That’s when a series of shots rang out and everyone looked to the back of the mob, where Williams stood next to Ank—having commandeered a pistol from someone in the crowd—and began lowering his gun hand slowly. Gasps quickly followed as more and more people took notice of the bomb on Ank’s back and the mob gave them a wide birth.
“Are you done now?” said Williams at last. He handed the gun back to its owner. “Because if you’ll kindly screw your courage back up, we’ve got a way to end this. To end the Enemy. For good.”
––––––––
She moved through the forest like a ghost, uncertain of her destination—other than that it was in Barley—but convinced, too, that she would know it when she saw it. Nor did she travel alone, for the voice of Szambelan now followed her everywhere: cajoling her to h
