Accidentally Expecting! by Lucy Gordon Page B

that.
    Having mounted the balcony, he climbed up onto the rail and leapt upwards. It was only a small distance, but it was enough to take him to the base of the next balcony where he did the same thing, managing to climb up there too.
    One more to go. Thank goodness, Ferne thought, that he was so tall and so long in the leg. A shorter man could never have managed those leaps.
    Now he was there, soothing the child. But how was he going to descend with him? Those watching below saw Dante take a hard, considering look down, then nod as though the decision was made. He turned and knelt down so that the child could climb onto his back; his arms wound tightly about Dante’s neck. The next moment he’d swung over the balcony, going down the iron railings inch by inch until he reached the bottom and hung there.
    Everyone below held their breath, wondering what he could possibly do now. He soon showed them, swinging back and forth until he could risk releasing the rail, and taking a flying leap onto the balcony below. It seemed an impossibletrick, yet he managed it, throwing himself forward at the last minute so that he landed on his knees, and that the child on his back was safe and unhurt.
    Nearly done. One more leap before they reached the safety of the ladder. Could he make it, or would they both plunge to earth? Down below hands were raised up as if everyone feared the worst and would try to catch them.
    Dante didn’t hesitate, swinging over the balcony, working his way down the railings, then taking the leap. A roar broke from the crowd as he landed safely.
    A man had climbed the ladder and now reached out to take Nico, helping him down to safety while Dante remained on the balcony, breathing hard. Cheers and applause broke out as the child reached the ground, but nobody could relax until his rescuer was also safe. At last Dante reached for the ladder and climbed down to a deafening roar.
    Ferne felt the tears pouring down her cheeks. She couldn’t have said why she was weeping, whether it was fear for Dante or pride in him, but she was filled with feelings that threatened to explode.
    He gave her a brief smile and went to the mother, who was in transports of delight, uttering passionate thanks that seemed to embarrass him. She was clinging to the child, who seemed dazed and unresponsive, but who suddenly seemed to awaken and look around him, searching for something. When he didn’t find it, he began to scream.
    ‘Pini?’ he cried. ‘Pini! He’ll die— he’ll die! ’
    ‘Is that another child?’ Ferne asked. ‘Does he mean someone’s still in there?’
    ‘No, Pini is his puppy,’ said his mother. ‘He must be out here somewhere.’
    ‘No, no !’ Nico sobbed. ‘He’s still in there. He’ll die.’
    His mother tried desperately to soothe him.
    ‘ Caro , it can’t be helped. Nobody can risk their life for a dog.’
    Nico began to scream. ‘Pini! Pini, Pini…!’
    ‘He’s probably dead already,’ somebody said. ‘He must have been overcome by the smoke—he won’t have suffered.’
    ‘No, there !’ came a shout from the crowd.
    Everyone looked up, gasping at the sight of the little dog appearing at the window. He was barking and looking around him in fear and bewilderment. Screams rose from the crowd as his inevitable fate approached, and Nico began to struggle, trying to escape.
    ‘Pini, Pini—I’m coming!’
    ‘No!’ cried his mother, clutching him tightly.
    ‘Stay there,’ Dante said sharply. ‘Just don’t move.’
    The next moment he was running headlong back to the building.
    There were more screams from the crowd as they realised what he meant to do.
    ‘He’s crazy—does he want to be killed? Does he know what he’s doing? Stop him!’
    But Ferne had seen the reckless determination in his eyes and knew that nothing could have stopped him. Terrified, she watched as he reached the house and began climbing up the ladder through the smoke that now seemed to surround everything. Every