The fewer hounds we see, the better. I don’t know how long they’ll listen to me if I’m leaving,” Kingsley told them, as the train began to slow down. The land outside was the same dusty desert as from the beginning of their journey, Oliver noted. He wasn’t looking forward to perform-ing another superhuman trick, which came so easily to the two vampires; but he supposed he didn’t have a choice. “Ladies first,” Oliver said, letting Mimi have the window. She pulled herself to the edge and then flew off, rolling into a ball as she fell onto the sand. She looked up at them. “It’s not bad! Come on!” Oliver tried to do the same, but instead of rolling, he fell hard on his ankle, which twisted on the landing. Kingsley leapt next, and fell on his feet, standing, of course. He helped Oliver up. “Is it broken?” he asked, meaning the ankle. “No. Just sprained, I think,” Oliver said, limping a little. They walked away from the tracks and soon came upon a familiar-looking checkpoint—the gas station and sawhorse guarded by the two trolls that Mimi and Oliver had first en-countered on their journey into the underworld.
