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Where are they?”

Perry locked onto their jet-black eyes. Nothing.

And then he heard a voice. Not the triangles, something new.

Something cold.

I think you should leave the Jewell family alone.

A little girl’s voice. Clear, human, but in his head.

You’re scared, aren’t you? You should be scared.

“You’re scared, too,” Perry said. “I can feel it.”

Dew nudged Perry’s shoulder. “What are they saying, kid?”

Kill that man.

“Nothing,” Perry said. “They’re not saying anything.”

I can make you do it. I’m in charge. People have to do what I say.

An intense rage swept through Perry. Oh, G.o.d, there it was, that heated l.u.s.t to hurt. The hatchlings couldn’t stir that up in him anymore, but this girl could, and far more powerfully than he’d ever felt before.

Only this time he felt it for Dew Phillips.

Kill him.

Kill him.

“I gotta get out of here,” Perry said. “I can’t be in here.”

“Kid, come on,” Dew said. “Don’t chicken out now. We have to find the Jewells, or at least see if the triangle-whatever will negotiate or something.”

What’s the matter, scaredy-cat? Are you afraid?

Perry shook his head. “No. I got to go. Margaret, whatever you’re going to do, you need to do it quick. They’re going to hatch soon.”

“How do you know?” Margaret asked.

“They’re using complete sentences,” Perry said. “Pauses, like they’re talking with punctuation. They didn’t do that with me until near the end.

You’ve got a day, maybe half a day before they hatch.”

Kill him.

Margaret looked at Bernadette, then back to Perry. “You’re sure about that?”

“Perry, talk to them,” Dew said.

I feel your fear. I’m going to get you . . .

Perry put his hands to his ears, a subconscious effort to block out the voices. His gloved hands. .h.i.t his helmeted head before he remembered he couldn’t actually hear the voices with his ears at all.

“Leave me alone!”

“Okay, kid,” Dew said. “Just take it easy.”