Redemption
The Fire

Surprisingly, the walk into town was a sedate one, with the massive crowd of people talking calmly. Form his spot near the center of the throng, David silently talked to Click in thought. Much of this was about their happiness that the situation had been resolved peacefully. Some of it was about how sad that they were for little Cathy.

“I want to do something extra nice for her,” Click decided.

“Like what?” He wondered.

“Well, I still have to finish her desk,” the alien reminded, “And I was thinking about making her a nice bed to sleep in.”

“That would be wonderful!” He agreed brightly.

“Also, I wanted to make something nice for you.” Hearing this, the boy hesitated. Finally, already knowing what he was feeling, she accepted, “Very well, my dear, I will help the others first.”

“I already have you,” he explained, “What could I ask for that would be nicer than that?” There was a slight pause.

“I love you,” the entity finally replied.

“And, I love you,” the boy answered back.

“I know.”

Even before they reached the warehouse, it was obvious that something was wrong. At first, a slight haze began to seep into the air. As the distant sounds of alarm rose, this tinting thickened to reveal to be black smoke. Sensing more trouble, the sheriff and his men started out at a run, followed by the mayor and councilmen.

“A house is on fire!” Click told David as she zipped ahead, “They need help!”

“Come on!” He called to Grandpa, “There’s a fire!” With that, they all ran after the officials and the alien.

Reaching the smoky scene, they saw that a large, seven floor, apartment building had caught on fire. By that time, the little orb was darting in and out of the burning structure, carrying people out. Snapping into his role as a leader, the mayor looked around at the stunned people surrounding him.

“Stand back! Clear out of the way!”

“Paul!” Steve yelled, “Go replace some buckets! Mike! Pete! Help me get the crowd back!” It was then that a distant, frantically ringing bell could be heard as the fire department approached.

“How bad is it?” David wondered silently.

“Not too bad,” Click replied calmly, “I can get to most of the folks. The only issue is to get them out of the building without letting them get burned.”

By the time that the fire department had deployed their hoses, the small entity had managed to get all out safely. But then, the unthinkable happened. Barking furiously at the flames, a small Scotch Terrier broke from the crowd and ran into the burning building through the flaming, open door.

“Sandy!” A boy yelled, starting after the pet, only to be caught and held back by his parents.

“Silly Dog!” The image scolded as the sphere flew into the building after it. A half minute after its entry, a creaking sound came from the top of the structure.

“Get back! It’s giving way!” Steve screeched as the creak became a groan, then a crash.

“Click?” David screamed as Grandpa picked him up and carried him away from the dwelling as it collapsed in on itself.

“Click!” Cathy screamed in horror as the image faded and vanished.

Over the next minute, Will fought a two-sided battle: first to keep the boy from rushing into the burning wreckage, the second was to keep himself from doing so. During this time, Dale and Thatcher stood staring at the burning rubble in horror.

“Click? Click?” David screamed, fighting to break free from his grandfather. When he finally did, he fell to his knees and began to cry uncontrollably. After a moment, a small armed slithered across his back as Cathy joined him. Then, amazingly, the scene became silent save the sounds of the distant burning flames.

“Ha!” A gravelly voiced man scoffed, breaking the silence, “I guess that it got its due for Gree and Price!” Laughing at this, he looked around, only to meet sullen glares.

“Friend,” a voice to his right said. Looking he saw Mayor Bell standing beside him, looking up coldly. “That’s not funny!” The mayor snarled, right before he caught the roughneck with a right cross, knocking him to the ground. Without removing his glare from the downed thug, the small balding man shifted his pose.

“Sheriff, arrest me. I just committed assault and battery.”

“It was a crime of passion, your honor,” the lawman dismissed, glowering down at the fellow in disgust, “No charges pending.”

He did not want to live, David decided numbly as he stared at the burning wreckage. He didn’t care how he went, but he did not want to live. Not now. Not without . . .

Next to him, Cathy was nearly doubled over on the cold bricks of the street. The only proof that she was alive came in her heavy, heaved breaths as she cried. Suddenly, a gentle hand lighted on his shoulder.

“Come on Davie,” Grandpa pleaded weakly as a bang from the fire marked something collapsing, “You’ve got to get up.”

“I don’t think that I can,” the boy whispered, not bothering to wipe away the tears on his cheeks as a groan of twisting metal came from the blaze.

Too numb to recognize anything but horror and loss, Mabel stood frozen, trying to believe that the world could go on. In the wake of the death of someone so wonderful, it seemed impossible. But then, it would have to. Even as she silently argued this, she thought that she saw something move deep within the fires. With her second look, it seemed that she was mistaken. But then, there it was again. This time, it grew, revealing to be a shape . . . Floating through the flames.

“Look!” She gasped, pointing at the dog, now moving toward them quickly.

“Click?” David gasped, leaping to his feet as the canine floated free of the rubble. It was then that they saw the noble little orb, some foot or so above the floating pooch. With that, he set out at an excited run. William started after him, running as fast as he could, but his grandson still beat him to the dog.

As they arrived, the now squirming terrier was lowered gently to the ground. Once its paws were on the ground, it took off for its owner at a frightened run. With that, the sphere hung in the air for a moment, then began to slip downward.

“Click!” The boy screamed with renewed alarm as he caught the tiny alien in his hand. For a second, he frantically wondered what he should do. Then, recalling how she fed, he held the small orb up to his forehead and thought about everything that he could; sailing ships, Geometry problems, Flier motor pistons, English grammar-anything that his young mind could catch onto. Later, he would have a slight mark on his skin from pressing her hot surface against his head. Still, in that moment, he would have pushed her into his skull if he could.

“Thank you, David,” A familiar voice said, “I feel better.” Looking around, he saw the illusion standing beyond Grandpa and Miss Thatcher. As he did, to their mutual surprise, a ragged cheer erupted from the watching crowd.