The Q

by Beth Brower

“I think that’s my point, Quincy. If The Q ceases to exist, Spense goes home to his wife. Jade goes to Jack. The Q boys go home or to the marble tournaments in the park. Graves visits her sister in Mirshire. Each and every life marches on because their stronger connections, of family and friends, are still intact. It would be a blow—I am not diminishing their work here—but everyone has a place to go.” “Except me,” Quincy said aloud, still finding the image impossible. “Except you,” Arch repeated her words. “Would you go to Fisher and Mado in France?” Quincy snorted. “No.” “I didn’t suppose you would. So, that leaves me with a promise to make.” “A promise?” “If the structure of your world ever evaporates, I will still be here.” He gave her a slight smile. “I’ll have you to tea the following day, or something of that sort.” “Tea?” Quincy rolled her eyes. “You? You are to be what I have left when the world ceases to exist?” “Why not?” Arch said lightly. “We will talk business, and poetry, and whatever else we find interesting.” “I don’t care for poetry.” “You will. Not as much as I do, but you’ll learn to appreciate that I appreciate it. That’s part of maintaining connections with people. You give yourself a little to what they give themselves to a lot. And they do the same for you.” “Sounds boring.” “I suppose it is, if you’re not focused on the person you’re doing it for,” Arch answered. Quincy pretended to be reading through an accountant’s report on her desk a while befor...