(Untitled)

[shadowsusannah]

Close to dawn, and Delores Vickery stops her cab on Second Avenue, at the little park across the street Dag Hammerskjold Plaza. She has him wait--she can afford it--but she takes her duffel bag full of money. Oh yes

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[ofthatantet]

One full circle around the Tower, and then it's not the Tower. It's a building. Snow on the ground. There's a train ticket sticking out of the breast pocket of her leather jacket.

No. Wrong.

One full circle around Union Station, and she's somewhere else. Wherever it is, it's warm; too warm for May. She's outside of a Stop & Shop, by a bus stop bench. She can smell horses, and the ocean.

(Carved into the bench: MYSTERY

I AM THE KING OF KEYS

TAKE MY HAND AND WE'LL TRANSCEND.

It's a weird bench.)

In her pocket: a flyer. SEE THE MAINE STONEHENGE. THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD.

Nope. Still wrong.

One full circle around the supermarket, and she's somewhere elseHome

[shadowsusannah]

There's extra security on the door at Tet; they move aside for her.

Susannah turns. "Rose." She clings to Eddie.

Not in twenty years has she so resented not being able to run.

[ofthatantet]

"Mom. Daddy."

She moves fast enough for both of them; on her knees in the grass, buried in a tangled hug.

"Um. Hi, Mr. Copeland." Muffled.

He gives her a nod, and swallows. Polishes his glasses. Send up a little thank you.

[shadowsusannah]

"You're alive."

[ofthatantet]

She pulls back her, face very serious. "Mom. I'm not just alive."

"I won." Not, in spite of everything, without satisfaction.

[shadowsusannah]

They have a lot to talk about.