Pages 246-277 Summary

At the university library, Windle continues to research the "lives of cities," but with little result. He ponders what it means for a city to be "alive" and reasons that, if it is alive, then there must exist predators which prey upon cities. By his logic, such a predator would grow within the city itself and then break out to absorb the city's essence. He finally decides it would be more of a parasite. With this in mind, Windle departs.

The wizards run for their lives just ahead of a silver tidal wave of trolleys. Soon finding themselves surrounded, they ready their spells for a final stand. It's no use. No matter how many trolleys they obliterate, there are still more trolleys. Finally, their spells expended, and with the trolleys closing in, the wizards try desperately to think of an idea...