Friday,
January 1
New Year’s day
The Red House
Bunia, Congo
People’s Paradise of Africa
“You’re still naked,” bubbles said.
“Yeah,” Bugsy said. “I keep meaning to go get my pants, but… I’ll get to it.”
Ellen lay where she had fallen, the golden medallion of the Lady of Pain in the grass at her side. The ruins of Nick’s hat rested under her head like a pillow. Her ruined face was peaceful. Like she was asleep. He kept expecting her to shudder the way she had when a chill touched her.
“She did it,” Bugsy said. “She broke the fucking Radical. None of us could have, and she… she did it.”
They were silent.
“We should leave,” Bubbles said.
“I will,” Bugsy said. “I’ll go. Just… just give us a minute.”
“You need a hospital,” said Noel, “now.” Under his breath, but not so quietly Wally couldn’t hear, he added, “And a sodding blacksmith, for all the good it will do.”
“Wait,” said Wally. It came out more like a gurgle. He shambled toward the garden and its pair of baobab trees, wheezing with the effort of every step. New pain lanced up his side; bone fragments shifting through his innards.
Behind him, Bubbles said, “What is he doing?”
“Saying good-bye,” said Noel.
Ghost came running up. She took his hand. He tried not to lean on her, so that he wouldn’t hurt her if he fell.
They stopped beneath the baobabs, where the first light of sunrise cast long shadows across the battlefield. Wally tried to reach up to pick seeds, but one arm didn’t work at all, and when he raised the other over his head, the pain took his breath away. Ghost saw what he was trying to do. Her feet left the ground. She floated up through the branches like an angel, picking seeds as she went.
To the tree, Wally said, “She’s a good kid, Jerusha. I think she’s gonna be okay. You woulda liked her. I’ll tell her all about you.” He looked around, at Noel and Bubbles and the rest. “I’ll tell everybody about you.”
A stab of pain; the breath caught in his throat. And then the tears came, far too strong to be held back. “Aww, heck, Jerusha. Why’d you have to get bit? It was supposed to be me who died, not you.”
He knew people were watching him, but he didn’t care. Wally hobbled over to one of the baobab trunks. He leaned against it, put his arms around it. The wood smelled, ever so faintly, of Jerusha. Wally sniffled.
“Thank you for coming to Africa with a big dumb guy,” he whispered. “Thank you for being so nice to me. Thank you for being my best friend.” He pressed his lips to the tree, careful not to scratch the wood. “I will never, ever forget you, Jerusha. Not if I live to be a million.”
A breeze wafted through the baobab. Wally imagined he could hear Jerusha’s laughter in the rustling branches. Or was she crying, too?
Ghost descended. She landed next to Wally with an armload of baobab seeds.
Wally called over to Noel. “Okay. We’re ready now.”
Epilogues
Kisangani, Congo
People’s Paradise of Africa
Zombies were patrolling the outer edges of Kisangani.
Moto-that was Fire Boy’s name-sat beside her in the passenger seat of the jeep. “Don’t let them scare you,” Michelle told him.
Sitting next to the road-in a very nonzombie state-were a couple of men Michelle recognized, Leopard Men who had been transformed when Alicia Nshombo had died. Michelle preferred them in their nonfeline state. She slowed the jeep and yelled, “Joey, I’ve got someone here who needs to meet Adesina. And maybe even you.”
“What the fuck do I care about that, Bubbles?” gurgled one of the zombies.
Moto’s mouth dropped open, and a blast of fire engulfed the zombie.
“God-fucking-damn-it,” came Joey’s voice through the mouth of the burning corpse. “That little fucker just barbecued up my favorite.”
“Oh, please.” Michelle bubbled and blew the flaming zombie into a sloppy mess of bones and rags and blackened meat. “I’m coming in.” She ground the jeep into first and drove into the compound.
The place was looking far better than Michelle had expected. Between Joey’s zombies, the captives, and the staff, they’d cleared away the remains of Alicia Nshombo and her followers. The blood was gone and there was the scent of fresh paint in the air.
Michelle parked the jeep and got out. Joey came out of one of the small houses. A phalanx of zombies immediately surrounded her. “What the fuck do you want?” she asked.
“World peace, an end to hunger, and a frothy cappuccino,” Michelle replied. “Doesn’t look like I’m getting any of it.”
“Who’s the little fucker with the bad breath?”
Moto had scurried out of the jeep to stay close to Michelle. He grabbed her hand and gave Joey a frightened look. “This is Moto,” Michelle said. “Moto, this is Joey.”
“Hello,” he said. There was a little burp of fire, but no more. Michelle gave his hand a squeeze.
Joey shot Michelle a nasty look-something Michelle was used to. Then Joey looked at Moto. She gave him a small smile. He gripped Michelle’s hand tighter, but he smiled back at Joey.
“Where’s Adesina?” Michelle asked.
“Michelle!” Adesina came running up the main path. Well, she skittered. Her pretty face looked strange attached to her insect body. She launched herself into the air and flew awkwardly at Michelle. She’s not used to her wings yet, Michelle thought. She opened her arms, caught Adesina, and embraced her gently.
Adesina touched Michelle’s face with her front legs. A wave of warmth and happiness filled Michelle. This is Moto, Michelle thought. Adesina pulled away and Michelle let her go. A wave of sadness came over Michelle.
Adesina flitted in front of Moto. There was a moment when Michelle was afraid he might accidentally open his mouth and set her on fire. Instead he held out his arm and Adesina landed. He brought her close to his face and she put her legs on his face as she had with Michelle. His anxious expression was replaced with a beatific smile.
“When the fuck are you leavin’?” Joey asked.
Michelle watched Adesina and Moto. It was good. She’d done the right thing bringing him here.
“I’m not sure.” Michelle smiled at Joey. A cheerful Michelle annoyed Joey to no end. “I thought I’d call Juliet and see if she’d like to come join us in this lovely vacation spot.”
Joey’s zombies gave an angry growl. “Why the fuck would you do that?” Joey asked.
“Because the three of us need to sort some stuff out.” Michelle looked back at Adesina and Moto. They seemed to be getting along just fine. “And I’m going to stay here for a while to help out.”
“No fucking way,” Joey said. Her voice was harsh. And she poked Michelle in the back. “Not after what you did to that little fucker-the Mummy.”
“Especially after what happened with her.”
“You fucking killed her,” Joey spat out. “You were supposed to be some kind of hero, and you killed a kid. What the fuck does that make you?”
“Human.” Michelle felt a terrible sadness. “Just like you. Just like everybody else.”
“I’m never going to forgive you,” Joey said.
“That’s okay.” Michelle touched Joey’s cheek, wiping away a tear. “I’m not going to, either.”
