Page 154 of The Midnight Knock

“I can be pretty persuasive. And if they don’t, I still have the cash. I’ll make sure the kid’s set up all right.”

“Not the same thing as having a sister.”

“That’s life.”

“Yeah.” Ethan nods. “That’s life.”

Kyla looks back. She can just see the mountain in the distance. “Do you think it’s true what the old tribe thought? That the mountain has the power to make sure things happen exactly like they’re supposed to?”

“I hope not. I’d rather not imagine some mountain was responsible for wasting my whole life in Ellersby. For putting Hunter in prison for what he was in prison for.”

“For keeping Fernanda trapped at Frank’s house like some animal.”

“Yet here we are.”

“Yeah.” Kyla nods. “Here we are.”

Which is when Ethan realizes that he and Kyla have been speaking, all this time, without opening their mouths. Kyla is already some ways down the southern road. Ethan is well to the north.

He realizes that Te’lo’hi might have given them a piece ofhispower on their way out the door.

“Keep in touch, Mister Cross,” Kyla says, and despite the distance, he hears her just fine.

“Same to you, Miss Hewitt.”

They left the mountain at dawn. They left behind the city, their friends, The Lake That Travels. One moment, Ethan and Kyla tooktheir first step on the long bridge. The next moment, they were at the mouth of the cave. Behind them was nothing but rubble. No bridge. No silver light. No dead city.

Ahead was the most astonishing view of the desert they would ever see. They watched the sun rise over a landscape so massive it seemed a galaxy itself. One by one, small trees appeared, thin creeks, mile after mile of bright gold potential. A bird sang. Another answered.

High in the sky, just at the limits of their vision, Kyla and Ethan saw a departing glint of silver light.

Kyla said, “What day is it?”

Ethan said, “Tomorrow.”

“Oh, I dream a highway back to you, love

A winding ribbon with a band of gold

A silver vision come and arrest my soul.

I dream a highway back to you.”

GILLIAN WELCH, “I Dream a Highway”