27

Katariki glances around the rooftop. "Well, okay. But I'm here if you need me. Remember that. Please."

"I think we'll manage fine by ourselves," you say, a touch frostily.

"If you say so."

You sigh. "Clearly something here is bothering you. If you have a suggestion to make, do so. Quickly."

"No, no. You're fine. More or less," Katariki says. "Listen, when the portal opens up, the Surgeons won't arrive at once. We'll have several minutes to shut it down—and, if possible, to do enough damage to prevent them from ever reopening it. It's vital that we—"

But Katariki never finishes his sentence. Just then, in the sky above you, the air begins to distort, and tear itself apart.

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