Walkers Read Online Free Page B

Everything that occurred was fresh and clear in her memory. Although her rational mind fought against acceptance, she knew in her heart what had happened. She had died. She had been dead for a little while, and she had come back, She felt a golden, breathless sense of relief. It was like almost slipping over a cliff, barely pulling back at the last instant. Only in this case Joana had actually gone over, and still she made it back. She should be the happiest, most grateful young woman in the world. But there was a shadow across her happiness. The final thundering of the thing in the tunnel still echoed in her brain.
    "You may win once, not likely twice, most rarely thrice, and four times—never! You must return by the Eve of St. John.
    What did it mean? Why did the memory make her shiver with the cold here in Glen's cozy apartment?
    Glen came out of the kitchen. "Did you say something?"
    "No. I was just thinking."
    "I put on a can of chicken gumbo, is that okay?"
    "That's fine. Glen?"
    "What, baby?"
    "What is the Eve of St. John?"
    "I don't know. Title of a play?"
    "No, that's The Eve of St. Mark ."
    "Then you've got me. Is it important?"
    "It might be. Come here and sit by me for a minute."
    He walked over and sat down on the edge of the sofa. He leaned down to brush her forehead with his lips.
    "You know, you brought me back, Glen."
    He laughed self-consciously. "That's the first time I ever tried to give somebody mouth-to-mouth. I wasn't even sure I was doing it right. I'm just glad it wasn't some dude with a beard."
    Joana did not smile. "I don't mean only that," she said. "You called me back."
    "Called you?"
    "Glen, we know each other pretty well, but there are some important things we've never talked about."
    "Like what?"
    "Like death."
    Glen looked uncomfortable. "It really doesn't make for a fun conversation."
    "We can't just talk fun all the time."
    "Of course not. What about it? Death."
    "What do you think happens? Afterward, I mean."
    "Afterward? The family and friends gather around and say nice things about you. Then they put you in the ground. Or they cremate you."
    "I don't mean the body," she said. "I mean what happens to your spirit? Your... soul, or whatever the spark is that makes us alive?"
    "God, Joana, I don't know, I'm an engineer and an agnostic. Do you really feel like having a philosophical discussion right now?"
    "It's important to me."
    "All right, then. Wait a minute, though, I think the soup is boiling. And you'd better get out of that wet
    swimsuit. I'll bring you a robe."
    Joana sat up and freed herself from the blankets.
    "I'll get it. I know where it is."
    "Sure you're steady enough to walk?"
    "I'm steady enough for a lot of things. You go tend to the soup."
    Joana went into the bathroom and peeled off the new blue maillot that nobody even got a chance to admire. She hung it over the shower head. With Glen's big furry towel she rubbed her skin to a pink glow, then put on the plaid Pendleton robe he kept hanging on the back of the bathroom door. When she went back into the living room, Glen had a bowl of hot soup waiting on the coffee table, and next to it a dish of crackers.
    Joana found the canned gumbo delicious. Her tongue discovered new subtleties in the taste. She felt the way she sometimes did after smoking grass, and all her perceptions were especially acute.
    When she finished the soup Glen poured them each a glass of brandy. They sat close together on the sofa and listened to the laughter and party sounds outside. Joana felt pleasantly warm and fuzzy. She did not bring death into the conversation again.
    Glen kissed her. He slipped a hand inside the robe and gently squeezed her breast. Joana responded eagerly. When at last they broke apart Glen looked at her with some surprise.
    "For a lady who nearly drowned a couple of hours ago, you sure can kiss. Are you feeling well enough to follow up?"
    "Take me to bed and find out," Joana said.
    Glen picked her up and carried her into the