Chapter 44
The matron snorted. "There's nothing beyond death. To give people the hope of more is to rob
them. If you tell the dying there is
more after, they don't make the same decisions before they die. They don't say good-bye like they
should. They think they can return and
make a difference. You should think on
that."
We turned a corner and she slammed on the
brakes. A crowd was gathered. This was no market gathering. This was the beginnings of a mob. A march.
A protest of some type. Everyone
looked angry. And yet. . . no banners,
no cardboard signs, nothing being shouted.
The matron's hands shook on the steering
wheel. "Out."
"What?" I was startled at the idea of walking through
this to get to the palace.
"Out.
Now. Take Joy with you. They need to see you both are well."
"But -"
"It's about hope, Andy." Her eyes blazed at me. "You have to give them something to
believe in. Even if I don't believe in
the afterlife, they need someone who does.
Go. Show them you're taking care
of their future."
I was expelled from the matron's car. Joy clutched my hand. "What do we do now, auntie?"
"We go to the palace. And we be polite."
At my words the crowd turned. A path formed. Murmurs of noise preceded us, and followed
us. But those we passed were
silent. Eerily silent like the
in-between of last night. That is, the
silence in between the haunted laughter.
Only these weren't spirits playing tricks on my mind. These were living people watch me
closely. Judging. Needing.
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