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‘Oh, bro, it’s so cool!’ said Carl. ‘When we die, that’s when we collect bones for our defences. I’m gonna get so many more bones than Bartholomew, dude!’
‘Only because you’re getting a head start!’ screamed Bartholomew. ‘Now I gotta go find a battle that will end in my death, dude. Those dog-headed monsters were, like,waytoo easy, man!’
At the exact same time, both Carl and Bartholomew turned their heads to Nico, then looked down at his glowing Stygian iron sword.
‘Bro,’ said Carl.
‘Bro,’ said Bartholomew.
‘Oh, no,’ said Nico. ‘No, no, no. Don’t even think of it.’
‘It’ll be so easy!’ said Bartholomew. He then fully lay down andstretched out his neck. ‘Just make it real quick, and then it will be a fair race.’
‘I’ll still beat you, dude,’ said Carl.
‘Asif. I’m gonna find so many bones that myboneswill have bones!’
‘Oh, yeah?’ Carl coughed, and blood trickled from his mouth. ‘My bones won’t just have bones, but while you’re asleep they’re gonnastealyour bones.’
‘Bro, I’d like to see you try!’
Will’s jaw was practically on the mossy ground. ‘I think I may never recover from this.’
‘I’m not going to kill you, Bartholomew,’ said Nico. ‘I just thought you were going to kill us. That’s the only reason we attacked Carl.’
‘Bro, it’s almost time,’ said Carl. ‘I’ll see you on the other side!’
‘Not fair!’ cried Bartholomew, and he raised his head, glaring at Nico. ‘Come on, dude, just kill me!’
Nico dropped his sword, his face twisted in bewilderment. ‘This is too much,’ he said. ‘I can’twillinglykill someone like that!’
‘Why not? You basically killed Carl. What’s one more?’
Will tugged on Nico’s bomber jacket. ‘Let’s just go, Nico.’
At that, Bartholomew fully rose and roared at both of them. And once again Nicoreallyhated how many teeth were in his mouth.
‘You don’t have a choice!’ the aeterna bellowed. ‘If you don’t kill me, I’ll eat you both!’
Which is the exact moment when Nico realized that Small Bob was no longer around. He looked down, then around him, and then he was too late.
Small Bob – now back to sabre-toothed-tiger form – leaped from behind and clawed his way up Bartholomew’s body. The aeterna roared, but mostly because he was surprised.
There was nothing Nico could do as Small Bob ripped out the monster’s throat.
He fell to the ground alongside his friend.
‘Bro,’ Carl groaned. ‘You did it.’
‘Just for you, bro,’ said Bartholomew.
‘You’re the coolest, dude.’
‘No,youare.’
Moments later, there was silence. Small Bob trotted over to Nico, looking quite pleased with himself. He shrank until he was back to a calico cat, then rubbed his blood-covered face on Nico’s boots.
The bodies of the two aeternae sank into the earth of Tartarus. The last thing Nico saw of Carl was a lone, bony hand, disappearing into the dirt, its thumb raised in approval.
