Whole Pieces by Ronie Kendig Page B

was. “I’m doing the best I can.”
    â€œAnd clearly that is not good enough, now is it? You’ve used nearly the entire seven hours, and still you haven’t succeeded.” He let out a long-suffering sigh. “In fact, I am so disappointed, I’m tempted to let Death come. I had convinced him to look elsewhere for another soul, but perhaps your time is up?”
    â€œYou can’t be serious. I still have time.”
    â€œI want my watch back, Haytham.”
    â€œPromise me more time.”
    â€œThieves have no bargaining power.”
    Hawk closed his hand over the piece. “Then I keep it.”
    Thomas tilted his head and looked over Hawk’s shoulder. “Would you prefer to explain to him . . . ?”
    Glancing back, Hawk saw only the starless sky. He scanned the veil of clouds . . . Wait. His heart jammed as what he saw registered. Not a starless sky with thin clouds. But a creature, subtle yet obvious, drifting closer, hovering, descending.
    â€œOh, merciful God . . . ”
    â€œYes, that he is, but let’s keep this between us and Grumpy Ghoul, shall we?” All too pleased with the situation, Constant let out a chuckle that danced on the stream of time. He waved his fingers in a give-me manner.
    Without the watch, what would happen? He couldn’t peek into the outcomes. He couldn’t correct this. But if he didn’t give up the timepiece, then Death . . .
    The harbinger lurked in the darkness, dropping closer and closer.
    â€œYou do realize it’s perfectly within my power and rights since you resorted to petty thieving to cancel what you have left—”
    â€œYou can’t do that!” Hands fisted, Hawk drew himself up straight.
    â€œOh, I can. I most certainly can.”
    â€œNo! Please, you can’t. I need the hours I have left. I’ve got to change this.” He motioned to the men around him . . . and stilled. Nobody seemed to be moving. Or talking. Or anything. Were they frozen? Was that how this conversation was taking place without anyone noticing?
    Time is frozen.
    God, please . . . The team hadn’t been saved. In fact, things were worse. There had to be a way. A route to take that would alter this.
    What if the original route was the right one?
    No. Absolutely not. He couldn’t accept that. Wouldn’t believe that it had been right for six men to lose their lives.
    â€œI want those last two and a half hours.” Hawk braved the storm that was Thomas Constant’s face. “I was wrong—to steal the watch—but these men around you, their lives are worth everything. I want to save them.”
    â€œWhat if they aren’t supposed to be saved?”
    Haunted that Constant had voiced a thought that had just flitted through his mind, Hawk shook his head. “I won’t accept that.”
    â€œIt is not for you to accept or deny.” He narrowed his eyes. “Haytham, you do realize the difference between a gift of time and the ability to override the power of the Creator.”
    â€œOh, what? Getting religious now? A few minutes ago you wanted to leave him out of this.”
    Was Thomas growing? Where had all this light that illuminated his face come from? How could Constant’s face be illuminated and yet darken with anger? His lips pulled taut. His chest rose and fell unevenly. Then he snapped his gaze away. “Alas, I’m a gentleman, and gentlemen do not steal from those who have given gifts to them—”
    â€œI apologized!”
    Constant held up a hand. “—nor do they allow those below them to badger and manipulate them into getting their way—”
    â€œI just want to save my men!”
    An icy finger slid down the back of Hawk’s neck. Colder still, it traced his spine. Prickling dread drenched Hawk. He stretched his neck.
    Constant was glowering now. “And I most