“Niten’s hand moved and the ragged end of the broken katana caught the crocodile in the center of the chest. Eyes wide, mouth gaping in surprise, it staggered back into the fog. “You talk too much,” Niten whispered.”

“You're surprised at all the blood.He looks over at you, eyes wide, mouth dropping open, his face almost as white as his shirt.He's surprised, too.”

“His eyes moved over my face again before they caught mine and he whispered back, “Gone for you.”

“And the pain is too much it's too much it's too much and my hands are on my head and I'm rearing back and my mouth is open in a never-ending wordless wail of all the blackness that's inside me.And i fall back into it.”

“Then I’ll go keep our crocodile friends busy.” Niten’s teeth flashed in a smile. “I’ll try to leave a few for you.” He stepped away and faded into the night.“Be careful,” Prometheus called.A disembodied voice drifted out of the fog. “I was born for this. What’s the worst that could happen?”“You could be killed and eaten by the Spartoi.”“Doesn’t frighten me.”

“People move too fast and talk too much, and before you know it, they come back to a place they don't want to be - except now they know there's nowhere left to run.”