Into the Fire (36 page)

Delilah gave a cheer from the back, the kids joined in, but Lena looked at me a little quizzically.

“Finally,” I added, as if to reassure her, but I could see she still wasn't entirely convinced.

When we got to the top of the hills, we found a lookout point and stopped, everyone tumbling out of the limo, anxious to say goodbye to the City. Even in the dark, you could see how much less smoke there was, and fewer fires. We could only spot a couple of really big ones, and the others looked to be dwindling, on their way to dying, all that concrete and construction material impregnated with rogue rocket fuel finally degrading to nothing.

Lena came up behind me, carefully putting her arm around my waist, anxious not to cause me any pain. “You okay?” she asked.

“Fine.”

“You've gone a little quiet.”

“Too much excitement for an old guy,” I told her.

She smiled, though I still wasn't sure she was convinced. “I'm so happy, Clancy,” she told me, maybe thinking I needed a little reassurance.

“Me, too,” I said, just about managing a quick squeeze.

I'd already decided I wasn't gonna let it upset me, nor anyone else, come to that. I mean, maybe I was wrong—maybe there was another explanation? In any case, sometimes when people get stunned they end up having a heart attack and dying anyway. As far as I was concerned, Nora Jagger was dead, and that was an end
to it—where we were going, it wasn't gonna affect us one way or the other.

“You sure you're okay?” Lena asked. “You took a bit of a beating.”

“Nah,” I replied, male pride winning out over the simmering fire that was my pain. “I was more worried about you and the baby. How hard she threw you up against that wall.”

We kissed and I had my first go at gently stroking her stomach. Lena laughed for maybe the first time since I found her in that hospital bed, and I fell in love with her all over again. And again.

Was she really the only woman in the City capable of producing a baby? Surely not; there had to be others—'cuz if there weren't, they were gonna come after her for sure, and we'd never be safe, no matter where we went.

Thing is, I didn't want any of this, and nor, I was sure, did she. We just wanted normality, to find somewhere nice to raise a family and have a full and happy life. What else would you expect from a simple old big guy? What could possibly bring him greater pleasure? Nothing I know.

“We'd better go,” I said, not wanting to chance staying any longer.

“Take a last look,” Delilah called over, and we all paused for a moment and did exactly as she suggested, gazing down at the smoky, smoldering carpet of a city, wishing that hell-hole the meanest of farewells.

“Think I can see the Square,” Delilah said. “Over there.”

I nodded, though actually the direction she was pointing seemed all wrong to me.

The kids turned back toward the limo, Jimmy and Delilah tagging on behind, but when I went to follow, Lena suddenly stopped, gripping my hand so tightly her nails were digging into my flesh.

“What's the matter?” I asked, but she never replied, just remained perfectly still. “Lena?”

“I can't see anything.”

“Yeah, well, I think that's Delilah's fanciful imagination,” I told her. “The Square's over there.”

“No, Clancy! When I got thrown . . . I've gone blind again.”

Where to start? Where to finish?

First, of course, I have to thank the seemingly imperturbable Jo Fletcher for giving me the opportunity to finally see my words in print. Also Dorie Simmonds for getting me that opportunity. For their tireless efforts, I have to thank my editors—Jo again, Nicola and Talya. I also have to thank Sam Copeland at RCW for being my unofficial counselor at the end of the phone and listening to my tales of bemusement regarding the publishing industry—again much appreciated.

The Longest-Running Support Award must surely go to my family—my mother and brother. I also owe a mighty debt of gratitude to Rob for kindly giving me a roof over my head when I first moved to London. And finally, I would be very remiss if I didn't thank Angela Etschmayer for not only her encouragement, but also her invaluable assistance in trying to bring my books to the attention of the book-buying public.

That's not everyone, of course: warmest thanks go to all friends who've supported me in this venture and bought my books. I hope I can repay you one day.