"What is what?" asked Armand. "I don't hear anything." I hadn't taken my eyes from Jesse. "There's more than one. Two at least, right?" "Two," he said. "I hear two." Armand stood. "Two " I sent him a look. "Zeppelins. Headed this way." He stared at us, silent. And really, what could he say? "All right, all right." I chafed my hands nervously up and down my sides, rumpling the shirt. "I can-I can fly up there. Turn to dragon. Claw them open, make them crash." Instinctively, I turned to Jesse, almost plaintive. "Can't I?" He took up my and. I swear I saw the stars brighten around him, a sparkling, silvered nimbus. "Perhaps." "Well, I have to. That's all there is to it. I have to." "No," burst out Armand. "They have guns! Bombs! They'll fill you with holes before you can blink!" "Not if I'm smoke." " can't tear apart a dirigible!"