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"Just like you always done," said Anthony Carter, and smiled into her eyes "Just like you do now You Amy"

Chapter 70

He came to her a final time Or it was she who caoodbye

For Wolgast it began with a sensation of abstract h an infinite space, though bit by bit the scene resolved, its spatial and te, and he beca a bicycle A bicycle! Now, that was strange Why was he on a bicycle? He hadn’t ridden one in years, but he’d loved it as a boy: the feeling of pure freedoh this ast was on a bicycle, riding down a dusty country lane, and Amy was beside him, perched on a bicycle of her own This fact surprised hi else about the scene, it all sirooh the idea of ti had they been riding like this? Soht was always the saht that enriched the colors of everything around hilow: the fields and trees, the dust that rose under his wheels, the s felt very close; everything was far away

"Where are we going?" Wolgast asked

Amy smiled "Oh, it’s notast’s heart was full of war his bicycle at sunset, waiting for the call that would summon him home

"Are you tired?" Amy asked

"Not at all It feels wonderful"

"Why don’t we stop at the crest of the next hill?"

They coasted to a halt A grassy valley opened below them In the distance, nestled by trees, was a house: small, white, like the others, with a porch and black shutters Around and stood together quietly There was no wind at all

"It’s quite a view," Wolgast said Then: "I think I knohere I ae" He took a deep breath and let it out slowly "I don’t really remember how it happened, but I suppose that’s for the best Is it always like this?"

"I’ I had to be brave"

"You were The bravest ood I’uess that’s all a person can ask" He sent his gaze over the valley again "That house I’o there, aren’t I?"

"I believe that you are"

He turned to look at her A second passed; then he broke into a smile of discovery

"Wait a minute You’re in love I can see it in your face"

"I think I aast shook his head onder "I’ll be darown up, in love And does he love you back, this person?"

"I think he does," she said "I hope he does"

"Well, he’d be a fool not to You can tell him I said so"

For a ain His voice was thick with euess I always knew this day would co to miss you, Amy"

"I’llyou I think that’s why I could never bring ht, What will Amy do without me? Funny how in the end it was the other way around I suppose all parents feel that way But it’s different when it’s you" The words caught in his throat "Let’s do this quickly, okay?"

She put her arh perhaps a little bit of sadness "It will be all right, I promise"

"How do you know?"

At the far end of the valley, at the edge of the fields, the door to the house had opened

"Because that’s what heaven is," said Aht and everyone you love is there" She hugged hio ho as I could, but you have to go now They’re waiting for you"

"Who’s waiting, A a baby in her arms Amy backed away and touched his tearstained cheek

She said, "Go see"

Chapter 71

She awoke to the cold and a vision of stars Stars by the hundreds, the thousands, theover her face, and so off the seconds One one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand She tallied the durations of their descents as they plunged across the heavens, and in so doing she ca that the world here she’d left it and she was still alive

How could she be alive?

She sat upright Who knehat ti the sky in blackness Nothing had changed; she was just the same

And yet:

Alicia, come to me

The sound of her name, whispered on the wind

Coone, you will be my one Come to me come to me come to me

She knehose voice this was

Alicia cli on a frosted stand of weeds At the sound of her einning to wonder His great hooves tossed cluait

-You good boy, she said She caressed hisher palms with a scent of earth You splendid, noble boy Hoell you know uess we’re not done, after all

Her pack was lying in the culvert She had no gun, but the bandoliers were there, blades tucked into their sheaths She pulled the leather straps over her chest and cinched theht to her frame She cliue, turning him east

Come to me, Alicia Coht I will, she thought Leaning forward, his greather hands, she heeled Soldier to a trot, then a canter, and finally a gallop, wild through the snow

You bastard Here I come