had one hope in the back of her mind, and she would need Charlie’s help if she were to make it happen.

“And how do I... turn into what you want me to be?”

“It’s a rather... intimate procedure.” He could see the horror in Annie’s expression. “Not quite that. Don’t worry. I have no need for that kind of pleasure. There will be a closeness. And you won’t feel a thing.”

“Will Charlie have to watch?”

“Probably better that he doesn’t.”

“Get him out of that train. Make him his real size again.”

“Already have. He’s right there.”