The Great Fury by Thomas Kennedy

Author:Thomas Kennedy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Mythology, Romance, urban, Witch, Vampire, New York, Irish Fantasy, rats, plague, Humour, Adventure, God of Love, contemporary, Fun, Faerie
ISBN: 9781785382505
Publisher: Andrews UK
Published: 2015-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

The firemen were spread out along the former elevated railway of the High Line on the lower west side.

The old steel viaduct had been built strong enough to hold two freight trains on separate tracks. Transformed from derelict railway to a park in the sky and, enhanced by landscaping amid the old tracks, it became an aerial greenway with convenient benches along its route.

But today it was a sanctuary above the rat infested concrete at street level. Here, exhausted from a morning of fighting the calamity that had befallen New York, firemen were on their break, scattered along the walkway on benches and on the ground, jackets open, helmets off, in some cases boots off, faces to the sky absorbing the heat of the midday sun. Volunteers moved amongst them dispensing coffee and sandwiches.

“Hey O’Shea!” Cafferty shouted coming through.

John, who was sitting on one of the lounger shaped chairs set in along the High Line raised his head and gave a tired grin.

His old friend and long term colleague, Cafferty sat, pushing John’s feet to one side to make room.

He put his lunch box between himself and John.

“I hear you are sleeping at the station,” Cafferty said.

“My apartment is a crime scene,” John reminded him. “I’m waiting for the crime scene contract cleaners. Once they get through I can move back in.”

“The chief was looking for you. He’s heard you’re bunking full time at the station, I think.”

“Awful day,” John said, changing tack. “Did you see what the rats did to that girl on Lexington?”

“John it’s lunch time. Anyway they say she slipped and hit her head. Probably didn’t feel a thing.”

“For her sake I’d hope so but I doubt it.”

Cafferty opened his lunch box with a flourish.

“What?” John asked.

“I told Margaret that you were sleeping rough at the station so she packed a lunch for you.”

“Phillip Cafferty, you tell your good lady wife that I am ok. I don’t need to be fussed over.”

“Relax John and eat your lunch.”

“I already had a charity sandwich.”

“Have another.”

John took the sandwich to be polite. Then they took two coffees from one of the volunteers.

“Move,” Cafferty said, slipping beside John on the double lounger. They turned their faces up the sun and relaxed. In another fifteen minutes they’d be back on shift.

A shadow got between John and the sun. He opened an eye in query. Then he sat up. It was the Fire Chief.

“Boss?” he said.

“Cafferty shift your ass elsewhere,” the Fire Chief instructed. “I need a word with John here.”

Cafferty rolled off the lounger and sat on the ground trying to stay within earshot. “Move,” the Chief said.

Cafferty moved out of hearing range.

Satisfied, the Chief sat where Cafferty had been but did not lounge back. John felt he ought to sit up and pay attention.

“I hear you are sleeping in the station full time John?” the Chief began.

“Well boss...” John began but the Chief silenced him by lifting a hand.

“John, I know you lost a colleague, friend and partner and understand

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