fixers at Hellbane U.
That was located where the blighters were more common for training
purposes, but it created a feast. Once the dinner bell went off
they had a rapid start and could soon overwhelm the defenses.”
“ Because no one fixer was going to be
able to kill more than nine blighters in a row.”
“ That was just an analogy, but
yes.
Something was teasing at her mind. "Do you
need two units? If you only used one you’d be even. If you used
less, you’d be ahead.”
He tossed the remains of his tea to hiss on
the fire. "There’s a thought, but we’re not trained in subtlety. We
see an ant and swing a mallet.”
“ It’s a shame they attack one on one. A
mallet against a bunch of ants…. Well, that’d still be pretty dumb,
but you get the idea.”
“ Yes, and it’s worth thinking about.
I've suggested that all the fixers left gather at Hellbane U to try
to come up with a solution. Something new. There has to be
something."
"You have?" she asked.
"No one else seems to be in charge."
She remembered that he’d said that. She took
his hand. "I'm proud of you."
"I’m groping in the dark."
"No, you’re not. You’re finding lights."
He rested his head against hers. “You give me
strength, Jen. When things were tough at school I used to think of
you, that protecting Gaia meant protecting you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m not worthy of
that.” She unfasten the few buttons he'd done up. “I’m sorry for
not doing this sooner. I was scared.”
“ So was I.”
“ I mean, of you. Of your
magic.”
He slid his hand under her top. “Why not? It
terrifies me.”
They kissed, and love came slowly, gently
this time. Not hard, wild, and desperate, but like a secret flower
in a winter garden, unexpectedly discovered and to be guarded from
a killing frost until it bloomed.
They lay together afterward, talking over
their lives as if creating a garland to treasure. As dawn touched
the sky, she said, "Can I come with you?"
"God, no. Go north."
She thought of lying, but shook her head.
"Win or lose, it doesn't matter, and I'd rather be here."
"You're a stubborn woman, Jenny Hart."
"There's more to life than living, Dan
Rutherford. I'll be here to meet you or the blighters, whichever
comes first."
They dressed, then sat, holding hands,
looking into the dying fire.
"I've never been one for the old Earth
religions,” Jenny said, “but perhaps I'll pray."
"Pray for a bouncing bomb, then."
"What?"
He shook his head. "Just something from an
old film."
When the sun rose she helped him kill his
fire and pack, then walked with him hand in hand to the southern
gate.
She cradled his face and kissed him,
determined not to cry. "Come back. That's an order."
He smiled. "If I possibly can. I’ve coded my
place to let you in. Keep an eye on it for me."
He hesitated only a second more, then walked
up to and through the small, pointlessly guarded postern gate.
Chapter 5
Jenny watched the gate close, then turned
back into the quiet town. She walked to the old building, and put
her hand on the plate.
The door opened.
Despite the night they’d shared, she felt
like an intruder. Or perhaps she was afraid that people would
realize what had happened. She wasn’t ashamed of it, but it was
delicate, not for public attention.
He'd left everything neat. Nothing
unnecessary out in the kitchen. Nothing in the fridge or larder
that might go off. His bed was made, his clothes all clean and put
away.
She flicked her way along the hangers just to
touch things that had touched him, enjoying the hint of him that
lingered even after laundry soap. At the left side, almost out of
sight, she found some clothes that stirred memories.
She dragged them forward. A yellow shirt, a
pair of striped trousers, and a red jacket. Gaudy fashions of ten
years ago, now outgrown. Dan's favorite clothes from before he'd
left Anglia. Tears escaped, because they showed how much he hadn't
wanted to leave, hadn't wanted
That was located where the blighters were more common for training
purposes, but it created a feast. Once the dinner bell went off
they had a rapid start and could soon overwhelm the defenses.”
“ Because no one fixer was going to be
able to kill more than nine blighters in a row.”
“ That was just an analogy, but
yes.
Something was teasing at her mind. "Do you
need two units? If you only used one you’d be even. If you used
less, you’d be ahead.”
He tossed the remains of his tea to hiss on
the fire. "There’s a thought, but we’re not trained in subtlety. We
see an ant and swing a mallet.”
“ It’s a shame they attack one on one. A
mallet against a bunch of ants…. Well, that’d still be pretty dumb,
but you get the idea.”
“ Yes, and it’s worth thinking about.
I've suggested that all the fixers left gather at Hellbane U to try
to come up with a solution. Something new. There has to be
something."
"You have?" she asked.
"No one else seems to be in charge."
She remembered that he’d said that. She took
his hand. "I'm proud of you."
"I’m groping in the dark."
"No, you’re not. You’re finding lights."
He rested his head against hers. “You give me
strength, Jen. When things were tough at school I used to think of
you, that protecting Gaia meant protecting you.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m not worthy of
that.” She unfasten the few buttons he'd done up. “I’m sorry for
not doing this sooner. I was scared.”
“ So was I.”
“ I mean, of you. Of your
magic.”
He slid his hand under her top. “Why not? It
terrifies me.”
They kissed, and love came slowly, gently
this time. Not hard, wild, and desperate, but like a secret flower
in a winter garden, unexpectedly discovered and to be guarded from
a killing frost until it bloomed.
They lay together afterward, talking over
their lives as if creating a garland to treasure. As dawn touched
the sky, she said, "Can I come with you?"
"God, no. Go north."
She thought of lying, but shook her head.
"Win or lose, it doesn't matter, and I'd rather be here."
"You're a stubborn woman, Jenny Hart."
"There's more to life than living, Dan
Rutherford. I'll be here to meet you or the blighters, whichever
comes first."
They dressed, then sat, holding hands,
looking into the dying fire.
"I've never been one for the old Earth
religions,” Jenny said, “but perhaps I'll pray."
"Pray for a bouncing bomb, then."
"What?"
He shook his head. "Just something from an
old film."
When the sun rose she helped him kill his
fire and pack, then walked with him hand in hand to the southern
gate.
She cradled his face and kissed him,
determined not to cry. "Come back. That's an order."
He smiled. "If I possibly can. I’ve coded my
place to let you in. Keep an eye on it for me."
He hesitated only a second more, then walked
up to and through the small, pointlessly guarded postern gate.
Chapter 5
Jenny watched the gate close, then turned
back into the quiet town. She walked to the old building, and put
her hand on the plate.
The door opened.
Despite the night they’d shared, she felt
like an intruder. Or perhaps she was afraid that people would
realize what had happened. She wasn’t ashamed of it, but it was
delicate, not for public attention.
He'd left everything neat. Nothing
unnecessary out in the kitchen. Nothing in the fridge or larder
that might go off. His bed was made, his clothes all clean and put
away.
She flicked her way along the hangers just to
touch things that had touched him, enjoying the hint of him that
lingered even after laundry soap. At the left side, almost out of
sight, she found some clothes that stirred memories.
She dragged them forward. A yellow shirt, a
pair of striped trousers, and a red jacket. Gaudy fashions of ten
years ago, now outgrown. Dan's favorite clothes from before he'd
left Anglia. Tears escaped, because they showed how much he hadn't
wanted to leave, hadn't wanted
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