Part 45 (1/2)
... and prayed...
... and hoped...
...and- She felt her palm grow warm, hot.
”Ow, Mom! That hurts!”
”Jesus Christ!”
Jack's voice. She opened her eyes and looked at Vicky's back.
She'd smeared the solution over the middle of the Stain, planning to coat it to its borders and beyond. But that wouldn't be necessary.
With her heart bursting Gia watched the edges of the Stain retreat, fading as they drew back toward Vicky's spine.
Could it be? She ached to believe it but couldn't help thinking that her mind was conspiring with her eyes to let her see what she most desperately wanted.
”It's gone!” Jack whispered.
And it was. Not just her imagination or wishful thinking-he saw it too. Without a trace. Except for a smear of brown liquid, Vicky's back was clear.
Gia wrapped her arms around Vicky and began to sob.
It worked! It worked!
That clear little back was worth anything-even the burning itching sensation that had just begun on her own.
3.
-45:42.
Tom awoke and stretched. He felt crummy. A little nausea, a thick tongue, burning nostrils. Now he remembered why he'd kicked that habit.
Still, last night's little toot had got him through his bad case of the downs. Didn't make today look any better, though.
He checked the clock: after ten. He hadn't heard from Jack. Not that he expected to, but he was eager to learn what he and Gia had found during their all-nighter.
He forced himself upright, waited for the room to stop wobbling, then checked out the bedside phone. Three speed-dial b.u.t.tons. He pressed number one.
Someone picked up alter three rings. Jack.
”Hey, it's Tom. Any luck last night?”
”Yeah. Lucky for you. You had your sorry a.s.s yanked out of the fire.”
”You mean-?”
”Yeah. Gia found something in the book that erased Vicky's Stain.”
”Oh, thank G.o.d! That's wonderful news!”
And he meant it. Now he might work his way back into Gia's good graces. And of course it was a relief that her little girl was out of danger.
”For you too,” Jack said. ”You get to live a little longer.”
”What's that supposed to mean?”
”Never mind. Just count yourself lucky.”
And then Tom was holding a dead phone. Jack had hung up on him. Must be still p.i.s.sed at him.
Who cared?
Tom did a quick wash-up, dressed, then headed for the street. He caught a cab on Columbus Avenue and told the driver to take him to Eight Sutton Square.
4.
-45:11.
”Jack! Jack!”
Jack looked up from the Compendium Compendium as a wide-eyed Vicky rushed into the kitchen. as a wide-eyed Vicky rushed into the kitchen.
”What's up, Vicks?”
”That thing! That weird thing! It's gone! It's not in my room anymore!”
Jack was surprised, but then realized it made sense. Vicky no longer carried the Stain, so the Lilitongue would no longer be hovering around her.
”No kidding? Let's go see.”
Gia was in the shower, so Jack followed Vicky upstairs to her bedroom and, sure enough, no Lilitongue hanging in the corner.
Jack let out a breath. Here was confirmation that the d.a.m.ned thing's connection to Vicky had been broken.
”This is great, Vicky.”
She looked up at him with concern in her big blue eyes. ”Is it gone for good? It won't be back?”
”Not if I have anything to say about it.”