Babel sensed their desperation and would not give them the choice. He increased the temperature of the fire until it was unbearable and survival instinct took over for the Keeper and Cancellarrii. The natural constitution within to live at all cost propelled them away from the fire and unknowingly through the gateway.
The flames followed them inside and contained them. Babel then created a circle of fire, trapping the two men as well as one tree.
The Cancellarrii knew what would come next and turned to his Keeper. “You take my body shield. You are more important to this world than I am. You must survive.”
The Keeper looked at his oldest friend. In that melancholy moment, he was able to smile sadly. “Your shield will not last the fire. Our army is dead. We have lost the world. All we have now is each other and I will not abandon you, old friend.”
The Cancellarrii nodded and then held up his head. He would face death with his mentor and shrink from it. He started to speak but his words were cut off by a shrill chirp. They had been noticed by the Pishacha.
The monsters licked their lips and grinned, causing their faces to shrink upwards until all that could be seen was teeth.
For a moment they did not move. Then, without pretense, they spit and charged.
The Keeper heard the Cancellarrii scream and tried to avert his eyes as his longtime friend was eaten alive.
Then, pain entered his own world. The Pishacha were on him and their weight forced him onto the ground. There would be no escape.
The Keeper screamed his way to his death and out the lives of the people of the world.
CHAPTER FIFTY SIX
Babel kept his eyes on the cemetery a few moments longer. The only movement there came from the creatures that ate the dead of the world. With mixed emotions, he turned from the window and treaded slowly down the stairs the main corridor of the building where Jims and Quentin awaited.
“It is done.” Jims sighed.
“It is done.” Babel agreed.
“The Keeper is gone from this world.” Quentin looked exhausted. “So what is next?”
“Next you go home to your family.”
Jims nodded in agreement. “There will be much to do in the following days and weeks. I would like nothing more right now than to be with my wife.”
“You’re right.” Quentin replied. “It will do all of us well to rest for the night. We will meet back here in the morning?”
“Take your time.” said Babel.
“And where will you go?” Quentin asked Babel.
“I hadn’t thought about it. Perhaps I will stay here tonight.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you’re coming home with me.”
Babel relented and followed Quentin to his house. He was surprised to see Triana waiting for them in the living room.
After dinner, Babel made his way exhausted to the room that was designated for him. He passed by the bedroom of two of Quentin’s daughters. The open door revealed Quentin kneeling, saying goodnight to them. One of the daughters noticed Babel in the hallway. “It’s okay, you can come in. We’re just saying goodnight to our father.”
Babel was hesitant at first – he didn’t want to interrupt this moment – but he entered and sat on the edge of one of the soft beds. Quentin smiled at him and the contentment was obvious. In that moment, Babel was assured that they had been in the right. He had killed thousands of men – men with mothers, but sitting there in the bedroom, he knew he had done what was necessary. Quentin’s daughters would now grow up in a much better world. His soul, which had been storming, now soothed.
“Thank you for what you did.” Quentin’s youngest daughter said to Babel.
Babel did not cry but he came close. “It was my pleasure.”
Quentin beamed the way only a father can. He kissed both girls and Babel and he left the room. “I want to thank you as well.” he said when they had entered the hallway. “It is because of you that I am here in my house with my children.”
“And it’s because of your family that I am here. If Triana had not found me that night outside of the cemetery, there is no telling what might have happened.” His mind flashed back and he thought of his father.
Quentin sensed Babel’s thoughts. “I never knew your father as a man but he was a great kid. He would be proud of all you have done here. You remind me of your father. He had great courage and was quick to smile. You share the same qualities.”
Babel reached out and shook Quentin’s hand. “Thank you, my friend.”
“You bet. Now, I’m off to get some sleep. You should do the same. Tomorrow begins a series of full days for you.”
Babel bid Quentin goodnight and went off to find his bedroom. Once inside the room, he didn’t even take off his shoes before lying on the bed. He was asleep in seconds.
CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
Sometime in the night, Babel’s door opened. He was sound asleep but had learned to be a light sleeper during his nights sleeping scared in the Outerlands. A faint light from the hallway fell through the open doorway and revealed a silhouette of a woman. “Triana” said Babel softly.
The silhouette entered the room and the door closed behind, cutting off the light from the hallway. “Are you asleep?”
“I was but obviously not now.”
“Would you like me to leave?” As she asked the question, Babel could see her shape in the moonlight unbuttoning her nightshirt. The last button unclasped
