‘Just like old times,’ he heard Veitch say sarcastically.
Church kept one eye on Veitch, fearing that if he dropped his guard he would be pitched off the path to his death, but Veitch followed sullenly, keeping several feet back. Progress was slow. The path dog-legged, twisted, turned back on itself and ran in long, straight lines until they were well out over the city and the Empire State Building and Ruth were far behind. And that was when the paint ran out.
‘Now what?’ Veitch said.
‘We can’t go back.’ Church pondered the point, swaying uneasily in the wind. ‘We’ll just have to feel around and do it without any help.’
‘You’re nuts.’
‘We don’t have a choice.’
Bracing his right foot, Church felt out with his left. Slowly, they edged onwards. Their progress was even more gut-churning without the meagre comfort of the sticky paint path beneath their feet. It felt as if they were floating in thin air.
‘If I throw up, don’t look back,’ Veitch said.
At that moment, the path took a sudden turn to the left and Church’s foot skidded over the edge. His weight carried him over after it. He saw the streets spinning far below, the air rushing into his lungs.
Veitch caught him by the back of his jacket and held him there. Church could tell Veitch was weighing whether to let him drop.
After a moment, Veitch pulled him back. They exchanged one look, and then continued on their way in silence.
Half an hour later, Church came up hard against what appeared to be a wall in the air, though he could see straight through it.
‘Maybe the path goes round the edge,’ Veitch suggested.
Church tested. ‘No, this is it. Dead end.’
‘That’d be plain stupid. All this way to a dead end.’ Veitch thought. ‘A door?’
Church felt around and something gave beneath his fingers. The door opened into a small room that was unmistakably floating in the air, but the walls, floor and ceiling had a translucent quality that gave it some solidity.
Inside sat Jack, Mahalia and Crowther, in a trance. Church immediately sensed another, invisible presence.
‘Where are you?’ he said.
‘All around you, Brother of Dragons. I am Apoyan-Tachi, Sky Father God, and this is my home.’
From the corner of his eye, Church saw Veitch’s hand moving towards his sword. Church signalled for him to stop and Veitch paused, but remained wary.
‘I’ve come for these three Fragile Creatures, Sky Father God,’ Church said.
‘One is too dangerous to remain in this Great Dominion. He will only draw unwanted attention.’
‘I won’t let him stay here. We’re going to the Far Lands. He will help us defeat the Devourer of All Things.’
‘Too late.’ There was a sound like the sighing of the wind through branches. ‘The Devourer of All Things has closed all the doorways to the Far Lands. It knows your plans, and it wishes to keep you trapped here in the Fixed Lands where you are forever limited.’
‘That’s it, then?’ Veitch said. ‘It’s all been for nothing?’
‘No, it’s not been for nothing,’ Church said firmly.
‘I’ve always admired your optimism.’ For the first time there was no sarcasm in Veitch’s voice.
‘Sky Father God, let me take these three and I promise they will be removed from this Great Dominion.’
Another moment of whispering wind. ‘You have made your way across my ritual path, and so you are worthy, Brother of Dragons. But know this: the moment the One is in your hands, the Devourer of All Things will rise up. Your End-Time will be close.’
‘I’ll take that risk. And thank you.’
‘Hurry, Brother of Dragons. The path back will not remain in place long. Hurry!’
Veitch muttered under his breath, ‘I don’t bleedin’ like the sound of that.’
When Church opened the door, the invisible path now sparkled as if it was sprinkled with gold dust. Veitch led the way, followed by Jack, Mahalia and Crowther tramping like sleepwalkers. Church brought up the rear and kept a close eye on them in case they woke suddenly and fell.
Halfway along the return journey, Church glanced behind him and saw the sparkling dust drifting down towards the grimy streets. The path was falling away.
‘Ryan, you have to move faster!’ he called out.
Veitch saw the reason for Church’s anxiety and increased his pace, though the danger of slipping increased with it. Church herded the other three along as fast as he dared, but the disappearing edge of the path was racing towards his heels.
A loud noise, like a heavy, metal object being dragged, echoed all around.
‘What the bleedin’ hell is that?’ Veitch called out.
‘Don’t think about it now,’ Church said. ‘Just get a move on!’
The edge of the path was only a few feet behind him, and he was jostling against Crowther’s back. The wind gusted stronger, and on the horizon storm-clouds gathered rapidly; there was something unnatural about the speed with which they were rolling together.
The Empire State Building appeared in the gathering gloom ahead. Church could see Ruth still gripping the mooring mast, the wind whipping her hair. At the window, just below, the others watched anxiously.
‘Ryan, you’re going to have to run or I’m dead!’ Church shouted.
Veitch held Church’s gaze for a moment, thoughts racing across his face, and then he ran, only his innate balance keeping him from falling. The others followed somnolently.
Thin air sucked voraciously only inches from Church’s heels.
The metallic grinding echoed again, even louder, setting Church’s teeth on edge.
Veitch leaped for the platform and dragged Jack, Mahalia and Crowther onto it behind him. Church was a second too late. The path disappeared beneath his feet, but then four arms pulled him to safety. He fell in a heap with Veitch and Ruth. Her hand gripped his back and gave it a squeeze that told him all he needed to know, for now.
‘That was mental!’ Laura said when they were back inside. ‘Church-dude, you are a mad bastard and no mistake.’
Shavi hugged him tightly.
‘Enough of all that homoerotic stuff,’ Laura continued. ‘Can we toss the traitor off the top of the building now?’ She fixed a cold eye on Veitch. ‘I haven’t forgotten that knife you stuck in my chest in London.’
‘I knew you wouldn’t die.’
‘Yeah, but what about the agony, you tosser?’
Church searched Veitch’s face as his own doubts twisted inside him. ‘Are we going to fight?’
‘Up to you.’
‘I need both Keys, Ryan. I’m going to destroy the Void. Nothing else matters.’
Incomprehension flooded Veitch’s face. As it gradually cleared, it was replaced by an instant of revelation. ‘All right. I’m coming with you.’
‘You have got to be kidding!’ Laura exclaimed. ‘He’s murdered God knows how many of us, and now he wants to be friends!’
‘I didn’t say anything about that!’ A crack of emotion broke in Veitch’s voice.
‘Ryan’s done some awful things,’ Ruth began hesitantly. ‘He’s made a lot of mistakes, and we’re not going to forget that.’
‘Damn straight,’ Laura interjected.
‘But he can help us. We need to be Five again — we need to have all our strength if we’re going to face what lies ahead.’
‘You’re vouching for him?’ Church asked.
Ruth bit her lip, nodded.
