Chapter SevenOn the drive to the park, Alan explained his theory.
“It was something Nichols said. About the birds picking up things and carrying them off.”
He broke off as he was suddenly forced to brake hard to avoid hitting a young child, who had run out into the road. He waved at the mother, who had held up her hand to thank him for acting so quickly. Thankfully, he hadn't been driving very fast. Nevertheless, the boy had acted so hastily, the outcome could have been much worse.
Slowly moving away, Alan glanced in his rearview mirror to see the woman chastising the boy; probably more through fright than anger. But, in an instant, the woman changed her stance and pulled her son close, hugging him tightly.
In that split second, he thought back to the days when he was young. There hadn
