"Lovely," I said with a shiver as Colin passed me a silver bar. He was going to ride this thing like a mix between a horse and a shrieking decay, but at least he got to sit on the beast's back. He passed me the object, and I took it. The metal was cold in my hand, something the twins had ripped off some of the old fire pistons from the anti-redbill gear. They were clever innovators, in a pinch. I wrapped leather straps around the ends and knotted them tightly.
This thing was going to put me in its mouth, and I was going to trust it not to eat me.
Here goes nothing, Kane. I'm doing this for you—and yes, I'll hold it over you forever.
The silence swallowed me, and I presented myself in front of the Ghost. The twins released their hold on the monster's mouth. I relaxed everything except for my hand, in which I had the bit clenched. The Ghost scooped me up lightly in its teeth, and my heart thundered as I quickly shoved the bit toward the back of its mouth. It didn't fight the sensation. Instead, it seemed ready to go as soon as I was securely in its grasp. The teeth scraped lightly against my clothes, but when I completely relaxed, it was bearable.
The sounds of gasps surrounded me, but I was fine. I was cool and calm. This thing wouldn't hurt me. It had better not. Are you even awake, Kane?
The Ghost let out a little groan, probably picking up on my attempt to communicate with Kane. Colin collected the ends of the reins and settled himself on the creature's back, which I could see if I craned my neck.
"Ready?" Jones asked. His approving gaze gave me more satisfaction than I liked to admit. Maybe he truly respected me now that he'd seen me willingly climb into a monster's mouth. Deal with it, Jones. I'm great.
"Ready," I told them, and they released their restraints on the Ghost's feet. It lurched forward before stopping to stretch its tired limbs. Since I wasn't resisting anymore, my vantage point was a lot better. I held my head up to ensure that I wouldn't be smacking my skull into any trees. Concussions were to be avoided on this trip if we could help it.
From my perspective, I got a good view of the healed cut from my earlier strike against the Ghost. It had faded to a pale pink line on the creature’s white exterior. The monster shook itself a little, giving Colin a fun ride, and then took off toward the forest. It jerked to the side, pausing for a moment and sniffing the air.
I'm trying to get the Ghost to lead me to you. We have a theory that it senses interplanar energy and tries to “fix it” by dragging the source to the right place. I think it's working. Or, rather, I hoped it was. I hoped to all the forces in the universe that we had made the right decision. I needed this monster to save Lyra and the others.
I concentrated on my connection with Kane, telling Colin to yell out if he needed me.
"Just focus on Kane," Colin called in reply. He kept his head low and his body close to the Ghost's back as it surged through the forest. This time, with a relaxed body, I was able to curl slightly inward, into the monster's mouth. Instead of getting my limbs smacked by every tree, now I had a relatively comfortable ride.
I might be better off than Colin, judging from the tree-whacking sounds. Can you believe that, Kane? No answer. Well, I don't care if you're passed out; I'm still going to call out for you and think about you. You can't stop my brain.
"As if anybody could," Kane said weakly. My heart soared.
"I hear him," I shouted to Colin, earning a small cheer and then a grunt in response to what sounded like leafy branches hitting him.
Tell me everything. Where are you?
"Aren't you coming to find out?" Kane croaked. Well, he still had some attitude left in him.
I'm trying right now. I crawled into this monster's mouth for you. Anything you can tell me about your surroundings?
His voice was so weak that I didn't catch the first part of his reply. "—clear spaces—weird texture—"
Clear spaces? That's all you're giving me? My mind went to the eerie bubble world of the Pocket Space. I tried my best to describe what Lyra had told me about it. Was it something like that?
"Maybe," Kane said. His voice grew louder for a moment. The Ghost veered left through the clearing.
In my comm, Holt called for us. "Everything okay?"
"Fine for now," Colin said. "I have a few leaves in my mouth, but Roxy is safe." He knew I was trying to concentrate on my connection with Kane. It truly seemed like the monster was responding to it.
I think we're getting closer to you. The Ghost leapt easily over a large bush but grunted hard when it landed. The beast moved with a desperate exhaustion. If this thing didn’t eat the people it kidnapped, I had no idea how it got its fuel.
“Picking up speed,” Colin reported in our comm. The Ghost wildly propelled itself forward, using its hind legs in more of a jumping motion as its actions grew more ragged with each passing moment.
Talk to me.
“I’m tired,” Kane complained. His voice was clearer, but it was scratchy and weak. He sounded as if he might drop back into sleep any second.
Tell me a story. Please. Like the ones from when you were growing up. I was ratting myself out, but it was the only way I knew how to get his attention. Kane’s shocked inhale echoed throughout my mind on
