“The Temple of Dendur," Zia said. "Actually it was built by the Romans - ""When they occupied Egypt," Carter said, like this was delightful information. "Augustus commissioned it.""Yes," Zia said."Fascinating," I murmured. "Would you two like to be left alone with a history textbook?”

“I woke to a bucket of ice water in my face.“Sadie! Get up,” Zia said.“God!” I yelled. “Was that necessary?”“No,” admitted Zia.”

“Carter, not to be unkind," I said, "but the last few months you've been seeing messages about Zia everywhere. Two weeks ago, you thought she was sending you a distress call in your mashed potatoes.""It was a Z! Carved right in the potatoes!”

“Tell you what," I said. "After the testing after the Demon Days, when things settle down -""Things won't settle down.""- I'm going to take you to the mall."She blinked. "The mall? For what reason?""To hang out," I said. "We'll get some hamburgers. See a movie."Zia hesitated. "Is this what you'd call a 'date'?"My expression must have been priceless, because Zia actually cracked a smile. "You look like a cow hit with a shovel.”

“Oh, god,” I said. “Sorry, sorry. Do I die now?”--Sadie to Zia”

“Egypt is the First Nome. New York is the twenty-first. What’s the last one, the Three-hundred-and-sixtieth?”“That would be Antarctica,” Zia said. “A punishment assignment. Nothing there but a couple of cold magicians and some magic penguins.”“Magic penguins?”“Don’t ask.”