Eric nodded, but as he turned to leave, the old man said, “You won’t be able to save her.” The voice belonged to Mr. Hamblin, but he’d heard the words before, uttered by another old man, the drunk he dragged from the burning strip club. You won’t be able to save her. He turned and stared. The man didn’t move. His eyes remained closed. But as he watched, his lips began to move: “It has to be you. The only way.” He stepped up to the side of the bed. “What do you mean? What do I have to do?” He didn’t think Mr. Hamblin would say anything else, but he had one more word for him: “Sacrifice.”
