Would a loving god truly divine ants of all things? Certainly, it took all types in the world, and he supposed a lot of things went awry after Eden, but truly. Ants?

An army of six-legged vermin were trekking through his brain, marching on still as Elijah cited his distraction. Not knowing what to say, insecure about his wit, and by the way – it was utterly imperative Elijah think he was thinking something wittier, cleverer, than what if I get ants up my pant leg again?’

He had the vague sense that he should reassure Elijah about … something? Existing? Not existing? Not being an ant? EUGH. Ants. Instead:

“Yes,” he agreed, inattentively. “Children. A thousand- children.”

Zechariah smiled, then remembered Elijah was feeling insecure, and so frowned sympathetically.