Chapter 6

“That was fast,” said Henry in a dull voice. Levi took that as a good sign.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Does everyone die that fast?”

“Don’t be an idiot, Henry,” said Asa, pressing some sort of soft metal over the nick and pulling out the fountain pen. With a twist the tip began to glow, first red, then yellow, then white, and he held it to his leg to weld the metal together.

“You’rethe idiot,” said Henry, snagging up the parcel from where it had fallen next to him on the seat and clutching it. He glared at Asa, seemingly no longer disturbed about the body. “You should have figured out a better way to transport the plans. Father thought something like this would happen.”

“That’s the last time I speak on your behalf, then,” said Asa. “He didn’t want you along at all, remember?”

“You’re arguing with a twelve-year-old,” said Levi.

“I’m thirteen,” said Henry, voice a snarl Levi would have thought him incapable of making.