“Not that they’d have an ear for it, but what a lovely gesture. I’ll see to it.” She extended a hand, as though we’d concluded a business transaction.
“I think I’ll pass,” I said.
That seemed to piss her off. I knew from all my historical reading that it was better to keep your enemies close. But with her, I didn’t care. I was done. And standing back here where we’d first met, I suddenly remembered the dowsing stone that was still in my pocket. I dug it out and held it toward her.
“You can keep this,” I said. “My guess is it works both ways. Nice tracking device. But since we won’t be having any more meetings . . .”
She took the stone, said “Until next time,” and glided away down Manette Street.
That left me alone in relative silence, which I still hated. Needed some music. As I turned back to the Horse, Lakshmi appeared at the corner of the alley.
“Everything all right?” she asked, crossing toward me. “You keeping tabs?”
“Just happened to be in the area.”
“Right,” I said. “Come on in for a few minutes. Everyone’s here.”
We walked back in to find Church’s table empty. So, we ducked through the velvet curtain into the venue side, where our friends were watching Nightwish, who was about to start their set.
Tuomas saw me come in and waved me to the stage. I hadn’t planned on singing, but several of the regulars began to insist. Church, Lady, Kincaid, and Chuey among them.
“Go on, lad,” said Church.
“It’s no Buck ’N’ Bull,” Lakshmi said with a grin, “but I’d stay to hear you sing.”
I pulled Henry’s field manual from my pocket and handed it to Chuey. “Hold on to this, then. And don’t lose it.”
As I made my way onstage and looked out at all my friends—some of whom I didn’t even know yet—I knew I was in the right place.
I also knew I still had a lot to learn about this thanaturgic world. There were secrets lingering in the Endless Dark and all throughout the Strata. But I had people to lean on. People who weren’t going away. And they were more than a third option. They were family. I’d found my new band, sure enough. Henry had been right, and it had been staring me in the face the whole time.
“What’s it going to be?” Tuomas asked.
Thoughts swirled in my head: my old dreams, my rebirth, this whole new world of shadow, the beauty and pain I’d seen in so many souls. And Henry.
“Remember ‘Behind Blue Eyes’?” Tuomas and I had worked out our own version of it a few years back as a surprise for Henry.
“Of course,” Tuomas said.
I grabbed the mic and found Chuey in the crowd. He put his hands around his mouth and yelled, “Your voice sucks!” Always loved hearing that. Kai called out a four count, and the band launched into a powerful rendition of Henry’s song. I eased myself into the groove, remembering how he and I used to sing this one together. I still hoped to write more songs of my own someday, but just then, all I wanted was to crank up this one, remember my fallen friends, and share this night with my family.
Because music was back at the Iron Horse.
