Chapter 8. Hear that voice again.

Winston could hear Finn calling out to him, but he couldn't

answer. He fell forward onto his face and lay there, unable

to move. He heard Finn getting closer and saw his boots come

to a stop in front him. Then his world went black..

Finn roll him over. Winston felt him clear mud from his mouth

and check for other wounds. He wanted to tell Finn that he

was sorry. He felt Finns' hands on his face and then the

pressure of Finns hands on his chest.

He wanted to tell Finn to leave him behind, to not waste

time on him. There was no more time left - his life over,

he could feel the last of it draining away.

In the growing stillness he heard a womans' voice.

"May I have a quiet word with you Winston."

It was like a burst of sunlight in a dark sky.

Warmth spread across his chest and over his face.

He felt it seeping through his entire body. Winston took a deep

breath, then another, and for the first time in his life, he was

aware of his heart beating and blood flowing through every

part of his body. He was flushed with a feeling of well being.

Then he heard her voice again. "Open your eyes."

He was no longer lying on the ground - he was standing next

to a tall woman. She had straw coloured hair and hazel eyes

that seemed to shimmer.

"Am I dead?" he asked.

"No, not today." The woman said with a smile,

"My name is Eurides, and I have a favour to ask of you Winston"

Winston looked around. They were still on the battlefield,

and beside them, Finn was leaning over his body.

Everything was fixed in place and unmoving, as if he was

looking at pieces on a chessboard.

Winston looked at his body lying on the ground.

"So....if I'm not dead, what am I then."

"You're someone who will still be alive tomorrow."

Winston watched Eurides gently rest her hand on Finns's

shoulder. He saw the tenderness in her face and knew at

once that they were somehow connected.

"What do you want me to do?' he asked.

"I need to move some things around." Eurides said.

She brushed a hand along Finns' neck.

"It will only take a moment or two of your time Winston

- and then afterwards, you can forget that anything

ever happened."

*