Hitler Hitman to frame Rothmann? It wasn’t so crazy. From what he’d learned, the victims had been mutilated and treated in ways that hinted at the Antichurch’s rituals. There were Nazi slogans and insignia at the scenes. Was that what this was? One enormous setup?
He didn’t really buy that, but it would give his boss something to chew over, thus getting him off his back. It would also justify this bullshit trip to Philly.
Yeah, Gordy Lister thought. Job done.
Karen was sitting on a blanket in a wide field, the sun beating down. Insects buzzed lazily about the bright green grass and clover. In the distance a wide river swung round a bend, the trees on the far bank dipping their leaves in the blue-brown water. Swallows were zipping to and fro on the southerly breeze.
Magnus gurgled in her arms.
‘Who’s having fun?’ she said, lowering her head and rubbing her nose against his. ‘Who likes the sunshine?’
Our son started laughing, stretching out his little hands to grab his mother’s hair.
‘Ow!’ she pretended. ‘Little man hurting Mummy, no, no!’
I went over to them, lowering the camera.
‘Oh, here’s Dadda. Now you’d better watch out.’
I put my finger out and felt his hand close round it. ‘Who’s a strong boy?’ I said, bending over and looking into his green eyes. ‘So, when are you going to give me back your mother’s breasts?’ He stared at me and then stuck his tongue out.
Karen screamed. ‘It’s the first time he’s done that!’ she said, kissing him on the forehead. ‘Clever Magnus. Silly Dadda.’
I kneeled down and put my arms round them. ‘I love you,’ I said. ‘I always will.’
A metallic sound made me look over my shoulder. I stood up, the camera falling to the ground. A figure in black combat fatigues was walking toward us, a cap obscuring the face. There was an assault rifle, bayonet fixed, in the figure’s hands.
I turned back to Karen. ‘Run! Take the baby and run!’
She gave me an agonized look, and then got to her feet and took off toward the distant line of trees.
I faced our assailant. ‘No!’ I yelled, as the rifle was raised to the shoulder. Multiple shots rang past me as I rushed toward him. I lowered my shoulder and took him down before he could aim at me. We fought for what seemed like a long time. Eventually I managed to tear the weapon away and toss it behind me. Then I pulled the cap off.
‘Hello, Matt,’ Sara Robbins said, licking blood from her lips and smiling. ‘I told you we’d meet again.’
I wasn’t surprised it was her. I grabbed the front of her jacket with one hand and smashed the other into her face. I kept doing that till it was a red mush, then I let her fall back, then turned and ran.
‘Karen!’ I screamed. ‘Where are you? Karen!’
I followed the direction she had taken, looking from side to side. The grass wasn’t long enough to hide her. They had disappeared.
Could she have got to the trees? How long had I been struggling with Sara?
I reached the forest. ‘Karen!’ I yelled, again and again.
Then I pushed past a low branch covered in fresh leaves. There she was, lying on the ground with her arms outstretched. The baby was a few feet ahead. Both were motionless.
‘Karen,’ I moaned, falling to my knees. ‘Magnus…’
The pain that suddenly transfixed me was worse than any I had known. I looked down and saw the bloody point of the bayonet protruding from my chest.
I screamed and then an explosion of light melted my eyes.
‘Matt? Matt?’
I was blind and the pain in my chest was still intense. My head was also throbbing. The voice, soft and deep and female, continued saying my name, but I didn’t recognize it.
‘Pull it out,’ I heard myself say. ‘Pull it out!’
I felt dampness on my eyes, a cloth or the like. Then it was withdrawn and I found I could open them. Faces swam into view.
‘Pull it out! Please…’
A honey-colored face that I’d seen before came close to mine. ‘It’s Angel, Matt. The midwife.’
My chest was in agony. ‘Pull it out,’ I pleaded.
‘Pull what out, Matt?’
‘My heart,’ I said. ‘My heart. Pull it out.’
Angel’s eyes brimmed with tears. ‘Oh, Matt.’
A man in a white coat moved in front of her. ‘Mr. Wells? My name’s Jimson. I’m the doctor looking after you. Do you remember what happened?’
I stared at him. ‘Of course I do. Karen and I were having a picnic. It’s the first time we’d taken the baby on one. We…’ I broke off as I had flashes of Sara Robbins in black, a rifle in her hands. And a bayonet. ‘Karen,’ I said. ‘Where is she? Where’s my son?’
‘Calm down, Mr. Wells. I gave you a sedative. You’ve been…you’ve been dreaming.’
Something clicked and my world seemed to reconfigure itself. ‘That’s a relief…’ I said.
Dr. Jimson nodded. He was a handsome man in his uniform, a colonel, no less. I remembered the other doctor, the one with blood on his tunic. Kitano. He told me that…
Something clicked again, this time more jagged and metallic.
‘He’s remembered,’ I heard Jimson say. ‘Get ready to restrain him.’
But I didn’t move. I just said dully, ‘Karen’s dead. Our son, as well.’ A bitter taste filled my mouth and the pain in my heart got worse. ‘Isn’t that so?’
He looked at me and then nodded. ‘I’m very sorry, Mr. Wells. My colleagues did everything they-’
‘I want to see them.’
‘I…I don’t think that’s a very good idea.’
‘I want to see them. Now!’
Two big men appeared on either side of the bed and took hold of my shoulders.
‘Please, Mr. Wells, you need to-’
‘I want to see them!’ The words burned my throat.
A face that I recognized appeared from behind one of the gorillas.
‘Let him see them, Doctor,’ Peter Sebastian said. ‘It’s what he needs to do.’
Jimson nodded. ‘Very well. But he’s still my patient. I need to check if he’s up to it.’
I closed my eyes as he examined me. I breathed evenly, willing myself to appear normal. I couldn’t feel my heartbeat; there was only the knifing pain.
After some time, I felt electrodes being removed from my chest and I opened my eyes. The big men had stepped back.
‘Can you sit up, Mr. Wells?’ Jimson asked.
I found that I could. One of the auxiliaries pushed a wheelchair forward.
‘I don’t need that.’ I pushed my feet downward and put my weight on them. My legs felt weak, but I could take a few steps.
‘Let him walk,’ Sebastian said.
I looked at him and felt relief. At least someone understood. Angel knelt down and slipped a pair of slippers onto my feet.
‘Follow me,’ the doctor said, heading toward the door.
I moved forward.
‘Would you like me to come with you?’ Sebastian asked.
I shrugged. Whatever happened, I was going to see them alone. He could tag along as far as the last door if he wanted.
Fortunately, nobody spoke during the short walk. Angel was in the group, probably because she felt bad about what had happened. I didn’t feel anything except the pain in my heart.
Jimson led us through a door. There were desks and other office furniture, and another door across the room.
