a microphone squeals somewhere , so loud i clap my hands over my ears . the fate of the others - my people and yours - can be settled after we lock blades . he stood with both chairs , looking in control . `` how many bullets can he possibly have ? '' snakes and worms and the old kind of dragons , the kind whose heavy scales scrape the ground and who spit poison when they breathe . i wish you had told me this would happen . '' `` no , i do n't think he was trying to . 