Chapter 13. Requiem

From the blood trail, Kurt could see that the English

stretcher bearer had survived the initial high explosive

shell blast. He rolled the soldier onto his side and saw

that he was still breathing.

The lifeless bodies of the stretcher bearer's squad and the

casualty they were carrying, lay scattered in the street.

"What's your name."

''Finn." the stretcher bearer said weakly, before he passed out.

*

An owl perched in the exposed rafters of a nearby building.

"You're not the only one who can keep secrets Antares."

Freya stretched out her wings as she looked on, then folded

them tightly away. "Perhaps you were right, maybe there is

something of value to see here."

*

Kurt held an ampoule of iodine he'd taken from Finn's first

aid kit. "This will do nicely."

He put it in his pocket as a keepsake and turned to Finn.

"If my friend Waldamir was here, he'd say us meeting like

this is nothing more than chance - but I don't see it that way.

Kurt took the bayonet from his boot and put it on the ground.

"I think that everything happens for a reason."

He knelt and lifted Finn into a sitting position.

"Like it's a part of a pattern or it's another piece in a puzzle."

"I think so too." Finn said.

Kurt was surprised that Finn had come around.

"What I don't understand though... is how thinking like that

could be of any benefit to someone as small and insignificant

as you." Finn started to laugh.

"Are you mocking me?" Kurt angrily reached for his

bayonet.

Finn's laughter slowed, then deepened until it became

a growl. The hair on Kurt's arms stood up.

"My name is Eurides" a woman's voice said,

"Finn is no longer here, he's resting."

Eurides stood Finn's body up. Her eyes blazed from within

his face.

Frozen with fear, Kurt dropped his bayonet.

"I promised Finn's Father that I would take care of him,

and so I shall."

"What are you?." Kurt asked.

Eurides took a moment before she answered.

"I am the reward and resolution of all your searches."

"A reward?" Kurt said.

"You've earnt it." Eurides said." Finn will have no memory

of me, but he'll remember talking to a German soldier who

helped him."

"Yes." Kurt said. "It was fate."

Eurides smiled. "Take the glass ampoule out of your pocket."

Kurt held it in his hand and wondered what sort of a treasure

it actually was.

"Put it in your mouth."

"What?" Kurt shook his head. "No I won't do that."

He was no longer in control of his body. Kurt felt his hand

place the ampoule on his tongue and his mouth close.

Wide eyed with horror he tried to spit it out but his lips

wouldn't part.

"Bite down." Eurides said.

Blood filled Kurt mouth and spilt down his chin. He felt

thin slivers of glass slice his gums and tongue, then cut

the roof of his mouth and stick in throat as he swallowed.

Kurt knelt before Eurides.

She stroked his face.

"Say hello to your friend Waldamir for me."

*