Thunder and Roses by Mary Jo Putney

Author:Mary Jo Putney [Putney, Mary Jo]
Format: epub
Tags: Demonoid Upload 2
ISBN: 9780451205155
Publisher: Lisa's E-Book Collection
Published: 2002-03-05T05:00:00+00:00

As he squinted against the glare, another good Samaritan pointed him toward a table where sandwiches and hot tea were being served. The thought of food turned his stomach, but he accepted a mug of steaming tea that someone pressed into his hand. It was heavily sugared, and the heat and sweetness cleared his head a little. Though he had numerous scrapes and bruises, he felt no pain. He felt nothing at all.

The premises teemed with people. Though some moved purposefully, more were family members hoping for news of the missing miners. Some wept while others waited fatalistically. Nicholas would never forget their faces for as long as he lived.

He was unsurprised to see Clare. An island of calm strength in the midst of chaos, she seemed to be in charge of providing food for the workers. Though she was fifty yards away, she must have sensed his glance, for she looked up. For a moment their gazes held as a complex current of grief and compassion flowed between them. Abruptly he turned away, knowing that in his present state she might slide through his barriers. If that happened, he would break down entirely.

Reluctant but unable to stop himself, he walked over to the results of carnage--two rows of bodies that had been laid on the ground and covered with empty coal sacks. He counted twenty-eight. As he watched, another victim was laid to rest at the end of a row. The body was badly burned, but a frantic woman knelt and looked at a ring, then burst into wails of grief. As the body was covered, an older man led her away, tears streaming down his own face.

Sickened, he turned away, and found himself face to face with Marged Morris. At sixteen she had been the prettiest girl in the valley, and she had grown up to be a lovely woman. Now her face was haggard and she looked twice her age. She whispered, "Owen is missing. Is ... is there any chance for him?”

Nicholas would rather have died in the mine than have to answer her question. Yet answer he must, for only he knew where Owen had been at the time of the explosion. "I don't think so, Marged," he said painfully. "The Bychan shaft is blocked and the tunnels beneath it must have collapsed at the same time." His throat closed. After swallowing hard, he finished, "The engineer doesn't expect any survivors from that part of the mine.”

For a moment she simply stared at him, and he wondered if she understood. Then he saw that she was shaking all over, as if she had a violent chill.

Unable to bear the expression in her eyes, he drew her into his arms, as much to comfort himself as her. She clung to him like a drowning woman, sobs racking her slim body.

Anguished tears in his eyes, he said hoarsely, "You and the children will never lack for anything, Marged. I swear it." Even as he spoke, he knew how paltry a substitute money would be for a missing husband and father.

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