"Do you need the shell?" Cuthbert asks, intent and serious. Susan's glance flicks back and forth between them, wide-eyed and unafraid. Alain considers for a moment, then nods. "Best we not risk I not reach far enough otherwise, not for this. Make sure she can hear all of us."

Cuthbert nods, draws one of the weapons at his hips, and shucks a bullet from it into his fingers. He hunkers down on his heels in front of Susan and gives her a quick smile. "You know how this goes. Watch the shell, Sue. Watch it close, I beg." As he talks, he makes it dance back and forth over his fingers, deft and nimble, and light winks off the casing. Back and forth, back and forth. "That's it-- gods."

For Susan, watching the flickering light from the shell, is already gone. Her lashes flutter as fog-gray eyes close. Cuthbert swallows hard. "Do ye hear me, Susan?"

"I do." Soft but clear, in a dreamy tone. "Cuthbert Allgood of Gilead. I hear ye, 'Bert."

"Good girl," he murmurs. "There's two others here with me as well. Alain, and Caspian. I'd have you hear them when they speak, as well as myself."

He nods to Caspian.