Nadia shakes her head. “Not yet. I have to focus to gain insights like that. And I prefer not to. I don’t like knowing such details.”

“You say you can see the future before it happens,” Raz says slowly. “But if that is true, surely you can act to change it.”

“No. It’s not that specific. I might, for instance, see that you’ll die in a fire, but I won’t know when or where it will happen. My insights are never something that can be altered. If I get a glimpse of a future event, it’s because it has in some way already happened. It can’t be undone or prevented.

“But it is possible to use my gift to our advantage—that is, to Beranabus’ advantage.” She goes quiet, staring at her fingernails. Most are bitten down to the quick, except the smallest nail on her left hand. Maybe she’s saving it for an especially stressful moment.

“There is a weapon,” Nadia whispers, and we have to lean in to hear. “A demonic weapon, maybe legendary, maybe real—Beranabus doesn’t know. They call it the Kah-Gash. According to the legends it’s ancient, even by the standards of the Demonata. We’re talking millions of years. It was broken up into a number of pieces aeons ago and they’ve been missing ever since.”

“How many pieces?” Raz asks.

“We don’t know. We don’t think any demon knows either. But certain demon masters have been looking for them ever since. Beranabus is searching for the pieces too. Because whatever the Kah-Gash is, the legends claim it has the power to destroy universes. They say it can wipe out either the universe of the Demonata and every demon in it—or our own, and everyone in that.”

“What weapon could be so powerful?” Raz gasps. “Even a nuclear missile cannot destroy an entire universe.”

Nadia shrugs. “If I had the answer, I’d know more than Beranabus or any of the Demonata. But I know this much—one of the pieces will soon be found. I’ve seen it.” She starts chewing at the smallest nail on her left hand. “Beranabus has had me concentrating on the Kah-Gash ever since he brought me here. I spend hours of every day brooding about it, running the word through my thoughts, trying to find out where the pieces might be.

“A few days ago I had an insight. I sensed that part of the Kah-Gash was going to be discovered in the near future. I caught a glimpse of a demon—Cadaver. Words popped into my thoughts—‘The demon thief will guide you. Find the thief.’ ”

Find the thief. That’s what Mrs. Egin said when she was freaking out, and just before she exploded! I start to tell the others, but Sharmila speaks up before me.

“Cadaver stole the baby—Kernel’s brother.”

Nadia nods. “Beranabus was ecstatic when that happened. It confirmed that we were on the right track, that Cadaver was a demon thief.”

“So that’s what this is about,” Raz says, nudging my right arm. (It doesn’t hurt now. It’s been healed by magic.) “Nadia and the master came for me—having already collected Sharmila—a day or so ago. The master said he had need of me, but didn’t say what he wanted me for. Now I see—it was to help search for the Kah-Gash.”

“But I don’t see what difference you or I can make,” Sharmila frowns. “Were we in your vision, Nadia?”

“No.”

“Then why involve us? If Beranabus has searched for this weapon by himself all these years, why come to us for help now.”

“Because of what I saw and sensed,” Nadia mumbles. “If we pursue this, there will be a confrontation. I caught glimpses of a battle with forces greater than our own.” She pulls her finger away from her mouth. Sets both hands on her knees. Looks at each of us slowly, one after the other, as she speaks. “Beranabus didn’t tell you about this because there was no time. But I doubt he would have told you anyway, in case he frightened you away.”

“I’m not frightened of a fight,” Raz snorts.

“I am,” Sharmila says. “But I would fight regardless, if Beranabus asked me. He knows that. I have fought before. Raz too. You said that is why he chose us.”

“Yes. But it wasn’t just a fight that I sensed.” Nadia lowers her eyes and looks at the hands on her knees. They’re trembling, but only slightly. She stares at them hard. When they stop trembling, she looks up at us and says directly, without any emotion, “I also sensed death.”

Nadia falls silent. She squats with her face averted. Raz and Sharmila look anxious and move away to discuss the revelation in whispers. I stay where I am, watching Beranabus work. I’m not that disturbed by Nadia’s prediction. This is all crazy anyway. Death’s only to be expected in a place like this.

Beranabus is having difficulties with the window. The patches of light are slotting into place, but slowly. And while most of the patches he’s joined together are pulsing at the same rate, some aren’t. If he could see the lights, it would be simple, but he can’t. He has to create the window using complicated, time-consuming spells.

I can’t understand why the magician and the others can’t see the lights. They’re more powerful and experienced than me. So why am I the only one who can view the assembly of the window?

While I’m pondering that, a few more patches of light slot into place. A shimmer runs through the panel. The various colours vibrate a few times in unison. Then they all turn yellow and stop pulsing.

“Ah!” Beranabus grunts. He turns, claps his hands to get everyone’s attention, then waves at the window of yellow light, now visible for all to see. Raz and Sharmila approach with suspicion. Nadia hangs back.

“Do you know what is through there?” Sharmila asks.

“Another world,” Beranabus says.

“Can you be more specific?”

He shrugs. “I was searching for Cadaver, not a specific world. Until we pass through the window, I’ve no way of telling where we’ll emerge.” He raises a bushy eyebrow. “Nervous, Miss Mukherji?”

“Nadia told us about her vision,” Raz mutters, gaze lowered. “About the Kah-Gash and your quest. She said there would be fighting and death.”

Beranabus snorts. “That girl should learn to keep her mouth shut.” He glares at Nadia, then shrugs. “You chance death every time you face a demon. That’s nothing new.”

“But we have been told that on this occasion it definitely lies in wait,” Sharmila says. “That is different.”

“Not really,” Beranabus says. “Nadia has no idea who will die. It could be anyone—you, her, me, the boy. Maybe it will be all of us.” Beranabus looks at the window and scowls. “You can quit if you wish. I’ve no time for cowards. But consider this—the Kah-Gash can destroy a universe. If you withdraw and the piece of the weapon we’re chasing falls into the hands of the Demonata…”

“You really believe the Kah-Gash exists?” Sharmila asks.

“Aye.”

Sharmila and Raz share an uneasy glance then Raz nods, followed—after a pause of several seconds—by Sharmila.

“How about you, Fleck?” Beranabus turns his small dark eyes on me. This is the first really close look I’ve had of him. His skin is pale, but covered in dirt and grime. Lots of wrinkles, and a few old scars and blemishes. Untidy black hair, clumps of grey and white, his beard trimmed unevenly. His hands are clean, in contrast with the rest of him, but the tight flesh round his knuckles is covered by lots of blotches and faded scars. Dusty, dirty clothes. He wears a small flower in a buttonhole on his jacket, which looks pathetically out of place. Several of his teeth are missing, and the rest are crooked and rotten. He smells bad, like something that has half decomposed. I don’t like him and I don’t trust him. But he’s the only hope I have of finding Art.

“I’m coming,” I say, trying to sound more positive than I feel.

“Then it’s decided,” Beranabus says and steps through the yellow window. Sharmila follows, then Nadia—reluctantly, chin low.