Twenty-four hours after the
battle, Manny had healed sufficiently to be able to finish what needed to be
done. He packed his belongings and Godric’s, taking them out to the car. Then
he returned to the cabin. In a storage room off the kitchen he found what he
was looking for. Hefting the sealed can, he took it back to the main room.
There he opened it, pouring the liquid back and forth across the floor, ending
at the fireplace, pouring the last dregs of fuel into it. Then he paused,
looking around the room. His eyes lit on the tapestries and for one moment he
considered taking them with him. Then, with a shake of his head, he turned back
to the fireplace. Dropping to one knee, he lit the tinder beneath the logs.
Standing again, he bowed his
head for a brief second and then strode quickly to the door. Closing it gently
behind him, he walked to the car. As he started to drive away the first of the
flames lit the cabin windows.
He waited until he reached
the highway and then called the authorities, letting them know that he’d seen
what appeared to be a fire and telling them where.
Two hours later he was
parking the car at the house in the city. He walked into the living room by way
of the terrace to find the boys huddled around the television watching some
shoot ‘em up.
Jakie was the first to
notice him standing there. “Where’s Rick and Mr. Wyndham,” he asked, trying to
peer past Manny to see if they were coming in behind him.
“There’s something I have to
tell you, but first I need everyone in here, so would you please go get Gebhard
and Mr. Shadrick.”
Jakie nodded, and then raced
off, returning minutes later with the two adults.
“What’s going on, Manny?”
Gebhard wanted to know.
“There’s—there was a fire at
the cabin. I—I was—I took a walk cause I couldn’t sleep and—hell.”
The boys listened in
disbelief. “They’re dead?” one of them asked hesitantly.
Manny nodded. “I’m afraid
so. I don’t—I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Jakie
said, throwing his arms around Manny’s waist.
Gebhard looked as if he was
about to say something and then changed his mind. “Boys, I think we should let
Manny get to bed, in fact all of you should be heading that way.”
“I’m alright, sir,” Manny
told him.
“Be that as it may, Mr.
Shadrick and I will get them to bed and let them talk if they need to.” Gebhard
looked somewhat uncomfortable; as if that wasn’t something he was sure how to
handle. Mr. Shadrick took over, herding the boys out of the room.
Gebhard remained behind,
asking, “Do you know how it started? And are you quite certain they’re dead?”
“I know they’re dead. The
cabin was fully engulfed in flames when I got back and there was no sign of
them outside. I—I don’t know why it happened.”
“Alright. We’ll talk more
about it in the morning, and about what happens now that Mr. Wyndham is dead.
Go get some sleep, if you can.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for—“
Manny shrugged disconsolately.
“Nothing to thank me for,”
Gebhard replied with a small smile. “I’ll see you when you get up.”
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