What a great chapter! I'm loving this series.
Three things I'm expecting next week:
1) Some proper tears from Ray and Emma.
2) A "Now that you're about to die I might as well reveal all my plans to you" sort of talk between Norman and Isabella.
3) Him being offered a position as scientist, similar to how outstanding females are given the chance to become a Mama.
Norman dying.. whew, that would be a statement. A brave step on the author's part for sure, don't know how I'd react; I was already kind of moved by Krone's death. Can't imagine the author killing off Norman already, though. To me, he's been more of a main character than Emma.