A Deafening Silence In Heaven by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Author:Thomas E. Sniegoski [Sniegoski, Thomas E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Remy Chandler
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2015-10-05T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

They continued to dig at the base of the tree, careful so as not to disturb the crumbling ground around its base.

“We’re getting there,” Linda said breathlessly. She wiped the back of her hand across her sweating brow as she eyed the darkness within the hole.

A darkness that seemed to call to her.

“And why exactly are we digging around the abyss?” Ashley asked, pulling a handful of earth toward her.

Marlowe had gone to the other side of the tree and was digging and sniffing, sniffing and digging.

“I’m beginning to think you want the hole big enough for us to climb into,” Ashley complained.

Linda shook her head. “No,” she said flatly. “We’re not going in.” She saw a place where the hole could be widened and went to the edge, reaching in to pull clumps of dirt away.

“That’s good,” Ashley responded. “Because I’m not sure what . . .”

“I am,” Linda interrupted, busily working at the hole. She could feel Ashley staring at her.

“You’re going into the hole?” the girl asked incredulously. “You’re going down into that abyss?”

“He’s down there, Ash,” Linda said. “I can feel him down there.”

“Down there,” Ashley repeated. “We don’t even know where ‘down there’ is . . . or what it is, for that matter.”

“Yeah, but we’re here for a reason, and I think me going down that hole is part of it.”

Linda was staring again into the blackness of what Ashley called “the abyss.” It was as good a name as any. She could feel its pull on her, something akin to that gentle tug on the hand when the water of a full sink went down the drain. Only this was a tug upon something much deeper.

This was a tug upon her soul.

“No.” Ashley seemed flustered. “I don’t think that’s a good idea; in fact, I think it’s horrible. We have to stay together.” She looked around. “Wherever ‘here’ even is. If I lose somebody to talk to . . .”

Marlowe appeared from around the tree.

“Sorry, baby, but you’re not much of a conversationalist.” Ashley apologized to the Labrador. “I don’t know what I’d do here alone.”

“You’ll help to keep him alive,” Linda stated simply.

Ashley looked as if she was going to cry, and her shoulders slumped. “And how am I supposed to do that?”

“You and him,” Linda said, pointing to Marlowe. “You and he are going to lend your strength to Remy—to this tree.” She was about to touch it but decided against it, not wanting to weaken herself before . . .

Before she began what she was intending to do.

“Are you sure?” Ashley said, her tone telling Linda that she hoped the woman wasn’t.

But Linda was sure. She could feel it. Deep down in that darkness, her Remy was there. And she had to bring him back to where he belonged.

“Yeah, I really am.”

“Shit.” Ashley turned away from her.

“You can do this, Ash,” Linda encouraged. “This is why we’re here; we’re his strength. We’re the reason why he’s still around.”

Ashley turned back, her arms folded across her chest.

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