“Josh: I didn't know....Nicholas: No reason why you should have - except that your ignorance could have gotten you killed... or worse.”

“Niten's eyes didn't move, but a trace of a smile curled his lips. "I do not need my eyes to tell me where I'm going.""I have no idea what that means," Josh said. "Is it like some sort of ninja trick?"Niten shot Josh a warning look. "Whatever you do, don't mention-"It was too late. In the backseat Aoife stirred. "Ninjas," she spat. "Why is everyone so obsessed with ninjas? They were never that good. And they were cowards, sneaking around in their black pajamas, stabbing their victims with poisoned darts. I hate ninjas-they have no honor.”

“There have always been people like you, Nicholas Flamel. People who think they know what's best, who decide what people should see and read and listen to, who ultimately try to shape how the rest of the world think and acts. I've spent my entire life fighting the likes of you.”

“What's the problem?" Josh demanded. "I can used my aura and just...""..just reveal our location to everyone," Dee snapped. "No, I forbid it.""Well,if you have a genius plan, now's the time to reveal it," Josh said nervously.”

“I am not talking about immortality now," Perenelle said, her Breton accent thickening. "We have lived for centuries, Nicholas, centuries. I am not afraid to die because I know that when we go, we will go together. It is living without you that would be unbearable.”

“OK," Josh said evenly, "I've seen men made of mud, I guess I can accept spying rats. Do they talk?" he wondered aloud.Don't be ridiculous," Flamel snapped, "They're rats."Josh really didn't think it was a ridiculous suggestion.”

“So we have to make sure we stop it here," he said."Exactly. Well,you asked me to get you as close to the water as possible.I presume you have a plan?""My love,I always have a plan."They heard footsteps rattling behind them and turned as Prometheus and Niten came hurrying up. They were both carrying fishing rods over their shoulders.The slender Japanese man grinned. "Do not ask him how much it cost to hire these," he said."How much?" Nicholas asked."Too much," Prometheus answered furiously. "I could have bought an entire fishing boat,or at least a very good fish dinner,for what it cost to rent them for a couple of hours," he grumbled. "Plus a deposit in case we don't bring them back.""What's the plan?" Niten asked. He held out an empty bucket. "We can'nt really go fishing. We don't have bait.""Oh,but we do." Nicholas smiled. "You are our bait.”