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"Here's some cash," she says

"It won't do ood," I say as I try to push it back at her "I'll have to barter soet a canoe"

She shakes her head at me, her eyes haunted "Not for a canoe When you land near the river, find someone to buy some rifles from Take the time to learn how to use them before you leave"

I blink in surprise at her "Guns?"

"You're going after the Matica, aren't you?" she asks simply

"You knoe are"

"Then I want you to have the upper hand Use the y available"

My head starts swiuns?"

Tears fill Moira's eyes, and she nods her head "I want you to be safe, Zach I want you to not get killed Guns will help"

My fingers curl around the envelope andher into my body For the last time, I bend down, s ainst the top of her head, I take the moment to revel in her touch her love her sadness

I'll take that sadness with rave, whether that is e raid the Matica or years fro of my battered heart

"You're not co back, are you?" she asks quietly

"No," I tell her "I'm not"

Moira pulls back and leans up on her toes, placing a soft kiss on ret a ether You'll always reside in my heart, Zacharias"

Agony washes through reen eyes, as verdant as the Amazon, and crystal tears spill down her cheeks My stohtens in pain

Reaching out one last ti her cheek "Goodbye, Moira"

Turning away from me, she heads around the front of the car She never looks back, and I watch as she climbs in and pulls away

Pulls away from me forever

Taking a deep breath, I raise my face to the modern sun and feel its heat for the last tiet back to my real life

Chapter 28

Moira

I close my laptop in frustration and push it across et it as far away fro me the answers I want

In particular, I sent an e he would see it I've been going out ofif he made it back to Caraica

I'm sure he did He's the most self-assured, capable le, so there's no reason he wouldn't make it back there

No, my worry is really about what happened after he one to battle with the Matica? Is Zach still alive?

For the last teeks, I could barely eat, so sick with apprehension I'ht, but it's a fitful tossing and turning

And I'm so heartsick that I can barely function Ito happen to me would be if I just shriveled up and died, then this misery would at least be ended

Pushing erator I open it up and stare listlessly inside, noting the extreh, I head for the living roo lost in a movie