Sitting next to the road-in a very nonzombie state-were a couple of men Michelle recognized, Leopard Men who had been transformed when Alicia Nshombo had died. Michelle preferred them in their nonfeline state. She slowed the jeep and yelled, “Joey, I’ve got someone here who needs to meet Adesina. And maybe even you.”
“What the fuck do I care about that, Bubbles?” gurgled one of the zombies.
Moto’s mouth dropped open, and a blast of fire engulfed the zombie.
“God-fucking-damn-it,” came Joey’s voice through the mouth of the burning corpse. “That little fucker just barbecued up my favorite.”
“Oh, please.” Michelle bubbled and blew the flaming zombie into a sloppy mess of bones and rags and blackened meat. “I’m coming in.” She ground the jeep into first and drove into the compound.
The place was looking far better than Michelle had expected. Between Joey’s zombies, the captives, and the staff, they’d cleared away the remains of Alicia Nshombo and her followers. The blood was gone and there was the scent of fresh paint in the air.
Michelle parked the jeep and got out. Joey came out of one of the small houses. A phalanx of zombies immediately surrounded her. “What the fuck do you want?” she asked.
“World peace, an end to hunger, and a frothy cappuccino,” Michelle replied. “Doesn’t look like I’m getting any of it.”
“Who’s the little fucker with the bad breath?”
Moto had scurried out of the jeep to stay close to Michelle. He grabbed her hand and gave Joey a frightened look. “This is Moto,” Michelle said. “Moto, this is Joey.”
“Hello,” he said. There was a little burp of fire, but no more. Michelle gave his hand a squeeze.
Joey shot Michelle a nasty look-something Michelle was used to. Then Joey looked at Moto. She gave him a small smile. He gripped Michelle’s hand tighter, but he smiled back at Joey.
“Where’s Adesina?” Michelle asked.
“Michelle!” Adesina came running up the main path. Well, she skittered. Her pretty face looked strange attached to her insect body. She launched herself into the air and flew awkwardly at Michelle. She’s not used to her wings yet, Michelle thought. She opened her arms, caught Adesina, and embraced her gently.
Adesina touched Michelle’s face with her front legs. A wave of warmth and happiness filled Michelle. This is Moto, Michelle thought. Adesina pulled away and Michelle let her go. A wave of sadness came over Michelle.
Adesina flitted in front of Moto. There was a moment when Michelle was afraid he might accidentally open his mouth and set her on fire. Instead he held out his arm and Adesina landed. He brought her close to his face and she put her legs on his face as she had with Michelle. His anxious expression was replaced with a beatific smile.
“When the fuck are you leavin’?” Joey asked.
Michelle watched Adesina and Moto. It was good. She’d done the right thing bringing him here.
“I’m not sure.” Michelle smiled at Joey. A cheerful Michelle annoyed Joey to no end. “I thought I’d call Juliet and see if she’d like to come join us in this lovely vacation spot.”
Joey’s zombies gave an angry growl. “Why the fuck would you do that?” Joey asked.
“Because the three of us need to sort some stuff out.” Michelle looked back at Adesina and Moto. They seemed to be getting along just fine. “And I’m going to stay here for a while to help out.”
“No fucking way,” Joey said. Her voice was harsh. And she poked Michelle in the back. “Not after what you did to that little fucker-the Mummy.”
“Especially after what happened with her.”
“You fucking killed her,” Joey spat out. “You were supposed to be some kind of hero, and you killed a kid. What the fuck does that make you?”
“Human.” Michelle felt a terrible sadness. “Just like you. Just like everybody else.”
“I’m never going to forgive you,” Joey said.
“That’s okay.” Michelle touched Joey’s cheek, wiping away a tear. “I’m not going to, either.”
“Fucker.”
“Indeed.”
Blythe van Renssaeler
Memorial Clinic Jokertown
Manhattan, New York
As Finn came trotting into the waiting room, the rubber booties that covered his hooves squeaked with every step. “You have a fine healthy baby boy, seven pounds three ounces.”
Noel handed the joker doctor a cigar. He couldn’t quite trust himself to speak just yet.
“More the traditional type, are you? No helping her breathe and count contractions. No video of the blessed event.”
“God no,” said Noel.
Finn laughed at his horrified tone. “Can’t say I blame you. Usually the wife is cussing out the husband, and I have had more than a few of them faint. Men just don’t handle blood as well as women.”
Never was a problem for me. But pray God I’m done with all that now and forever.
“What are you naming him?” Finn asked
“Jasper, after my father. May I see…” Noel’s voice trailed away.
“Niobe’s back in her room and your son is with her. Come on.” Finn led him out of the waiting room and down the hall.
Niobe was in a white lace nightgown she’d brought from home, and a nurse with antennae for eyebrows and faceted eyes like a bumblebee was brushing Niobe’s hair over her shoulders. Noel could see where the hair at her temples was still sweat-dampened. A bundle in a soft blue blanket was in her arms.
She raised her eyes to his, and he’d never seen such an expression of sheer joy, triumph, and love before. “Say hello to your son,” she said.
He crossed the room in three long strides and kissed her. Then he looked down at the wrinkled, red face of his child. At least the urchin had a lush head of chestnut-colored hair and eyes that were almost aquamarine, because otherwise he was astoundingly ugly.
Niobe pushed the bundle into his arms. For an instant it felt awkward, and then the little warm body found its position in the crook of his arm. The tiny budlike mouth worked in a sucking movement, and a surprisingly adult sigh emerged from between his lips. There was a smell from the baby that was indescribable, but it evoked memories of freshly baked bread, and baking cookies, and wood smoke on a cold evening. It was everything good and safe and loving.
Noel’s arms tightened around the baby, and a feeling of such protective love washed through his body like an electric current. He knew he would lay down his life for this child.
He looked at Niobe who smiled at him, but there was a serious look in her green eyes.
“I love you,” Noel said.
She didn’t give the usual response. Instead she asked, “Are you home now?”
“Yes.” And he added, “Now, and forever.”
“Good.”
United Nations
Manhattan, New York
Lohengrin’s office never changed. The phones were always ringing. The little chiming noise that meant new e-mail had come through was still on its way to nervous collapse. Klaus himself was a little more worn, a little more tired. But he also had the small cut-in laugh lines that came from winning a few. So that was all right.
Lohengrin leaned back in his chair. His smile was softer than Bugsy had expected. His voice was gentle. “You look good, my friend.”
“You make a boy blush,” Bugsy said. “You’re looking pretty spiffy yourself. The eye patch works for you. Very Dread Pirate Odin.”
Klaus didn’t even look pained. That fact alone told Bugsy just how rough he seemed. He thought he’d been hiding it better. “I’m sorry. For what happened,” Lohengrin said.
“Don’t be,” Bugsy said. “We all knew the risks.”
There was a pause. It was the invitation to spill it all out. Bugsy thought about telling him what it had been like, going back to Ellen’s apartment to get his things and seeing everything still there. The accumulated artifacts of maybe a hundred ended lives. All the last chances were gone now. All the voices silenced. The dead were dead again.
He let the silence speak for itself.