deep wound behind his left shoulder, from the innumerable lacerations all over his body, and from the pockets where the teeth of the savage little rakoshi had torn away the skin. He felt weak from fatigue and blood loss, but he should have lost more—he should have been in near shock. The necklace truly seemed to have healing powers.
But could it really keep you young? And let you grow old if it were removed? That could be why Kolabati had refused to lend it to him when they were trapped in the pilot's cabin. Could Kolabati be slowly turning into an old hag back in his apartment right now? He remembered how Ron Daniels, the mugger, had sworn he hadn't rolled an old lady the night before. Perhaps that explained much of Kolabati's passion for him: It wasn't her grandmother's necklace he’d returned—it was her own.
He took a hand off an oar to reach up and touch the necklace. It might not be a bad thing to keep around. You never knew when you might—
A splash over by the freighter.
'What was that?' Jack asked Vicky. 'Did you see anything?”
He could see her shake her head in the darkness. 'Maybe it was a fish.'
'Maybe.'
Jack didn't know of any fish in Upper New York Bay big enough to make a splash like that. Maybe the flamethrower had fallen off the gangway. That would explain the splash nicely. But try as he might, Jack could not entirely buy that.
A cold clump of dread sprang up between his shoulders and began to spread.
He rowed even harder.
37
Gia couldn't keep her hands still. They seemed to move of their own accord, clasping together and unclasping, clenching and unclenching, running over her face, hugging her, climbing in and out of her pockets. She was certain she’d go stark raving mad if something didn't happen soon. Jack had been gone forever. How long did they expect her to stand around and do nothing while Vicky was missing?
He pacing had worn a path in the sand along the bulkhead; now she simply stood and stared out at the freighter. It had been a shadow all along, but a few moments ago it began to burn—at least part of it. A line of flame had zigzagged along the hull from the deck level almost down to the water. Abe had said it looked like Jack's flamethrower at work, but he didn't know what he was up to. Through the binoculars it looked like a burning gangway and the best he could guess was that Jack was, in effect, burning a bridge behind him.
And so she waited, more anxious that ever, waiting to see if Jack was bringing back her Vicky.
Then suddenly she saw it—a spot of yellow on the surface, the rhythmic glint of oars moving in and out of the water.
'Jack!' she called, knowing her voice probably wouldn't carry the distance but unable to contain herself any longer. 'Did you find her?'
And then it came, that dear squeaky little voice she so loved:
'Mommy! Mommy!'
Joy and relief exploded within her. She burst into tears and stepped to the edge of the bulkhead, ready to leap in. But Abe grabbed her.
'You'll only slow them up,' he said, pulling her back. 'He's got her, and he'll get here faster if you stay where you are.'
Gia could barely control herself. Hearing Vicky's voice was not enough. She had to hold her little girl and touch her and hug her before she could truly believe she had her back. But Abe was right—she had to wait where she was.
Movement of Abe's arm across his face drew her attention away from the water for an instant. Was he wiping at tears? Gia threw an arm around his waist and hugged him.
'Just the wind,' he said, sniffing. 'My eyes have always been sensitive to it.'
Gia nodded and returned her attention to the water: smooth as glass, not the slightest breeze, allowing the raft to make good speed.
Hurry, Jack...I want my Vicky!
In moments the raft was close enough for her to see Vicky crouched on the far side of Jack, smiling, waving over his shoulder as he rowed. And then the raft nosed against the bulkhead and Jack was handing Vicky up to her.
Gia clasped Vicky against her. She was real! Yes, it was Vicky, truly Vicky! Euphoric with relief, she spun her around and around, kissing her, squeezing, promising never to let her go ever again.
'I can't breathe, Mommy!'
Gia loosened her grip a fraction, but could not let go. Not yet.
Vicky started blabbering in her ear. 'A monster stole me from the bedroom, Mom! It jumped in the river with me and...'
Vicky's words faded away. A monster...then Jack wasn't crazy. She looked over to where he stood on the bulkhead next to Abe, smiling at her and Vicky when he wasn't glancing over his shoulder at the water. He looked awful—torn clothes, blood all over him. But he looked proud, too.
'I'll never forget this, Jack,' she said, her heart ready to burst with gratitude.
'I didn't do it just for you.' He glanced back at the water again. What was he looking for? 'You're not the only one who loves her, you know.'
'I know.'
He seemed ill at ease. He glanced at his watch.
