Part 5, Chapter 5 The Sea of Sands Summary

A dark, cold time comes. Toby is almost out of food. He comes upon a man and a little girl, camping by a deserted building. The girl has her upper lip and tongue frozen to a cold pipe. They cannot risk a fire, which will draw mechs. There is no water nearby. Finally, Toby explains the solution to the man. He urinates on his daughter's lip, and it comes free. The girl says she can't even taste the urine, but Toby thinks she is lying.

Toby walks into shifting dunes. He calls to his Aspects and Faces, but they do not answer. A group of spindly rods overtakes him. Toby realizes he is in a trap devised by the Mantis. Finally, Isaac replies. He says that the mechs are an anthology intelligence, and...