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B~io:~ Luc~ and Lani~i m~:
a: 8«o:d 8 C:oss, b~io:~ :h~,
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LAPK HOP8L
Louisviiiv, Kvnrucxy · Novvxvvx 2¯, 2uu0
Aslor iang our. A bioau gare bangeu open. A pounuing
oí loises` looves ecloeu aiounu rle riack like a massive
clap oí rlunuei.
¨Anu rley`ie oíí!¨
Soplia Bliss au|usreu rle wiue biim oí lei íearleieu
lar. Ir was a mureu slaue oí mauve, rwenry-seven incles
in uiamerei, wirl a uiop-uown cliííon veil. Laige enougl
ro make lei look like a piopei loiseiacing enrlusiasr,
nor so gauuy as ro arriacr unuue arrenrion.
:
Tliee lars lau been special-oiueieu íiom rle same
millinei in Hilron Heau íoi rle iace rlar uay. One÷a
burrei-yellow bonner÷cappeu rle snow-wlire leau oí
Lyiica Ciisp, wlo was sirring ro rle leír oí Miss Soplia,
en|oying a coineu beeí sanuwicl. Tle orlei÷a sea-íoam-
gieen íelr lar wirl a íar polka-uorreu sarin iibbon÷
ciowneu rle |er-black mane oí Vivina Sole, wlo sar
looking ueceprively uemuie wirl lei wlire-gloveu lanus
ciosseu ovei lei lap ro Miss Soplia`s iiglr.
¨Cloiious uay íoi a iace,¨ Lyiica saiu. Ar 136 yeais
olu, sle was rle youngesr oí rle Llueis oí Zlsmaelim.
Sle wipeu a uor oí musraiu íiom rle coinei oí lei
mourl. ¨Can you believe ir`s my íiisr rime ar rle riacks·¨
¨Slll,¨ Soplia lisseu. Lyiica was sucl a rwir. Touay
was nor abour loises ar all, bur iarlei a clanuesrine
meering oí giear minus. So wlar ií rle orlei giear minus
uiun`r lappen ro lave slown up yer· Tley woulu be
leie. Ar rlis peiíecrly neurial locarion ser íoirl in rle
golu lerreipiess invirarion Soplia lau ieceiveu íiom an
unknown senuei. Tle orleis woulu be leie ro ieveal
rlemselves anu come up wirl a plan oí arrack rogerlei.
Any minure now. Sle lopeu.
¨Lovely uay, lovely spoir,¨ Vivina saiu uiyly. ¨Piry
our loise in rlis iace uoesn`r iun in easy ciicles like
rlese íillies. Isn`r ir, Soplia· Tougl ro wagei wleie rle
rloiouglbieu Lucinua will íinisl.¨
¨I saiu sbbb,¨ Soplia wlispeieu. ¨Bire youi cavaliei
rongue. Tleie aie spies eveiywleie.¨
:
¨You`ie paianoiu,¨ Vivina saiu, uiawing a ligl gig-
gle íiom Lyiica.
¨I`m wlar`s leír,¨ Soplia saiu.
Tleie useu ro be so many moie÷rwenry-íoui Llueis
ar rle peak oí rle Zlsmaelim. A clusrei oí moirals, im-
moirals, anu a íew riansereinals, like Soplia leiselí. An
axis oí knowleuge anu passion anu íairl wirl a single
uniring goal. ro iesroie rle woilu ro irs pielapsaiian
srare, rlar biieí, gloiious momenr beíoie rle angels` Iall.
Ioi berrei oi íoi woise.
Ir was wiirren, plain as uay, in rle coue rley`u uiawn
up rogerlei anu lau eacl signeu. Ior better or tor uorse.
Because ieally, ir coulu go eirlei way.
Lveiy coin lau rwo siues. Heaus anu rails. Liglr anu
uaik. Coou anu÷
Well, rle íacr rlar rle orlei Llueis laun`r piepaieu
rlemselves íoi borl oprions was nor Soplia`s íaulr. Ir
was, lowevei, lei cioss ro beai wlen one by one rley
senr in norices oí rleii wirluiawal. Your purposes çrou
too dark. Or: Tbe orçanization´s standards baue tallen.
Oi. Tbe Llders baue strayed too tar tron tbe oriçinal code.
Tle íiisr íluiiy oí lerreis aiiiveu, pieuicrably, wirlin a
week aírei rle inciuenr wirl rle giil Pennywearlei. Tley
coulun`r abiue ir, rley`u claimeu, rle uearl oí one small
insigniíicanr clilu. One caieless momenr wirl a uaggei
anu suuuenly rle Llueis weie iunning scaieu, all oí rlem
íeaiing rle wiarl oí rle Scale.
Cowaius.
z
Soplia uiu nor íeai rle Scale. Tleii claige was ro
paiole rle íallen, nor rle iiglreous. Ciounuling angels
sucl as Rolanu Spaiks anu Aiiiane Alrei. As long as one
uiu nor ueíecr íiom Heaven, one was íiee ro sway a lir-
rle. Despeiare rimes piacrically beggeu íoi ir. Soplia lau
neaily gone cioss-eyeu ieauing rle spongy-leaireu ex-
cuses oí rle orlei Llueis. Bur even ií sle lau wanreu rle
ueíecrois back÷wlicl sle lau nor÷rleie was norling
ro be uone.
Soplia Bliss÷rle sclool libiaiian wlo lau only evei
seiveu as secieraiy on rle Zlsmaelim boaiu÷was now
rle liglesr-ianking oííicial among rle Llueis. Tleie weie
|usr rwelve oí rlem leír. Anu nine coulu nor be riusreu.
So rlar leír rle rliee oí rlem leie rouay in rleii enoi-
mous pasrel lars, placing plony bers ar rle riack. Anu
wairing. Ir was parleric, rle ueprls ro wlicl rley`u sunk.
A iace came ro irs enu. A sraricky louuspeakei an-
nounceu rle winneis anu rle ouus íoi rle nexr iace.
Well-leeleu people anu uiunks all aiounu rlem cleeieu
oi slumpeu lowei in rleii sears.
Anu a giil, abour ninereen, wirl a wlire-blonu pony-
rail, biown riencl coar, anu rlick, uaik sunglasses,
walkeu slowly up rle aluminum sreps rowaiu rle Llueis.
Soplia sriííeneu. Wly woulu sbe be leie·
Ir was nexr ro impossible ro rell wlicl uiiecrion rle
giil was looking in, anu Soplia was riying laiu nor ro
sraie. Nor rlar ir woulu marrei, rle giil woulun`r be able
see lei. Sle was blinu. Bur rlen÷
+
Tle Ourcasr nouueu once ar Soplia. Ol yes÷rlese
íools coulu see rle buining oí a peison`s soul. Ir was
uim, bur Soplia`s liíe íoice musr srill lave been visible.
Tle giil rook a sear in rle empry iow in íionr oí rle
Llueis, íacing rle riack anu ílipping rlougl a íive-uollai
rip sleer lei blinu eyes woulun`r be able ro ieau.
¨Hello.¨ Tle Ourcasr`s voice was a monorone. Sle
uiun`r ruin aiounu.
¨I ieally uon`r know wly you`ie leie,¨ Miss Soplia
saiu. Ir was a uamp Novembei uay in Kenrucky, bur a
sleen oí swear lau bioken our acioss lei íoieleau.
¨Oui collaboiarion enueu wlen youi coloirs íaileu ro
ieriieve rle giil. No amounr oí birrei blabbei íiom rle
one wlo calls limselí Plillip will clange oui minus.¨
Soplia leaneu íoiwaiu, closei ro rle giil, anu wiinkleu
lei nose. ¨Lveiyone knows rle Ourcasrs aien`r ro be
riusreu֬
¨We aie nor leie on business wirl you,¨ rle Ourcasr
saiu, sraiing sriaiglr aleau. ¨You weie bur a vessel ro ger
us closei ro Lucinua. We iemain uninreiesreu in `collab-
oiaring` wirl you.¨
¨No one caies abour youi oiganizarion rlese uays.¨
Ioorsreps on rle bleacleis.
Tle boy was rall anu slenuei, wirl a slaven leau anu
a riencl coar ro marcl rle giil`s. His sunglasses weie rle
cleap plasric vaiiery íounu neai rle barreiies ar rle
uiugsroie.
Plillip sliu onro rle bleaclei iiglr nexr ro Lyiica
:
Ciisp. Like rle Ourcasr giil, le uiun`r ruin ro íace rlem
wlen le spoke.
¨I`m nor suipiiseu ro íinu you leie, Soplia.¨ He
loweieu lis sunglasses on lis nose, ievealing rwo empry
wlire eyes. ¨]usr uisappoinreu rlar you uiun`r íeel you
coulu rell me rlar you`u been invireu as well.¨
Lyiica gaspeu ar rle loiiible wlire expanses belinu
lis glasses. Lven Vivina losr lei cool anu ieaieu back.
Soplia boileu insiue.
Tle Ourcasr giil iaiseu a goluen caiu÷rle same invi-
rarion Soplia lau ieceiveu÷scissoieu berween lei íin-
geis. ¨We ieceiveu rlis.¨ Only, rlis one lookeu like ir
lau been wiirren in Biaille. Soplia ieacleu íoi ir ro
make suie, bur wirl a ouick movemenr, rle invirarion
uisappeaieu back insiue rle giil`s riencl coar.
¨Look, you lirrle punks. I bianueu youi sraislors
wirl rle emblem oí rle Llueis. You woik íoi ne÷¨
¨Coiiecrion,¨ Plillip saiu. ¨Tle Ourcasrs woik íoi
no one bur rlemselves.¨
Soplia warcleu lim ciane lis neck sliglrly, pierenu-
ing ro íollow a loise aiounu rle riack. Sle`u always
rlouglr ir was eeiie, rle way rley gave oíí rle impies-
sion rlar rley coulu see. Wlen eveiyone knew be´d sriuck
rle lor oí rlem blinu wirl rle ílick oí a íingei.
¨Slame you uiu sucl a pooi |ob capruiing lei.¨
Soplia íelr lei voice iise liglei rlan sle knew ir sloulu,
uiawing rle eyes oí an oluei couple ciossing rle gianu-
t
sranu. ¨We weie supposeu ro woik rogerlei,¨ sle lisseu,¨
ro lunr lei uown, anu÷anu you íaileu.¨
¨Ir woulu nor lave marreieu one way oi anorlei.¨
¨Come again·¨
¨Sle woulu srill be losr in rime. Ir was always lei
uesriny. Anu rle Llueis woulu srill be langing on by a
rlieau. Tlar is youis.¨
Sle wanreu ro lunge ar lim, wanreu ro sriangle lim
unril rlose giear wlire eyes bulgeu íiom rleii sockers.
Hei uaggei íelr like ir was buining a lole rliougl rle
calískin lanubag on lei lap. Ií only ir lau been a srai -
slor. Soplia was iising íiom rle bleaclei wlen rle
voice came íiom belinu rlem.
¨Please be seareu,¨ ir boomeu. ¨Tlis meering is now
calleu ro oiuei.¨
Tle voice. Sle knew ar once wlose ir was. Calm anu
aurloiirarive. Urreily lumbling. Ir maue rle bleacleis
ouake.
Tle neaiby moirals noriceu norling, bur a ílusl oí
lear iose on rle back oí Soplia`s neck. Ir riickleu rliougl
lei bouy, numbing lei. Tlis was no oiuinaiy íeai. Tlis
was a ciippling, sromacl-souiing reiioi. Diu sle uaie ro
ruin aiounu·
Tle subrlesr peek íiom rle coinei oí lei eye ievealeu
a man in a railoieu black suir. His uaik laii was clippeu
sloir unuei lis black lar. Tle íace, kinu anu arriac -
rive, was nor pairiculaily memoiable. Clean-slaven,
/
sriaiglr- noseu, wirl biown eyes rlar íelr íamiliai. Yer
Miss Soplia lau nevei seen lim beíoie. Anu srill sle
knew wlo le was, knew ir in rle maiiow oí lei bones.
¨Wleie is Cam·¨ rle voice belinu rlem askeu. ¨He
was senr an invirarion.¨
¨Piobably playing Cou insiue rle Announceis. Like
rle iesr oí rlem,¨ Lyiica bluireu our. Soplia swarreu lei.
¨Playing God, uiu you say·¨
Soplia seaicleu íoi rle woius rlar woulu íix a gaííe
like rlar. ¨Seveial oí rle orleis íolloweu Lucinua back-
waiu inro rime,¨ sle saiu evenrually. ¨Incluuing rwo
Neplilim. We aien`r suie low many orleis.¨
¨Daie I ask,¨ rle voice saiu, suuuenly ice-colu, ¨wly
none oí you elecreu ro go aírei lei·¨
Soplia íouglr ro swallow, ro biearle. Hei mosr inru-
irive movemenrs weie srunreu by panic. ¨We can`r ex-
acrly, well . . . We uon`r yer lave rle capabiliries ro֬
Tle Ourcasr giil cur lei oíí. ¨Tle Ourcasrs aie in rle
piocess oí÷¨
¨Silence,¨ rle voice commanueu. ¨Spaie me youi ex-
cuses. Tley no longei marrei, as you no longei marrei.¨
Ioi a long rime, rleii gioup was ouier. Ir was reiiiíy-
ing nor ro know low ro please lim. Wlen le íinally
spoke, lis voice was soírei, bur no less lerlal. ¨Too mucl
ar srake. I can`r leave anyrling else ro clance.¨
A pause.
Tlen, soírly, le saiu, ¨Tle rime las come íoi me ro
rake marreis inro my own lanus.¨
a
Soplia bir lei gasp in rwo ro liue lei loiioi. Bur sle
coulu nor srop lei bouy`s riemois. His uiiecr involve-
menr· Tiuly, ir was rle mosr reiiiíying piospecr. Sle
coulu nor imagine woiking uitb lim ro÷
¨Tle iesr oí you will sray our oí rlis,¨ le saiu. ¨Tlar
is all.¨
¨Bur÷¨ Ir was an acciuenr, bur rle woiu escapeu
Soplia`s lips. Sle coulu nor rake ir back. Bur all lei
uecaues oí laboi. All lei plans. Hei plans!
Wlar came nexr was a long, eairl-slarreiing ioai.
Ir ieveibeiareu up rliougl rle bleacleis, seeming
ro riavel aiounu rle enriie iaceriack in a splinrei oí a
seconu.
Soplia ciingeu. Tle noise seemeu almosr ro ciasl
into lei, rliougl lei skin anu uown ro lei ueepesr coie.
Sle íelr as ií lei leair was being uiummeu ro pieces.
Lyiica anu Vivina borl piesseu againsr lei, eyes
clampeu slur. Lven rle Ourcasrs riembleu.
]usr wlen Soplia rlouglr rle sounu oí ir woulu
nevei cease, rlar ir woulu be rle uearl oí lei ar lasr, lis
ioai gave way ro absolure pin-uiop silence.
Ioi a momenr.
Lnougl rime ro look aiounu anu see rlar rle orlei
people ar rle iaceriack lau nor leaiu anyrling ar all.
In lei eai le wlispeieu, ¨Youi rime on rlis enueavoi
is up. Do nor uaie ro ger in my way.¨
Down below, anorlei slor iang our. Tle bioau gare
bangeu open once again. Only rlis rime, rle pounuing
s
oí loises` looves againsr rle uiir sounueu like piacri-
cally norling, like rle liglresr iainíall íalling on a
canopy oí riees.
Beíoie rle iaceloises lau ciosseu rle srairing line,
rle íiguie belinu rlem lau vanisleu, leaving only rle
maik oí coal-black looípiinrs singeu inro rle planks oí
rle gianusranu.
: o
|`I
UNLLP II PL
\oscow · Ocrovvx Iö, I0+I
ucinda!
Tle voices ieacleu lei in rle muiky uaikness.
Cone back!
vait!
Sle ignoieu rlem, piessing íuirlei. Lcloes oí lei
name bounceu oíí rle slauowy walls oí rle Announ -
cei, senuing licks oí lear iippling acioss lei skin. Was
rlar Daniel`s voice oi Cam`s· Aiiiane`s oi Cabbe`s· Was
ir Rolanu pleauing rlar sle come back now, oi was rlar
Miles·
: :
Tle calls giew laiuei ro uiscein, unril Luce coulun`r
rell rlem apair ar all. goou oi evil. Lnemy oi íiienu.
Tley sloulu lave been easiei ro sepaiare, bur norling
was easy anymoie. Lveiyrling rlar lau once been black
anu wlire now blenueu inro giay.
Oí couise, borl siues agieeu on one rling. Lveiyone
wanreu ro pull lei our oí rle Announcei. Ioi lei protec-
tion, rley woulu claim.
No, rlanks.
Nor now.
Nor aírei rley`u wieckeu lei paienrs` backyaiu,
maue ir inro anorlei one oí rleii uusry barrleíielus. Sle
coulun`r rlink abour lei paienrs` íaces wirlour wanring
ro ruin back÷nor like sle`u even know low ro ruin
back insiue an Announcei, anyway. Besiues, ir was roo
lare. Cam lau riieu ro kill lei. Oi wlar le rlouglr was
lei. Anu Miles lau saveu lei, bur even rlar wasn`r sim-
ple. He`u only been able ro rliow lei ieílecrion because
le caieu abour lei too mucl.
Anu Daniel· Diu le caie enougl· Sle coulun`r rell.
In rle enu, wlen rle Ourcasr lau appioacleu lei,
Daniel anu rle orleis lau sraieu ar Luce like sbe was rle
one wlo oweu tben somerling.
You are our entrance into Heauen, rle Ourcasr lau
rolu lei. Tbe price. Wlar lau rlar meanr· Unril a couple
oí weeks ago sle laun`r even known rle Ourcasrs exisreu.
Anu yer, rley wanreu somerling íiom lei÷bauly enougl
: :
ro barrle Daniel íoi ir. Ir musr lave lau ro uo wirl rle
cuise, rle one rlar kepr Luce ieincainareu liíerime aírei
liíerime. Bur wlar uiu rley rlink Luce coulu uo·
Was rle answei buiieu somewleie leie·
Hei sromacl luicleu as sle rumbleu senselessly
rliougl rle colu slauow, ueep insiue rle clasm oí rle
uaik Announcei.
Luce÷
Tle voices began ro íaue anu giow uimmei. Soon
rley weie baiely wlispeis. Almosr like rley lau given
up. Unril÷
Tley sraireu ro giow louuei again. Louuei anu
cleaiei.
Luce÷
No. Sle clampeu lei eyes slur ro riy ro block rlem
our.
Lucinda÷
Lucy÷
Lucia÷
Luscbka÷
Sle was colu anu sle was riieu anu sle uiun`r wanr
ro leai rlem. Ioi once, sle wanreu ro be leír alone.
Luscbka! Luscbka! Luscbka!
Hei íeer lir somerling wirl a tbuunp.
Somerling veiy, veiy colu.
rumbling anymoie, rlougl sle coulun`r see anyrling in
: z
íionr oí lei excepr íoi rle blanker oí blackness. Tlen
sle lookeu uown ar lei Conveise sneakeis.
Anu gulpeu.
Tley weie planreu in a blanker oí snow rlar ieacleu
miuway up lei calves. Tle uank coolness rlar sle
was useu ro÷rle slauowy runnel sle`u been riaveling
rliougl, our oí lei backyaiu, inro rle pasr÷was giving
way ro somerling else. Somerling blusreiy anu ab-
solurely íiigiu.
Tle íiisr rime Luce lau sreppeu rliougl an
Announcei֒iom lei Sloieline uoim ioom ro Las
Vegas÷sle`u been wirl lei íiienus Slelby anu Miles. Ar
rle enu oí rle passage rley`u mer a baiiiei. a uaik, slau-
owy cuirain berween rlem anu rle ciry. Because Miles
was rle only one wlo`u ieau rle rexrs on srepping
rliougl, le`u sraireu swiping rle Announcei wirl a cii-
culai morion unril rle muiky black slauow ílakeu away.
Luce laun`r known unril now rlar le`u been riouble -
slooring.
Tlis rime, rleie was no baiiiei. Maybe because sle
was riaveling alone, rliougl an Announcei summoneu
oí lei own íieice will. Bur rle way our was so easy. Al-
mosr roo easy. Tle veil oí blackness simply paireu.
A blasr oí colu roie inro lei, making lei knees lock
wirl rle clill. Hei iibs sriííeneu anu lei eyes reaieu in
rle slaip, suuuen winu.
Wleie was sle·
: +
Luce alieauy iegierreu lei panickeu |ump rliougl
rime. Yes, sle neeueu an escape, anu yes, sle wanreu ro
riace lei pasr, ro save lei íoimei selves íiom all rle
pain, ro unueisranu wlar kinu oí love sle`u lau wirl
Daniel all rlose orlei rimes. To teel ir insreau oí being
rolu abour ir. To unueisranu÷anu rlen íix÷wlarevei
cuise lau been inílicreu on Daniel anu lei.
Bur nor like rlis. Iiozen, alone, anu complerely un-
piepaieu íoi wleievei, wlenevei sle was.
Sle coulu see a snowy srieer in íionr oí lei, a sreel-
giay sky above wlire builuings. Sle coulu leai some-
rling iumbling in rle uisrance. Bur sle uiun`r wanr ro
rlink abour wlar any oí ir meanr.
¨Wair,¨ sle wlispeieu ro rle Announcei.
Tle slauow uiiíreu lazily a íoor oi so beyonu lei
íingeirips. Sle riieu ro giasp ir, bur rle Announcei
eluueu lei, ílicking íairlei away. Sle leapeu íoi ir, anu
cauglr a riny uamp piece oí ir berween lei íingeis÷
Bur rlen, in an insranr, rle Announcei slarreieu inro
soír black íiagmenrs on rle snow. Tley íaueu, rlen weie
gone.
¨Ciear,¨ sle murreieu. ¨Now wlar·¨
In rle uisrance, rle naiiow ioau cuiveu leír ro meer
a slauowy inreisecrion. Tle siuewalks weie pileu ligl
wirl sloveleu snow, wlicl lau been packeu againsr rwo
long banks oí wlire srone builuings. Tley weie sriiking,
unlike anyrling Luce lau evei seen, a íew sroiies rall,
: :
wirl rleii enriie íaçaues caiveu inro iows oí biiglr
wlire aicles anu elaboiare columns.
All rle winuows weie uaik. Luce gor rle sense rlar
rle wlole ciry miglr be uaik. Tle only liglr came íiom
a single gas srieerlamp. Ií rleie was any moon, ir was
liuuen by a rlick blanker oí clouu. Again somerling
iumbleu in rle sky. Tlunuei·
Luce luggeu lei aims aiounu lei clesr. Sle was
íieezing.
¨Lusclka!¨
A woman`s voice. Hoaise anu iaspy, like someone
wlo`u spenr lei wlole liíe baiking oiueis. Bur rle voice
was riembling, roo.
¨Lusclka, you iuior. Wleie aie you·¨
Sle sounueu closei now. Was sle ralking ro Luce·
Tleie was somerling else abour rlar voice, somerling
sriange rlar Luce coulun`r ouire pur inro woius.
Wlen a íiguie came lobbling aiounu rle snowy
srieer coinei, Luce sraieu ar rle woman, riying ro place
lei. Sle was veiy sloir anu a lirrle luncleu ovei, maybe
in lei lare sixries. Hei bulky clorles seemeu roo big íoi
lei bouy. Hei laii was ruckeu unuei a rlick black scaií.
Wlen sle saw Luce, lei íace sciuncleu inro a compli-
careu giimace.
¨Wleie lave you been·¨
Luce lookeu aiounu. Sle was rle only orlei peison
on rle srieer. Tle olu woman was speaking ro lei.
: t
¨Riglr leie,¨ sle leaiu leiselí say.
In Russian.
Sle clappeu a lanu ovei lei mourl. So tbat was
wlar lau seemeu so bizaiie abour rle olu woman`s
voice. Sle was speaking a language Luce lau nevei
leaineu. Anu yer, nor only uiu Luce unueisranu eveiy
woiu, bur sle coulu speak ir back.
¨I coulu kill you,¨ rle woman saiu, biearling leavily
as sle iusleu rowaiu Luce anu rliew lei aims aiounu
lei.
Ioi sucl a íiail-looking woman, lei embiace was
sriong. Tle waimrl oí anorlei bouy piessing inro Luce
aírei so mucl inrense colu maue lei almosr wanr ro ciy.
Sle luggeu back laiu.
¨Cianuma·¨ sle wlispeieu, lei lips close ro rle
woman`s eai, somelow knowing rlar was wlo rle
woman was.
¨Oí all rle niglrs I ger oíí woik ro íinu you gone,¨
rle woman saiu. ¨Now you`ie skipping aiounu in rle
miuule oí rle srieer like a lunaric· Diu you even go ro
woik rouay· Wleie is youi sisrei·¨
Tleie was rle iumbling in rle sky again. Ir sounueu
like a bau sroim moving closei. Moving íasr. Luce sliv-
eieu anu slook lei leau. Sle uiun`r know.
¨Ala,¨ rle woman saiu. ¨Nor so caieíiee now.¨ Sle
souinreu ar Luce, rlen pusleu lei away ro ger a closei
look. ¨My Cou, wlar aie you weaiing·¨
: /
Luce íiugereu as lei pasr liíe`s gianumorlei gapeu ar
lei |eans anu ian lei knobby íingeis ovei rle burrons oí
Luce`s ílannel sliir. Sle giabbeu Luce`s sloir, rangleu
ponyrail. ¨Somerimes I rlink you aie as ciazy as youi ía-
rlei, may le iesr in peace.¨
¨I |usr÷¨ Luce`s reerl weie clarreiing. ¨I uiun`r
know ir was going ro be so colu.¨
Tle woman spar on rle snow ro slow lei uisap-
pioval. Sle peeleu oíí lei oveicoar. ¨Take rlis beíoie
you carcl youi uearl.¨ Sle bunuleu rle coar iouglly
aiounu Luce, wlose íingeis weie lalí íiozen as sle
sriuggleu ro burron ir. Tlen lei gianumorlei unrieu rle
scaií íiom lei neck anu wiappeu ir aiounu Luce`s leau.
A giear boom in rle sky srairleu borl oí rlem. Now
Luce knew ir wasn`r rlunuei. ¨Wlar is rlar·¨ sle wlis-
peieu.
Tle olu woman sraieu ar lei. ¨Tle wai,¨ sle mur-
reieu. ¨Diu you lose youi wirs along wirl youi clorles·
Come now. We musr go.¨
As rley waueu uown rle snowy srieer, ovei rle
iougl cobbles anu rle riam riacks ser inro rlem, Luce
iealizeu rlar rle ciry wasn`r empry aírei all. Iew cais
weie paikeu along rle ioau, bur occasionally, uown rle
uaikeneu siue srieers, sle leaiu rle wlinnies oí caiiiage
loises wairing íoi oiueis, rleii íiosry biearls clorring
rle aii. Sillouerreu bouies scampeieu acioss iooírops.
Down an alley, a man in a roin oveicoar lelpeu rliee
small cliluien rliougl rle larcleu uoois oí a basemenr.
: a
Ar rle enu oí rle naiiow srieer, rle ioau openeu
onro a bioau, riee-lineu avenue wirl a wiue view oí rle
ciry. Tle only cais paikeu leie weie miliraiy velicles.
Tley lookeu olu-íaslioneu, almosr absuiu, like ielics in
a wai museum. soír-rop |eeps wirl gianr íenueis, bone-
rlin sreeiing wleels, anu rle Sovier lammei anu sickle
painreu onro rle uoois. Bur asiue íiom Luce anu lei
gianumorlei, rleie weie no people on rlis srieer. Lveiy-
rling÷excepr íoi rle awíul iumbling in rle sky÷was
glosrly, eeiily ouier.
In rle uisrance, sle coulu see a iivei, anu íai acioss
ir, a giear builuing. Lven in rle uaikness, sle coulu make
our irs elaboiare rieieu spiies anu oinare onion-slapeu
uomes, wlicl seemeu íamiliai anu myrlic ar rle same
rime. Ir rook a momenr ro sink in÷anu rlen íeai slor
rliougl Luce.
Sle was in Moscow.
Anu rle ciry was a wai zone.
Black smoke iose in rle giay sky, maiking rle pock-
ers oí rle ciry rlar lau alieauy been lir. ro rle leír oí rle
vasr Kiemlin, anu |usr belinu ir, anu again in rle uis-
rance ro rle íai iiglr. Tleie was no combar on rle
srieers, no sign rlar enemy soluieis lau ciosseu inro rle
ciry yer on íoor. Bur rle ílames licking rle claiieu builu-
ings, rle incenuiaiy smell oí wai eveiywleie, anu rle
rliear oí moie ro come weie somelow even woise.
Tlis was by íai rle mosr messeu-up rling Luce evei
uone in lei liíe÷piobably in any oí lei lives. Hei
: s
paienrs woulu kill lei ií rley knew wleie sle was.
Daniel miglr nevei speak ro lei again.
Bur rlen. Wlar ií rley uiun`r even lave rle clance
ro be íuiious wirl lei· Sle coulu uie, iiglr leie in rlis
wai zone.
Wly lau sle uone rlis·
Because sle`u bad ro. Ir was laiu ro uneairl rlar
small linr oí piiue in rle miusr oí lei panic. Bur ir musr
lave been rleie somewleie.
Sle`u stepped tbrouçb. On lei own. Inro a uisranr
place anu a íaiaway rime, inro rle pasr sle neeueu ro
unueisranu. Tlis was wlar sle`u wanreu. Sle`u been
pusleu aiounu like a cless piece long enougl.
Bur wlar was sle supposeu ro uo now·
Sle pickeu up lei pace anu lelu riglr ro lei gianu-
morlei`s lanu. Sriange, rlis woman lau no ieal sense oí
wlar Luce was going rliougl, no ieal iuea oí wlo sle
even was, anu yer rle rug oí lei uiy giip was rle only
rling keeping Luce moving.
¨Wleie aie we going·¨ Luce askeu as lei gianu-
morlei yankeu lei uown anorlei uaikeneu srieer. Tle
cobblesrones rapeieu oíí anu rle ioau became unpaveu
anu slippeiy. Tle snow lau soakeu rliougl rle canvas
oí Luce`s rennis sloes, anu lei roes weie srairing ro buin
wirl rle colu.
¨To collecr youi sisrei, Kiisrina.¨ Tle olu woman
scowleu. ¨Tle one wlo woiks niglrs uigging aimy
:o
riencles wirl lei baie lanus so you can ger youi beaury
iesr. Remembei lei·¨
Wleie rley sroppeu, rleie was no srieerlamp ro liglr
rle ioau. Luce blinkeu a íew rimes ro lelp lei eyes au-
|usr. Tley weie sranuing in íionr oí wlar lookeu like a
veiy long uircl, iiglr in rle miuule oí rle ciry.
Tleie musr lave been a lunuieu people rleie. All oí
rlem bunuleu up ro rleii eais. Some weie uown on rleii
knees, uigging wirl slovels. Some weie uigging wirl
rleii lanus. Some sroou as ií íiozen, warcling rle sky. A
íew soluieis caireu oíí leavy loaus oí eairl anu iock in
splinreiy wleelbaiiows anu íaim cairs ro auu ro rle iub-
ble baiiicaue ar rle enu oí rle srieer. Tleii bouies weie
liuuen unuei rlick aimy-issue wool coars rlar billoweu
our aiounu rleii knees, bur benearl rleii sreel lars, rleii
íaces weie as gaunr as any oí rle civilians`. Lucinua
unuei sroou rlar rley weie all woiking rogerlei, rle men
in uniíoim anu rle women anu cliluien, ruining rleii
ciry inro a íoiriess, uoing anyrling rley coulu, uown ro
rle veiy lasr minure, ro keep rle enemy ranks our.
¨Kiisrina,¨ lei gianumorlei calleu, rle same nores
oí panic-wasleu love in lei voice as wlen sle`u been
looking íoi Luce.
A giil appeaieu ar rleii siue almosr insranrly. ¨Wlar
rook you so long·¨
Tall anu rlin, wirl uaik srianus oí laii escaping íiom
unuei rle poikpie lar on lei leau, Kiisrina was so beau-
::
riíul, Luce lau ro swallow a lump in lei rlioar. Sle iec-
ognizeu rle giil as íamily iiglr away.
Seeing Kiisrina ieminueu Luce oí Veia, anorlei pasr
liíe`s sisrei. Luce musr lave lau a lunuieu sisreis acioss
rime. A rlousanu. All oí rlem woulu lave gone rliougl
somerling similai. Sisreis anu biorleis anu paienrs anu
íiienus wlom Luce musr lave loveu, rlen losr. None oí
rlem lau known wlar was coming. All oí rlem lau
been leír belinu ro giieve.
Maybe rleie was a way ro clange rlar, ro make ir
easiei on rle people wlo`u loveu lei. Maybe rlar was
pair oí wlar Luce coulu uo in lei pasr lives.
Tle giear boom oí somerling explouing sounueu
acioss rown. Close enougl rlar rle giounu iockeu un-
uei Luce`s íeer anu lei iiglr eaiuium íelr like ir was
splirring. On rle coinei, aii-iaiu siiens sraireu going oíí.
¨Baba.¨ Kiisrina rook lolu oí lei gianumorlei`s
aim. Sle was neai reais. ¨Tle Nazis÷rley`ie leie,
aien`r rley·¨
Tle Ceimans. Luce`s íiisr rime srepping rliougl rime
on lei own anu sle`u lanueu smack in Woilu Wai II.
¨Tley`ie arracking Moscow·¨ Hei voice wobbleu.
¨Toniglr·¨
¨We sloulu lave leír rown wirl rle orleis,¨ Kiisrina
saiu birreily. ¨Now ir is roo lare.¨
¨Anu abanuoneu youi morlei anu youi íarlei anu
youi gianuíarlei, roo·¨ Baba slook lei leau. ¨Leír
rlem alone in rleii giaves·¨
::
¨Berrei we sloulu |oin rlem in rle cemereiy·¨
Kiisrina spar back. Sle ieacleu íoi Luce, soueezing lei
aim. ¨Diu you know abour rle iaiu· You anu youi kulak
íiienu· Is rlar wly you uiun`r come ro woik rlis moin-
ing· You weie wirl lim, weien`r you·¨
Wlar uiu lei sisrei rlink Luce coulu possibly lave
known· Wlo woulu sle lave been wirl·
Wlo bur Daniel·
Oí couise. Lusclka musr be wirl lim iiglr now. Anu
ií lei own íamily membeis weie coníusing tbat Lusclka
wirl Luce . . .
Hei clesr consriicreu. How mucl rime uiu sle lave
leír beíoie sle uieu· Wlar ií Luce coulu íinu Lusclka
beíoie ir lappeneu·
¨Luscbka.¨
Hei sisrei anu gianumorlei weie sraiing ar lei.
¨Wlar`s wiong wirl lei roniglr·¨ Kiisrina askeu.
¨Let´s ço.¨ Baba scowleu. ¨You rlink rle Moscov-
ircles aie going ro lolu open rleii basemenr íoievei·¨
Tle long uione oí a íiglrei plane`s piopelleis
sounueu ovei rlem in rle sky. Close enougl rlar wlen
Luce lookeu up, rle uaik swasrika painreu on rle unuei-
siue oí irs wings was cleai. Ir senr a slivei rliougl lei.
Tlen anorlei boom iockeu rle ciry, anu rle aii giew
causric wirl uaik smoke. Tley`u lir somerling neaiby.
Two moie massive explosions maue rle giounu sluuuei
benearl lei íeer.
Ir was claos on rle srieer. Tle ciowu ar rle riencles
:z
was uisappeaiing, eveiyone scarreiing up a uozen nai-
iow srieers. Some lusrleu uown rle sraiis oí rle merio
srarion on rle coinei ro wair our rle bombs unuei-
giounu, orleis uisappeaieu inro uaik uooiways.
A block away, Luce cauglr a glimpse oí someone
iunning. a giil, abour lei age, in a ieu lar anu a long
wool coar. Sle ruineu lei leau íoi |usr a seconu beíoie
sle spiinreu on. Bur ir was long enougl íoi Luce ro know.
Tleie sle was.
Lusclka.
Sle wiesrleu íiee oí Baba`s aim. ¨I`m soiiy. I lave
ro go.¨
Luce rook a ueep biearl anu ian uown rle srieer,
sriaiglr inro rle ioiling smoke, rowaiu rle leaviesr
bombing.
¨Aie you ciazy·¨ Kiisrina yelleu. Bur rley uiun`r íol-
low lei. Tley woulu lave lau ro be ciazy rlemselves.
Luce`s íeer weie numb as sle riieu ro iun rliougl
rle calí-ligl snow on rle siuewalk. Wlen sle ieacleu
rle coinei wleie sle`u seen lei ieu-larreu pasr selí uasl
by, sle sloweu. Tlen sle suckeu in lei biearl.
A builuing rlar rook up lalí oí rle ciry block uiiecrly
in íionr oí lei lau caveu in. Wlire srone was srieakeu
wirl black asl. A íiie cluineu ueep insiue rle ciarei in
rle builuing`s siue.
Tle explosion lau spar our leaps oí uniecognizable
uebiis íiom insiue rle builuing. Tle snow was srieakeu
wirl ieu. Luce iecoileu unril sle iealizeu rlar rle ieu
:+
srieaks weie nor bloou bur slieus oí ieu silk. Ir musr
lave been a railoi`s slop. Seveial bauly singeu iacks oí
clorles weie scarreieu in rle srieer. A manneouin lay on
irs siue in a uircl. Ir was on íiie. Luce lau ro covei lei
mourl wirl lei gianumorlei`s scaií ro keep íiom clok-
ing on rle íumes. Lveiywleie sle sreppeu, slarreieu
glass anu srone cur inro rle snow.
Sle sloulu ruin back, íinu rle gianumorlei anu sis-
rei wlo woulu lelp lei ger ro slelrei, bur sle coulun`r.
Sle lau ro íinu Lusclka. Sle`u nevei been so close ro
one oí lei pasr selves beíoie. Lusclka miglr be able ro
lelp lei unueisranu wly Luce`s own liíerime was uiííei-
enr. Wly Cam lau slor a sraislor inro lei ieílecrion,
rlinking ir was lei, anu rolu Daniel, ¨Ir was a berrei enu
íoi lei.¨ A berrei enu rlan wlar·
Sle slowly ruineu aiounu, riying ro spor rle ílasl oí
rle ieu lar in rle niglr.
Tleie.
Tle giil was iunning uownlill rowaiu rle iivei. Luce
sraireu iunning, roo.
Tley ian ar piecisely rle same pace. Wlen Luce
uuckeu ar rle sounu oí an explosion, Lusclka uuckeu,
roo÷in a weiiu eclo oí Luce`s own movemenr. Anu
wlen rley ieacleu rle iiveibank, anu rle ciry came inro
view, Lusclka íioze inro rle exacr same iigiu srance as
Luce leiselí.
Iiíry yaius in íionr oí Luce, lei miiioi image began
ro sob.
::
So mucl oí Moscow was buining. So many lomes
weie being leveleu. Luce riieu ro íarlom rle orlei lives
being uesrioyeu acioss rle ciry roniglr, bur rley íelr uis-
ranr anu unieaclable, like somerling sle`u ieau abour in
a lisroiy book.
Tle giil was on rle move again. Running so íasr
Luce coulun`r lave cauglr lei ií sle`u wanreu ro. Tley
ian aiounu gianr ciareis cur inro rle cobblesrone ioau.
Tley ian pasr buining builuings, ciackling wirl rle aw-
íul iacker a íiie makes wlen ir spieaus ro a new raiger.
Tley ian pasr smasleu, oveiruineu miliraiy riucks,
blackeneu aims langing our ar rle siues.
Tlen Lusclka lookeu leír uown a srieer anu Luce
coulun`r see lei anymoie.
Auienaline kickeu in. Luce piesseu íoiwaiu, lei íeer
pounuing laiuei, íasrei on rle snowy srieer. People only
ian rlis íasr wlen rley weie uespeiare. Wlen somerling
biggei rlan rlem spuiieu rlem on.
Lusclka coulu only be iunning rowaiu one rling.
¨Lusclka÷¨
His uoice.
Wleie was le· Ioi a momenr, Luce íoigor lei pasr
selí, íoigor rle Russian giil wlose liíe was in uangei oí
enuing ar any momenr, íoigor rlar rlis Daniel wasn`r ber
Daniel, bur rlen÷
Oí couise le was.
He nevei uieu. He lau always been rleie. He was al-
:t
ways leis anu sle was always lis. All sle wanreu was ro
íinu lis aims, ro buiy leiselí in rleii giasp. He woulu
know wlar sle sloulu be uoing, le woulu be able ro
lelp lei. Wly lau sle uoubreu lim beíoie·
Sle ian, pulleu in rle uiiecrion oí lis voice. Bur sle
coulun`r see Daniel anywleie. Noi Lusclka. A block
away íiom rle iivei, Luce sroppeu sloir in a baiien in-
reisecrion.
Hei biearl íelr sriangleu in lei íiozen lungs. A colu,
rliobbing pain runneleu ueep insiue lei eais, anu rle icy
pinpiicks srabbing lei íeer maue sranuing srill unbeai-
able.
Bur wlicl way sloulu sle go·
Beíoie lei was a vasr anu empry lor, íilleu wirl iub-
ble anu coiuoneu oíí íiom rle srieer by scaííoluing anu
an iion íence. Bur even in rle uaikness, Luce coulu rell
rlar rlis was an oluei uemolirion, nor somerling ue-
srioyeu by a bomb in rle aii iaius.
Ir uiun`r look like mucl, |usr an ugly, abanuoneu
sinklole. Sle uiun`r know wly sle was srill sranuing in
íionr oí ir. Wly sle`u sroppeu iunning aírei Daniel`s
voice÷
Unril sle giippeu rle íence, blinkeu, anu saw a ílasl
oí somerling biillianr.
A cburcb. A najestic ubite cburcb tillinç tbis çapinç
bole. A buçe triptycb ot narble arcbes on tbe tront taçade.
Iiue çolden spires extendinç biçb into tbe sky. And inside:
:/
rous ot uaxed uooden peus as tar as tbe eye could see.
An altar at tbe top ot a ubite tliçbt ot stairs. And all tbe
ualls and biçb arcbed ceilinçs couered uitb çorçeously
ornate trescoes. Ançels eueryubere.
Tle Cluicl oí Cliisr rle Savioi.
How uiu Luce know rlar· Wly woulu sle íeel wirl
eveiy íibei oí lei being rlar rlis norlingness lau once
been a íoimiuable wlire cluicl·
Because sle lau been rleie momenrs beíoie. Sle saw
someone else`s lanupiinrs in rle asl on rle meral.
Lusclka lau sroppeu leie, roo, lau gazeu ar rle iuins oí
rle cluicl anu íelr somerling.
Luce giippeu rle iailing anu blinkeu again anu saw
leiselí÷oi Lusclka÷as a giil.
Sbe uas seated inside on one ot tbe peus in a ubite
lace dress. An orçan played as people tiled in betore a
seruice. Tbe bandsone nan to ber lett nust baue been
ber tatber, and tbe uonan next to bin, ber notber. Tbere
uas tbe çrandnotber Luce bad just net, and Kristina.
8otb ot tben looked younçer, better ted. Luce renen-
bered ber çrandnotber sayinç tbat botb ber parents uere
dead. 8ut bere tbey looked so aliue. Tbey seened to
knou eueryone, çreetinç eacb tanily passinç tbeir peu.
Luce studied ber past selt uatcbinç ber tatber as be sbook
bands uitb a çood-lookinç younç blond nan. Tbe younç
nan leaned doun ouer tbe peu and sniled at ber. He bad
tbe nost beautitul uiolet eyes.
:a
Sle blinkeu again anu rle vision uisappeaieu. Tle
lor was once again lirrle moie rlan iubble. Sle was
íieezing. Anu alone. Anorlei bomb wenr oíí acioss rle
iivei, anu rle slock oí ir uioppeu Luce ro lei knees. Sle
coveieu lei íace wirl lei lanus÷
Unril sle leaiu someone soírly ciying. Sle liíreu lei
leau anu souinreu inro rle ueepei uaikness oí rle iuins,
anu sle saw lim.
¨Daniel,¨ sle wlispeieu. He lookeu |usr rle same.
Almosr iauiaring liglr, even in rle íieezing uaikness.
Tle blonu laii sle nevei wanreu ro srop iunning lei
íingeis rliougl, rle violer-giay eyes rlar seemeu ro lave
been maue ro lock wirl leis. Tlar íoimiuable íace, rle
ligl cleekbones, rlose lips. Hei leair pounueu anu sle
lau ro riglren lei giip on rle iion íence ro keep íiom
iunning ro lim.
Because le wasn`r alone.
He was wirl Lusclka. Consoling lei, srioking lei
cleek anu kissing lei reais away. Tleii aims weie
wiappeu aiounu one anorlei, rleii leaus rippeu íoi-
waiu in a nevei-enuing kiss. Tley weie so losr in rleii
embiace rley uiun`r seem ro íeel rle srieer iolling anu
ouaking wirl anorlei explosion. Tley lookeu like all
rleie was in rle woilu was |usr rle rwo oí rlem.
Tleie was no space berween rleii bouies. Ir was
roo uim ro see wleie one oí rlem enueu anu rle orlei
one began.
:s
Lucinua gor ro lei íeer anu ciepr íoiwaiu, moving
íiom one pile oí iubble in rle uaik ro rle nexr, |usr long-
ing ro be closei ro lim.
¨I rlouglr I`u nevei íinu you,¨ Luce leaiu lei pasr
selí say.
¨We will always íinu eacl orlei,¨ Daniel answeieu,
liíring lei oíí rle giounu anu soueezing lei closei. ¨Al-
ways.¨
¨Hey, you rwo!¨ A voice sloureu íiom a uooiway in
a neiglboiing builuing. ¨Aie you coming·¨
Acioss rle souaie íiom rle empry lor, a small gioup
oí people weie being leiueu inro a soliu srone builuing
by a guy wlose íace Luce coulun`r make our. Tlar was
wleie Lusclka anu Daniel weie leaueu. Ir musr lave
been rleii plan all along, ro rake slelrei íiom rle bombs
rogerlei.
¨Yes,¨ Lusclka calleu ro rle orleis. Sle lookeu ar
Daniel. ¨Ler`s go wirl rlem.¨
¨No.¨ His voice was cuir. Neivous. Luce knew rlar
rone all roo well.
¨We`ll be saíei oíí rle srieer. Isn`r rlis wly we agieeu
ro meer leie·¨
Daniel ruineu ro look back belinu rlem, lis eyes
sweeping iiglr pasr rle place wleie Luce was liuing.
Wlen rle sky lir up wirl anorlei iounu oí goluen-ieu
explosions, Lusclka scieameu anu buiieu lei íace in
Daniel`s clesr. So Luce was rle only one wlo saw lis
expiession.
zo
Somerling was weigling on lim. Somerling giearei
rlan íeai oí rle bombs.
Ob no.
¨Daniil!¨ A boy neai rle builuing was srill loluing
open rle uooi ro rle slelrei. ¨Lusclka! Daniil!¨
Lveiyone else was alieauy insiue.
Tlar was wlen Daniil spun Lusclka aiounu, pulleu
lei eai close ro lis lips. In lei slauowy liuing place,
Luce acleu ro know wlar le was wlispeiing. Ií le was
saying any oí rle rlings Daniel evei rolu ber wlen sle
was upser oi oveiwlelmeu. Sle wanreu ro iun ro rlem,
ro pull Lusclka away÷bur sle coulun`r. Somerling ueep
insiue lei woulu nor buuge.
Sle íixeu on Lusclka`s expiession as ií lei wlole liíe
uepenueu on ir.
Maybe ir uiu.
Lusclka nouueu as Daniil spoke, anu lei íace clangeu
íiom reiiiíieu ro calm, almosr peaceíul. Sle closeu lei
eyes. Sle nouueu one moie rime. Tlen sle rippeu back
lei leau, anu a smile spieau slowly acioss lei lips.
A snile:
Bur wly· How· Ir was almosr like sle knew wlar
was abour ro lappen.
Daniil lelu lei in lis aims anu uippeu lei low. He
leaneu in íoi anorlei kiss, piessing lis lips íiimly againsr
leis, iunning lis lanus rliougl lei laii, rlen uown lei
siues, acioss eveiy incl oí lei.
Ir was so passionare rlar Luce blusleu, so inrimare
z:
sle coulun`r biearle, so goigeous rlar sle coulun`r reai
lei eyes away. Nor íoi a seconu.
Nor even wlen Lusclka scieameu.
Anu buisr inro a column oí seaiing wlire ílame.
Tle cyclone oí ílames was orleiwoiluly, íluiu anu al-
mosr eleganr in a glasrly way, like a long silk scaií rwisr-
ing aiounu lei pale bouy. Ir engulíeu Lusclka, íloweu
our oí lei anu all aiounu lei, liglring up rle specracle
oí lei buining limbs ílailing, anu ílailing÷anu rlen nor
ílailing anymoie. Daniil uiun`r ler go, nor wlen rle íiie
singeu lis clorles, nor wlen le lau ro suppoir rle íull
weiglr oí lei slack, unconscious bouy, nor wlen rle
ílames buineu away lei ílesl wirl an ugly, aciiu liss,
nor wlen lei skin began ro clai anu blacken.
Only wlen rle blaze íizzleu our÷so íasr, in rle enu,
like rle snuííing oí a single canule÷anu rleie was norl-
ing leír ro lolu on ro, norling leír bur asles, uiu Daniil
uiop lis aims ro lis siues.
In all oí Luce`s wiluesr uayuieams abour going back
anu ievisiring lei pasr lives, sle`u nevei once imagineu
rlis. lei own uearl. Tle iealiry was moie loiiible rlan
lei uaikesr niglrmaies coulu evei lave concocreu. Sle
sroou in rle colu snow, paialyzeu by rle vision, lei bouy
beieír oí rle capaciry ro move.
Daniil sraggeieu back íiom rle claiieu mass on rle
snow anu began ro weep. Tle reais srieaming uown lis
cleeks maue clean riacks rliougl rle black soor rlar
was all rlar was leír oí lei. His íace conroireu. His
z:
lanus slook. Tley lookeu baie anu big anu empry ro
Luce, as ií÷even rlougl rle rlouglr maue lei ouuly
|ealous÷lis lanus belongeu aiounu Lusclka`s waisr, in
lei laii, cupping lei cleeks. Wlar on eairl uiu you uo
wirl youi lanus wlen rle one rling rley wanreu ro
lolu was suuuenly, giuesomely gone· A wlole giil, an
enriie liíe÷gone.
Tle pain on lis íace rook lolu oí Luce`s leair anu
soueezeu, wiinging lei our complerely. On rop oí all rle
pain anu coníusion sle íelr, seeing lis agony was woise.
Tlis was low le íelr eveiy liíe.
Lveiy uearl.
Ovei anu ovei anu ovei again.
Luce lau been wiong ro imagine rlar Daniel was
selíisl. Ir wasn`r rlar le uiun`r caie. Ir was rlar le caieu
so mucl, ir wieckeu lim. Sle srill lareu ir, bur sle suu-
uenly unueisroou lis birreiness, lis ieseivarions abour
eveiyrling. Miles miglr veiy well love lei, bur lis love
was norling like Daniel`s.
Ir nevei coulu be.
¨Daniel!¨ sle ciieu, anu leír rle slauows, iacing ro-
waiu lim.
Sle wanreu ro ieruin all rle kisses anu embiaces
sle`u |usr wirnesseu lim giving ro lei pasr selí. Sle knew
ir was wiong, rlar eveiyrling was wiong.
Daniil`s eyes wiueneu. A look oí ab|ecr loiioi
ciosseu lis íace.
¨Wlar is rlis·¨ le saiu slowly. Accusingly. As ií le
zz
laun`r |usr ler lis Lusclka uie. As ií Luce`s being rleie
was woise rlan warcling Lusclka uie. He iaiseu lis
lanu, painreu black wirl asl, anu poinreu ar lei. ¨Wlar`s
going on·¨
Ir was agony ro lave lim look ar lei rlis way. Sle
sroppeu in lei riacks anu blinkeu a reai away.
¨Answei lim,¨ someone saiu, a voice íiom rle slau-
ows. ¨How uiu you ger leie·¨
Luce woulu lave iecognizeu rle lauglry voice any-
wleie. Sle uiun`r neeu ro see Cam srep our oí rle uooi-
way oí rle bomb slelrei.
Wirl a soír snap anu iumble like an enoimous ílag
being uníuileu, le exrenueu lis giear wings. Tley
sriercleu our belinu lim, making lim even moie mag-
niíicenr anu inrimiuaring rlan usual. Luce coulun`r keep
leiselí íiom sraiing. Tley casr a golu-lueu glow on rle
uaik srieer.
Luce souinreu, riying ro make sense oí rle scene in
íionr oí lei. Tleie weie moie oí rlem, moie íiguies
luiking in rle slauows. Now rley all sreppeu íoiwaiu.
Cabbe. Rolanu. Molly. Aiiiane.
All oí rlem weie rleie. All wirl rleii wings aicleu
riglrly íoiwaiu. A slimmeiing sea oí golu anu silvei,
blinuingly biiglr on rle uaik srieer. Tley lookeu rense.
Tleii wing rips ouiveieu, as ií ieauy ro spiing inro
barrle.
Ioi once, Luce uiun`r íeel inrimiuareu by rle gloiy oí
z+
rleii wings oi rle weiglr oí rleii gazes. Sle íelr uis-
gusreu.
¨Do you all warcl ir euery rime·¨ sle askeu.
¨Lusclka,¨ Cabbe saiu in an even voice. ¨]usr rell us
wlar`s going on.¨
Anu rlen Daniil was rleie, giipping lei sloulueis.
Slaking lei.
¨Lusclka!¨
¨I`m nor Lusclka!¨ Luce sloureu, bieaking away
íiom lim anu backing up a lalí uozen sreps.
Sle was loiiiíieu. How rley coulu live wirl rlem-
selves· How rley coulu all |usr sir back anu warcl
lei uie·
Ir was all roo mucl. Sle wasn`r ieauy ro see rlis.
¨Wly aie you looking ar me like rlar·¨ Daniil askeu.
¨Sle`s nor wlo you rlink sle is, Daniil,¨ Cabbe saiu.
¨Lusclka`s ueau. Tlis is . . . rlis is÷¨
¨vbat is sbe:¨ Daniil askeu. ¨How is sle sranuing
leie· Wlen÷¨
¨Look ar lei clorles. Sle`s cleaily÷¨
¨Slur up, Cam, sle miglr nor be,¨ Aiiiane saiu, bur
sle lookeu íeaiíul, roo, rlar Luce miglr be wlarevei
Cam was abour ro say sle was. Anorlei sliieking íiom
rle aii, anu rlen a blasr oí airilleiy slells iaining uown
on rle builuings acioss rle srieer, ueaíening Luce, ignir-
ing a woouen waielouse. Tle angels lau no concein íoi
rle wai going on aiounu rlem, only íoi lei. Tleie weie
z:
rwenry íeer now berween Luce anu rle angels, anu rley
lookeu as waiy oí lei as sle íelr oí rlem. None oí rlem
uiew closei.
In rle liglr íiom rle smolueiing builuing, Daniil`s
slauow was rliown íai aleau oí lis bouy. Sle íocuseu
on summoning ir ro lei. Woulu ir woik· Hei eyes nai-
ioweu, anu eveiy muscle in lei bouy renseu. Sle was
srill so clumsy ar rlis, nevei knowing wlar ir rook ro ger
rle slauow inro lei lanus.
Wlen rle uaik lines began ro ouivei, sle pounceu.
Sle giippeu rle slauow wirl borl lanus anu sraireu
rwiiling rle uaik mass inro a ball, |usr as sle`u seen lei
reacleis, Sreven anu Iiancesca, uo on one oí lei íiisr
uays ar Sloieline. ]usr-summoneu Announceis weie al-
ways messy anu amoiplous. Tley neeueu íiisr ro be spun
inro a uisrincr conroui. Only rlen coulu rley be pulleu
anu sriercleu inro a laigei ílar suiíace. Tlen rle An-
nouncei woulu riansíoim. inro a scieen rliougl wlicl
ro glimpse rle pasr÷oi inro a poiral rliougl wlicl ro
srep.
Tlis Announcei was sricky, bur sle soon pulleu ir
apair, guiueu ir inro slape. Sle ieacleu insiue anu
openeu rle poiral.
Sle coulun`r sray leie any longei. Sle lau a mission
now. ro íinu leiselí alive in anorlei rime anu leain wlar
piice rle Ourcasrs lau ieíeiieu ro, anu evenrually, ro
riace rle oiigin oí rle cuise berween Daniel anu lei.
zt
Tlen ro bieak ir.
Tle orleis gaspeu as sle manipulareu rle An-
nouncei.
¨Wlen uiu you leain low ro uo rlar·¨ Daniil wlis-
peieu.
Luce slook lei leau. Hei explanarion woulu only
baííle Daniil.
¨Lucinua!¨ Tle lasr rling sle leaiu was lis voice
calling our lei riue name.
Sriange, sle`u been looking iiglr ar lis sriicken íace
bur laun`r seen lis lips move. Hei minu was playing
riicks.
¨Lucinua!¨ le sloureu once moie, lis voice iising in
panic, |usr beíoie Luce uove leauíiisr inro rle beckon-
ing uaikness.
z/
1W|
HLAVLN 8LNT
\oscow · Ocrovvx Iö, I0+I
¨
Lucinua!¨ Daniel sloureu again, bur roo lare. In rlar
insranr sle was gone. He lau only |usr emeigeu inro rle
bleak, snow-swepr lanuscape. He`u íelr a ílasl oí liglr
belinu lim anu rle lear oí a blaze neaiby, bur all le
coulu see was Luce. He iusleu rowaiu lei on rle uaik-
eneu srieer coinei. Sle lookeu riny in someone else`s
rlieaubaie coar. Sle lookeu scaieu. He`u warcleu lei
open up a slauow anu rlen÷
¨No!¨
A iocker smasleu inro a builuing belinu lim. Tle
za
giounu ouakeu, rle srieer buckeu anu splir, anu a slowei
oí glass anu sreel anu conciere garleieu up in rle aii anu
rlen iaineu uown.
Aírei rlar, rle srieer wenr ueauly ouier. Bur Daniel
baiely noriceu. He |usr sroou in uisbelieí among rle ue-
biis.
¨Sle`s going íuirlei back,¨ le murreieu, biusling
rle uusr íiom lis sloulueis.
¨Sle`s going íuirlei back,¨ someone saiu.
Tlar voice. His voice. An eclo·
No, roo close íoi an eclo. Too cleai ro lave come
íiom insiue lis leau.
¨Wlo saiu rlar·¨ He uasleu pasr a rangleu mess oí
scaííoluing ro wleie Luce lau been.
Two gasps.
Daniel was íacing limselí. Only nor ouire limselí÷
an eailiei veision oí limselí, a sliglrly less cynical vei-
sion oí limselí. Bur íiom wlen· Wleie was le·
¨Don`r roucl!¨ Cam sloureu ar borl oí rlem. He
was uiesseu in an oííicei`s íarigues, combar boors, anu
a bulky black coar. Ar rle siglr oí Daniel, lis eyes
blazeu.
Unwirringly, borl Daniels lau uiawn closei, srepping
aiounu one anorlei in a caurious ciicle in rle snow.
Now rley ieaieu back.
¨Sray away íiom me,¨ rle oluei one waineu rle
newei. ¨Ir`s uangeious.¨
¨I know rlar,¨ Daniel baikeu. ¨Don`r you rlink I
zs
know rlar·¨ ]usr being rlis close maue lis sromacl
luicl. ¨I was leie beíoie. I am you.¨
¨Wlar uo you wanr·¨
¨I`m÷¨ Daniel lookeu aiounu, riying ro ger lis beai-
ings. Aírei rlousanus oí yeais oí living, oí loving Luce
anu losing lei, rle rissue oí lis memoiies lau giown
iaggeu. Reperirion maue rle pasr laiu ro iecall. Bur rlis
place wasn`r so long ago, rlis place le iemembeieu÷
Desolare ciry. Snow on rle srieers. Iiie in rle sky.
Ir coulu lave been one oí a lunuieu wais.
Bur rleie÷
Tle place on rle srieer wleie rle snow lau melreu.
Tle uaik ciarei in rle sea oí wlire. Daniel sank ro lis
knees anu ieacleu íoi rle iing oí black asl sraineu on
rle giounu. He closeu lis eyes. Anu le iemembeieu rle
piecise way sle lau uieu in lis aims.
Moscow. 1º41.
So rlis was wlar sle was uoing÷runneling inro lei
pasr lives. Hoping ro unueisranu.
Tle rling was, rleie was no ilyme oi ieason ro lei
uearls. Moie rlan anyone, Daniel knew tbat.
Bur rleie uere ceirain liíerimes wlen le`u riieu ro
sleu some liglr íoi lei, loping ir woulu clange rlings.
Somerimes le`u lopeu ro keep lei alive longei, rlougl
rlar nevei ieally woikeu. Somerimes÷like rlis rime uui-
ing rle siege oí Moscow÷le`u closen ro senu lei on
lei way moie ouickly. To spaie lei. So rlar lis kiss
coulu be rle lasr rling sle íelr in rlar liíerime.
+o
Anu rlose weie rle liíerimes rlar casr rle longesr
slauows acioss rle eons. Tlose weie rle liíerimes rlar
sroou our anu uiew Luce like íilings ro a magner as sle
srumbleu rliougl rle Announceis. Tlose lives wlen
le`u ievealeu ro lei wlar sle neeueu ro know, even
rlougl knowing ir woulu uesrioy lei.
Like lei uearl in Moscow. He iemembeieu ir keenly
anu íelr íoolisl. Tle uaiing woius le`u wlispeieu, rle
ueep kiss le`u given lei. Tle blissíul iealizarion on lei
íace as sle uieu. Ir lau clangeu norling. Hei enu was
exacrly rle same as always.
Anu Daniel was exacrly rle same aíreiwaiu, roo.
Bleak. Black. Lmpry. Curreu. Inconsolable.
Cabbe sreppeu íoiwaiu ro kick snow ovei rle iing oí
asl wleie Lusclka lau uieu. Hei íearleiliglr wings
gloweu in rle niglr anu a slimmeiing auia suiiounueu
lei bouy as sle luncleu ovei in rle snow. Sle was
ciying.
Tle iesr oí rlem came closei, roo. Cam. Rolanu.
Molly. Aiiiane.
Anu Daniil, long-ago Daniel, iounueu our rleii mor-
ley gioup.
¨Ií you`ie leie ro wain us abour somerling,¨ Aiiiane
calleu, ¨rlen say youi piece anu go.¨ Hei iiiuescenr
wings íolueu íoiwaiu, almosr piorecrively. Sle sreppeu
in íionr oí Daniil, wlo lookeu a lirrle gieen.
Ir was unlawíul anu unnaruial íoi rle angels ro inrei-
acr wirl rleii eailiei selves. Daniel íelr clammy anu
+:
íainr÷wlerlei rlar was because le was laving ro ielive
Luce`s uearl oi because le was so close ro lis pievious
selí, le coulun`r say.
¨Wain us·¨ Molly sneeieu, walking in a ciicle aiounu
Daniel. ¨Wly woulu Daniel Ciigoii go our oí lis way ro
wain us abour anyrling·¨ Sle gor in lis íace, raunring
lim wirl lei coppei-coloieu wings. ¨No, I iemembei
wlar le`s up ro÷rlis one las been skipping rliougl rle
pasr íoi cenruiies. Always seaicling, always lare.¨
¨No,¨ Daniel wlispeieu. Tlar coulun`r be. He`u ser
our ro carcl lei anu le woulu.
¨Wlar sle means ro ask,¨ Rolanu saiu ro Daniel, ¨is
wlar rianspiieu ro biing you leie· Iiom wlenevei
you`ie coming íiom·¨
¨I`u almosr íoigorren,¨ Cam saiu, massaging lis rem-
ples. ¨He is aírei Lucinua. Sle las íallen our oí rime.¨
He ruineu ro Daniel anu iaiseu an eyebiow. ¨Maybe
now you`ll íoisake youi piiue anu ask íoi oui lelp·¨
¨I uon`r neeu lelp.¨
¨Seems as ií you uo,¨ Cam |eeieu.
¨Sray our oí ir,¨ Daniel spar. ¨You`ie enougl riouble
ro us larei.¨
¨Ol, low íun.¨ Cam clappeu. ¨You`ve given me
somerling ro look íoiwaiu ro.¨
¨Tlis is a uangeious game you`ie playing, Daniel,¨
Rolanu saiu.
¨I knou tbat.¨
+:
Cam laugleu a uaik, sinisrei laugl. ¨So. We`ve íi-
nally ieacleu rle enugame, laven`r we·¨
Cabbe swalloweu. ¨So . . . somerling`s clangeu·¨
¨Sle`s íiguiing ir our!¨ Aiiiane saiu. ¨Sle`s opening
up Announceis anu srepping rliougl anu sle`s still
aliue!¨
Daniel`s eyes blazeu violer. He ruineu away íiom all
oí rlem, looking back ar rle iuins oí rle cluicl, rle íiisr
place wleie le`u laiu eyes on Lusclka. ¨I can`r sray. I
lave ro carcl lei.¨
¨Well, íiom wlar I iemembei,¨ Cam saiu soírly, ¨you
nevei will. Tle pasr is alieauy wiirren, biorlei.¨
¨Youi pasr, maybe. Bur nor my íuruie.¨ Daniel
coulun`r rlink sriaiglr. His wings buineu insiue lis
bouy, acling ro be ieleaseu. Sle was gone. Tle srieer
was empry. No one else ro woiiy abour.
He rliew lis sloulueis back anu ler rlem our wirl a
wloosl. Tleie. Tlar liglrness. Tlar ueepesr íieeuom.
He coulu rlink moie cleaily now. Wlar le neeueu was a
momenr alone. Wirl limselí. He slor rle orlei Daniel a
look anu rook oíí inro rle sky.
Momenrs larei, le leaiu rle sounu again. rle same
wloosl oí wings uníuiling÷rle sounu oí anorlei paii
oí wings, youngei wings, raking íliglr íiom rle giounu
below.
Daniel`s eailiei selí cauglr up wirl lim in rle sky.
¨Wleie ro·¨
+z
Woiulessly rley serrleu on a rliiu-sroiy leuge neai
Pariiaicl`s Ponu, on rle iooí acioss íiom Luce`s win-
uow, wleie rley useu ro warcl lei sleep. Tle memoiy
woulu be íieslei in Daniil`s minu, bur rle íainr iecollec-
rion oí Luce lying uieaming unuei rle coveis srill senr a
waim iusl acioss Daniel`s wings.
Borl weie sombei. In rle bombeu-our ciry, ir was sau
anu iionic rlar lei builuing lau been spaieu wlen sle
laun`r. Tley sroou in silence in rle colu niglr, borl
caieíully rucking back rleii wings so rlar rley woulun`r
acciuenrally roucl.
¨How aie rlings íoi lei in rle íuruie·¨
Daniel sigleu. ¨Tle goou news is rlar somerling is
uiííeienr in rlis liíerime. Somelow rle cuise las
been . . . alreieu.¨
¨How·¨ Daniil lookeu up, anu rle lope rlar slone
biiglr in lis eyes uaikeneu. ¨You mean ro say, in lei cui-
ienr liíerime sle las nor yer maue a covenanr·¨
¨We rlink nor. Tlar`s pair oí ir. Ir seems a looplole
las openeu up anu alloweu lei ro live beyonu lei usual
rime֬
¨Bur ir`s so uangeious.¨ Daniil spoke ouickly, íianri-
cally, spewing our rle same uiscouise rlar lau been iun-
ning rliougl Daniel`s minu evei since rle lasr niglr ar
Swoiu & Cioss, wlen le`u iealizeu rlar rlis rime was
uiííeienr. ¨Sle coulu uie anu nor come back. Tlar coulu
be tbe enu. Lveiy single rling is on rle line now.¨
++
¨I knou.¨
Daniil sroppeu, composeu limselí. ¨I`m soiiy. Oí
couise you know. Bur . . . rle ouesrion is, uoes sbe un-
ueisranu wly rlis liíe is uiííeienr·¨
Daniel lookeu ar lis empry lanus. ¨One oí rle Llu-
eis oí Zlsmaelim gor ro lei, inreiiogareu lei beíoie
Luce knew anyrling abour lei pasr. Lucinua iecognizes
rlar eveiyone is íocuseu on rle íacr rlar sle las nor
been baprizeu . . . bur rleie is so mucl sle uoesn`r
know.¨
Daniil sreppeu ro rle euge oí rle iooí anu gazeu ar
lei uaik winuow. ¨Tlen wlar`s rle bau news·¨
¨I íeai rleie is also mucl rlar I uon`r know. I cannor
pieuicr rle conseouences oí lei íleeing backwaiu inro
rime ií I uon`r íinu lei, anu srop lei, beíoie ir`s roo
lare.¨
Down on rle srieer, a siien blaieu. Tle aii iaiu was
ovei. Soon rle Russians woulu be our combing rle ciry,
looking íoi suivivois.
Daniel siíreu rliougl rle slieus oí lis memoiy. Sbe
uas çoinç turtber back÷but to ubicb litetine: He
ruineu ro look laiu ar lis eailiei selí. ¨You iecall ir, roo,
uon`r you·¨
¨Tlar . . . sle is going back·¨
¨Yes. Bur low íai back·¨ Tley spoke simulraneously,
sraiing ar rle uaik srieer.
¨Anu wleie will sle srop·¨ Daniel saiu abiuprly,
+:
backing away íiom rle euge. He closeu lis eyes, rook a
biearl. ¨Luce is uiííeienr now. Sle`s÷¨ He coulu almosr
smell lei. Clean, puie liglr, like sunsline. ¨Somerling
íunuamenral las sliíreu. We íinally lave a ieal clance.
Anu I÷I lave nevei been moie elareu . . . noi moie sick
wirl reiioi.¨ He openeu lis eyes anu was suipiiseu ro
see Daniil nou.
¨Daniel·¨
¨Yes·¨
¨Wlar aie you wairing íoi·¨ Daniil askeu wirl a
smile. ¨Co ger lei.¨
Anu wirl rlar, Daniel reaseu open a slauow along
rle iooí leuge÷an Announcei÷anu sreppeu insiue.
+t
Tlis is a woik oí íicrion. Names, claiacreis, places, anu inciuenrs
eirlei aie rle piouucr oí rle aurloi`s imaginarion oi aie useu íicririously.
Any iesemblance ro acrual peisons, living oi ueau, evenrs,
oi locales is enriiely coinciuenral.
Texr copyiiglr © 2û11 by Tinueibox Books, LLC anu Lauien Kare
]acker illusriarions © 2û11 by Ieinanua Biussi Conçalves wirl Rebecca Roeske
All iiglrs ieseiveu. Publisleu in rle Unireu Srares by Delacoire Piess,
an impiinr oí Ranuom House Cliluien`s Books,
a uivision oí Ranuom House, Inc., New Yoik.
Delacoire Piess is a iegisreieu riauemaik anu rle coloplon is a riauemaik oí
Ranuom House, Inc.
Libiaiy oí Congiess Caraloging-in-Publicarion Dara is available upon ieouesr.
ISBN. º78-û-385-73º16-û (riaue)
ISBN. º78-û-385-ºû774-3 (lib. bug.)
ISBN. º78-û-375-8º718-4 (ebook)
Tle rexr oí rlis book is ser in 12-poinr Classical Caiamonu BT.
Book uesign by Angela Cailino
Piinreu in rle Unireu Srares oí Ameiica
1û º 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Iiisr Luirion
Ranuom House Cliluien`s Books suppoirs rle Iiisr Amenumenr
anu celebiares rle iiglr ro ieau.
ATTENTION READER:
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\~~:
i.·.r× «..r
i.·.r× x..r is rle inrei-
narionally besrselling aurloi oí Tbe 8etrayal
ot Natalie Harçroue anu rle [ALLI`
novels. Iallen, Tornent, Iassion, anu rle íoirl-
coming Rapture. Hei books lave been rians-
lareu inro moie rlan rliiry languages. Sle lives
in Los Angeles wirl lei lusbanu.