Part 53 (1/2)

I only hoped the village had been so lucky.

”Merry Christmas, Solnyshko.”

”Merry Christmas, GM.”

GM gave me a present-a little wooden bird with fanciful scarlet plumage that was suspended from a loop of gold string.

”It's a Firebird,” GM said. ”I found it in the hospital gift shop while you were still out. The Firebird is said to be able to heal any ill-I thought it might bring you luck. It's supposed to be a tree ornament, but you can use it for any purpose you wish.”

I gave GM a hug.

We went into town a little while later to have lunch with Maksim.

I was relieved to see that Krov, like our house, had escaped attack.

I knew, of course, that the fact that Krov had not been attacked last night was no guarantee of future safety. There was no reason that the village could not be attacked tonight or the next night, or the next.

And there was no sign of William.

GM and I stayed in Krov for two more days-she wanted to make sure I was truly fit for travel-and then we left for Moscow.

The hybrids did not attack, and William did not appear.

And I felt his absence more keenly every day.

Once we arrived in Moscow, we lingered. GM was still nervous about my health, and she contacted my school to see if I could come back a few days late. GM wanted to stay in Moscow through New Year's Day, and I was due back in school the very next morning.

GM was able to get me an excused absence, and New Year's Eve found us once again in Red Square. The night was very cold, but the square was beautiful-it was all lit up, and I felt as if I had walked into a celebration in an enchanted land.

The square was full of people, and I watched a couple walking arm in arm, their heads bent together. I thought of William.

I felt a pain so profound that I thought it would tear me apart.

And then suddenly, impossibly, I saw William walking toward me through the crowd. I blinked. I was sure I was seeing things.

But William did not vanish, and he kept moving toward me.

Soon, he was standing right in front of me, and he gave me the crooked smile that I loved so well.

”h.e.l.lo, Katie. h.e.l.lo, Mrs. Rost.”

GM eyed at him warily.

”h.e.l.lo,” she replied.

”Mrs. Rost, may I take Katie for a walk? I promise you I will bring her back safely.”

GM seemed resigned. ”Very well.”

”Forgive me for noticing,” William said. ”But you don't seem at all shocked to see me. It's almost as if you expected me.”

”I did expect you,” GM replied. ”I knew you'd be back.”

I looked at her in surprise. I had known no such thing.

”We'll be back soon, I promise,” William said.

We walked off into the crowd, and I clung to William's arm.

I was half afraid he would disappear again.

”How did you know where to find me?” I asked. Despite what his presence implied, I was suddenly struck by doubt. ”You did come here to see me, didn't you?”

”Of course I came here to see you. I know where you are all the time now.”

”Where have you been these last few days?” I asked. ”I was worried-”

”About the hybrids?” William asked.