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Small Bob crouched as the monster examined them. The woolly mammoth–goat thing lowered its head just like Small Bob had, and the two creatures locked eyes.
Come on, Nico thought.You can do this,Small Bob.
The monster made the first move, charging the tiger. Nico grabbed Will and yanked him out of the way.
It was just in time for Small Bob to leapup, rather than to the side. He landed on the creature’s neck, under the ridge of bones, and bit down on a fleshy spot. The creature cried out in pain, and Nico knew this was his only chance. He sprang forward, his swordready, and jammed its point into the monster’s leg with a quick and deep jab, then ripped it free. The monster immediately stumbled, falling on its bleeding knee, which was when Nico heard the impossible.
‘Leave Carlalone!’
Nico spun around to find that the other shaggy creature had stepped back over the Acheron.
And had spoken.
‘That’s unfair!’ the monster said. ‘He’s going to get a head start!’
Carl whimpered. (The monster’s name isCarl? Nico thought.) ‘Don’t worry about me, Bartholomew! I’llstillbeat you this time!’
‘You’recheating, bro!’ Bartholomew yelled back. ‘You’re just jealous my collection isbetter!’
‘What in Hades’s name is going on?’ said Nico, lowering his sword. ‘You two cantalk?’
Bartholomew scoffed. ‘That’s a fine question to askafteryou just stabbed my bro in the knee!’
Small Bob hopped down off the monster’s back and slunk over to Nico, his maw soaked with blood. Moments later, he turned back into a calico. A veryconfusedcalico.
‘Nico, I know Tartarus is a bizarre place,’ said Will, ‘but please tell me I’m not hallucinating.’
‘You’re not hallucinating,’ he said.
‘Are theytalking?’
Carl panted on the ground. ‘Iamright here,’ he said. ‘You don’t have to talk about me like I’ve already died, dude.’
Bartholomew plodded over to his friend. ‘But you’re about to,’ he whined. ‘Did you plan this? Is this a set-up, bro?’
‘Oh, so you think I somehow found this guy and brought him to Tartarus so he could resurrect us?’ Carl laughed weakly. ‘Even you know that’s absurd, bro.’
‘Could someonepleaseexplain to us what’s happening?’ Nico cried. ‘Whatareyou two?’
Bartholomew lowered himself to sit next to Carl. ‘We areaeternae!’ he said. ‘Surely you’ve heard of us.’
Nico shook his head, but Will was nodding.
‘Alexander the Great wrote about you!’ said Will excitedly. ‘You killed a bunch of his men over in India.’
Carl grunted. ‘Gods, he was soannoying.’
‘Always said he never lost a battle,’ added Bartholomew. ‘And yet we easily destroyed, like, half his army without them killing a single one of us.’
‘I guesswedon’t count,’ whined the other aeterna.
Bartholomew snuggled closer. ‘You count to me, bro.’
‘Bro,’ said Carl. ‘That’s … That’s so nice of you to say.’
‘Am I drunk?’ said Will. ‘I’m drunk. Menoetes put wine in the nectar, I know it.’
Nico ignored Will. ‘I’m … I’m still lost. Why are youmadat Carl for dying?’ Then he turned to Carl. ‘And why do you seem towantto die?’
