They walked slowly back up the stairs, neither one of them wanting to step through the charred mess which had once been a human being.
“I don’t know how I could deal with much more myself,” Margery agreed. “Is there any more?” She was looking at him apprehensively.
There was. “Your barrenness is ended,” Norm said, surprised at the words tumbling forth from his mouth. “You shall bear a son. His name shall be—”
She turned quickly and put her fingers to his lips. After a moment, he nodded. They had gone through enough today. Beyond them lay time and, perhaps, that which was beyond time.