Swan Song

by Robert McCammon

Thinking about how many millions might be lying dead out there warped Josh’s mind, like trying to figure out how big the universe was, or how many billions of stars winked in the skies.

And he prayed to God in that moment that, if they were going to die, the child would pass away before him so she wouldn’t be alone with the dead.

If something beyond his ken wanted him to protect the child, he thought, then he was damned well going to protect the child.

“Even the most worthless thing in the world can be beautiful,” she said. “It just takes the right touch.

Finding someone you loved, and someone who loved you, was half the battle.