Quest

Finale

...

Thorvald, Esmee, and Luke slowly strolled in the direction of the station. They talked mostly of Thorvald. How he had lived, what his world had been like, to live in, and what had changed, as far as he could tell. They steered away from Luke's 'failsafe plan', Esmee looking at him angrily every now and then and him looking guiltily away. Thorvald largely ignored the issue.

At the station, they bought an espresso at Thorvald's suggestion, and then they walked down to where Dawn would arrive.

Then, Dawn called to say her train was pulling into the station and that she was more or less in the back. They saw the train arriving and walked down the platform.

"Hiya. How are you guys doin'?"

"Dawn, this is my ancestor Thorvald Hallipirii. Luke got him out somehow. But that's only the good news. There's bad news as well, but we won't discuss it. So, meet Thorvald. Thorvald, this is my best friend, Dawn Garibaldi."

"What do you mean, bad news?"

Luke said: "Let's not make more out of it than it is. I'll tell you later. Nothing to worry about. Thorvald is looking forward to his first steak in two centuries. Any suggestions?"

"I know just the place. It's two stops south, so we can just take the next train. They even have real beef, if you're into that. It's a bit expensive, though."

"What do you think, Esmee? Can we spring for an expensive dinner? I know I wasn't exactly rich, but there should still be something left."

"Well. Yes."

Tears welled in Esmee's eyes. "I'm all confused. I've been saving money for as long as I remember, and now I can just spend it."

"Well. Could be worse, I imagine."

"Ok, guys. Our train in one minute."

Someone shouted further down the platform, more in pain than anything else. Luke had his back towards the cry, so he glanced curiously over his shoulder.

A small group of teenagers stood perhaps thirty yards away. One of them, a young girl, and probably the one who had cried out, lay on the floor. She looked angrily in Luke's direction. Only then did he see a figure running towards him.

Time stood still. Luke didn't think, and only later would he be able to put words to the images, possibilities, and consequences that ricocheted in his head. With a detached, almost clinical clarity, he was aware of everything. The people standing on the platform, the youngsters shouting, the weird figure running towards them, and the train pulling into the station at that moment, on their platform.

He stepped sideways, out of the path of the approaching figure, and turned to look at his companions, who only then realized something was going on.

A coherent thought surfaced: this wasn't about him. And yet, the trajectory was unmistakably directed at them. Illogically, he thought: Dawn! His heart stood still.

The approaching figure was now twelve feet away.

For some reason, Esmee, slightly to the left of Luke, stepped forward. Luke hunched, almost dropping to gain forward momentum. With his shoulder, he pushed Esmee out of his way and into the hands of Thorvald, who turned and easily pulled Esmee out of harm's way.

To gain height, Luke jumped. Dawn looked at him in utter incomprehension. He grabbed her shoulders with both his hands and turned around her, pulling her with him. As he fell to the floor, he saw the figure close up. Her face twisted in rage. Trying to change direction.

Luke fell hard on his back, hitting his head and pulling Dawn on top of him. Then rolling, making sure Dawn didn't hit her head as well and then rolling off her in one continuous movement.