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An elephant? A mammoth? The creature resembles the one the Apostolic Mound ate, but much larger—a behemoth, with too many trunks (they form a nightmare snarl in front of its face) and too many tusks (some with swords of hammered copper). What you at first consider a howdah is in fact an entire building, like a pagoda, on the creature's back. Tubes of shell and copper and bamboo stick out of the pagoda. They are, you realize, telescope and speaking-tubes, as intricate as anything Control has created here with the help of the Specular.

Someone is standing on the balcony of the pagoda, flanked by Cerulean Guards in metal armor.

Stralchus.

"It's been a long time, Mexihcatl," Stralchus says. "I hear you've made a name for yourself in this half-real world."

He surveys the damage caused by the battle but says nothing about it.

"You heard what my herald said," Stralchus says. "The False Icon will destroy this place and take us with it. But the other Icons are here, and through me, they will save this world. I have learned so much here, Mexihcatl!

"I alone have worked to stop the False Icon, while Euphrasia plays at science, the Empress robs this world, and you plot with savages to take over my Ziggurat! Yes, I know of your ridiculous plan. Do you really think you can succeed?" But you see the worry on his haggard face. He is a feared man, you realize, but also a hated one.