He hauled himself upright, eager to vanish—and as he stood he saw the sprawling grounds, the heaving mass of people, and then, through a part in the clouds, a rising swarm of locusts. It made for a dizzying horror show, like a surreal confetti spattered across the sky. Cyrus drew a sharp breath. “What is it?” asked Hazan. “What’s happening?” He clambered to his feet, peering into the distance as the locusts slowly dispersed. It had been a message, received. “She’s awake,” Cyrus whispered.
