A little while later, looking discouraged but thoughtful, he returns, nodding the three of us across to a relatively quiet spot.
“He’s unconscious,” he begins, “suffering from smoke inhalation, but the medics say he should survive. It seems he was trapped in the chaos and didn’t get out with the others. I’m having him taken to a secure medical facility and there, as soon as he’s fit to speak, he’ll be interrogated. I’ll keep you informed.” He scans the three of us, caution in his eyes. “Did you get Charlotte and Beth away safely?”
“Yes,” says Richard, “And right now, I, and the pilot are the only ones who know where they are. I’ve had them taken out of the City and, no offence, Will, but I’m not telling you where to.”
Michael folds his arms, watching his feet as he taps a toe.
Will nods. “I understand. I’ll be in touch.” He turns and leaves. “Corby! I want to know the minute we hear from the hospital….”
*****
Richard watches him in the mirror as he drives. “Michael, calm down. I spoke with the pilot. They’re fine.”
“I know, but….”
“It’s not the same until you see them, I know.”
Michael has barely spoken for the entire journey. Instead, he sits staring out of the back windows, gnawing on his knuckles.
And I’ll feel better myself when I see her.
*****
The door clicks open.
They’re there, Beth sitting, Charlotte standing, looking very much as though she is in ‘pacing the room like a tiger’ mode. But as heads turn and they see us, both faces light up.
Richard pushes past, sweeping Beth into his arms then, without a word takes her to the next room.
simply gazes at
My Jade….
You’re safe….
and her eyes, warm and soft, green as mist over grass, simply meet with mine. We don’t
her. She almost vanishes into his embrace. It’s at times like this that
God, Charlotte. You’re okay. I’m
quivers. Burying his face into her hair and shoulder, “I shouldn’t have said what I did. Please, whatever happens from now on, you must always do what you think is the right
me and I just give her a get-on-with-it flick of
doesn’t matter what I promised. You didn’t think I was going to hang around when the building was
continuing “I was quite sure
but
Now what?
face out of
*****
Six Years Ago
a farming community spread over many miles. It sits in a grassy acre,
pew. Everyone is wearing ‘Sunday Best’ and just outside the door stands a young woman, tall, slender, copper-haired under the brilliant blue skies, and
collar that must surely be cutting into his neck, stands close by. And inside
who was her
handsome, blue-eyed and
who defended her, then taught her to
asked her to
who waits inside for
the skirts of