'Stand here or run.' Mallory didn't wait to see Miller's choice.
They veered away from the cathedral along Crane Street, over the river bridge to Queen Elizabeth Gardens where the tent city sprawled. The cries had become a nerve-jangling chorus, rising up all around as though everyone in the city was aware of what was bearing down on them. The horned shape had dissipated, to be replaced by a rushing wind that had substance and its own inner darkness screaming in at roof-height. Chimney pots crashed down, sending slates showering into the street. The glass of streetlights exploded as if crushed by a malicious hand.
As they ran towards the tents, they were all knocked from their feet by the Shockwave of a powerful blast. Rubble rained down all around, most of it reduced to less than the size of a fist. With ringing ears, Mallory looked back to see part of the shopping quarter on fire, a column of thick black smoke rising up to the serpentine winged creature, now clearly visible.
'A Fabulous Beast.' The woman sat nearby, rubbing at her temple, which was now streaked with brick dust. 'And it's angry?' She threw off her daze and hauled Miller to his feet, urging him to move. Mallory was surprised to feel a twinge of jealousy for the touch of her hand. 'We need to get within the camp,' she said, which Mallory found faintly ridiculous when the only shelter there was a thin covering of canvas or plastic.
The travellers surged into the camp before scuttling beneath trees to avoid the still-raining debris that took out more than one tent. The bursts of fire screaming from the sky were like some hellish vision of a wartime air raid, but the dark presence that fell across everything was far worse; it was as if shadowy fingers were plucking at their souls.
'We can't stay here!' Miller squealed impotently. 'We need to find a hiding place!'
'Chill.' The dreadlocked teen slapped a hand on Miller's shoulder, pressing him down. 'We're safe, if we don't get brained by a flying brick. See — protected.' He pointed to a post hung with strings of crystals, feathers and small animal bones. Similar posts were staked out around the perimeter as far as Mallory could see.
'Kill me now,' he said. 'We're doomed.' He tried to discern the location of what the woman had called the Fabulous Beast, but the glare from numerous torches lighting the camp made it difficult to see. The devil- wind rushed around the boundaries of the camp before delving back into the city.
'Can't you feel it?' Miller rubbed at his skin as if he had scabies. Mallory could: the touch of some intelligence so far beyond him he couldn't begin to categorise it, creeping through the labyrinth of his mind, swinging open locked doors, bringing wild panic into die civilised centres, dark and hateful and very, very old. Despite himself, he shuffled back until he felt the security of a tree trunk.
Gradually, the panic passed. The Fabulous Beast and the dark wind accompanying it had focused on another part of the city.
'It won't come this way. We can't be seen,' the woman said, to reassure him.
'Right. We pretend we're trees. Or do we just cover our eyes really, really tight?' Mallory watched the sky, having decided he'd run for cover under the river bridge when the things came back. 'What's your name?' he asked.
'Sophie Tallent.'
'Mallory. And that person trying to burrow under the soil is Miller. You're the boss?'
'Here? No, of course not.'
'You really believe this…' He nodded to the posts. '… is going to keep you safe?'
'Do you see the Fabulous Beast and that other thing attacking us?'
'And if you wish hard enough the sun might come up tomorrow.' He grabbed Miller roughly by the collar of his jacket and lifted him off the ground. 'Come on — we might still be able to make the compound.'
As they moved towards the perimeter, they were surprised by the insistence in Sophie's voice as she called, 'Don't cross the boundary!' She was right behind them, one imploring arm stretched out. 'You'll be seen. Really. You need to believe-'
Her voice was drowned out by the rushing wind sweeping through the streets at hurricane force. Hidden in the noise was the sound of screaming voices that brought a chill to Mallory's spine. A building collapsed nearby. The force rushed towards the cathedral, dragging what seemed like all hell in its wake. When it reached its destination, there was a sound of thunder and a metallic crashing before it soared high into the air. Screeching, it continued to circle the cathedral compound.
Pale and shaking, Miller made the sign of the cross.
'Let's sit. You can't go out there till things have quietened down,' Sophie said.
Every rational argument told Mallory to ignore her, but he was already under her spell; the attraction had been instantaneous — he had never met anyone he wanted to know so keenly, though he couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was that entranced him. With a shove, he encouraged Miller to follow her towards the fire, though they both continually glanced over their shoulders at the oppressive presence over the city.
By the time they found a quiet spot away from the other pockets of travellers and sat down, Mallory had almost started to believe that the thing wouldn't attack. They were joined by the dreadlocked teenager who appeared to be less of a friend and more of an assistant to Sophie. He introduced himself as Rick.
Miller crossed himself again, craning his neck upwards fearfully. 'That's the Devil,' he said, hoping someone would dissuade him of the notion.
'It was certainly scary,' Sophie said, 'though I'm not much of a believer in the Devil myself.' She leaned over and gave Miller's hand a reassuring squeeze. 'You're safe here.' He visibly calmed at her touch.
Miller looked to Mallory for support. 'It's like in Revelations. The Last Days. The Church has collapsed… I mean, it's not gone,' he added guiltily, 'but it's barely hanging on. We've had war, and starvation, and… and…' Panic crossed his face once more. 'It was the Devil… you saw it… you felt it… the fear. Everything's ending.' He hugged his arms around himself tightiy, staring blankly into the middle-distance.
In a glance, something passed briefly between Sophie and Rick, then she leaned over and rested a small crystal from a pouch at her waist against Miller's forehead. There was an instant reaction: Miller's posture shifted, his shoulders loosening, his features becoming brighter, almost as if a shadow had been drawn from his face. Mallory looked at her curiously, but she studiously avoided his eyes.
'This is like a little town,' Miller said with incongruous brightness. 'How long are you staying here?'
'For good.' A breeze caught Sophie's hair. Despite the now-faint screeching high above them, a surprising tranquillity lay over the camp. Sophie noticed Mallory's recognition of the calm. 'There's a deep spirituality in the land here,' she said. 'That's why we've come. That's why we'll continue to come, from all parts of the country.'
'A ley line-' Rick began.
Mallory snorted derisively.
'I might have expected that response before the Fall,' Sophie said, 'but things are different now, surely you know that? We've got our technology back, but these days spirituality is just as potent a force-'
Miller nodded. 'The power of prayer.'
'There's an energy in the land, an energy that runs through us, too. You can call it spirit, or soul, but everything is tied together by it-' Sophie's face hardened slightly at Mallory's dismissive laughter. 'I believe in it because I feel it,' she said, 'and because it works.'
'It's Sophie's power source.' Rick smiled at them. 'Her battery. You should see what she can do.' The awe in the teenager's voice was affecting.
The discussion touched something in Miller. 'It's true, Mallory. Back in Swindon, I saw an old woman lay her hands on a baby that was about to die… and it lived. It's like, if you believe in something strongly enough, you can tap into something, make it real. All the atheists used to say there was no evidence of God, but now He's here, answering prayers.' A notion dawned on him. 'Perhaps it's because these really are the Last Days. Good and Evil preparing for the last battle…'