The Pledge Chapter 10d

Ziggy peered through the seering heat, and the choking smoke, and saw Eric dragging Lavinia towards the barn doors.

“Jack!” She yelled. “Jack! We're over here!” Joan got there first and tried to prise Alex away from Ziggy. Ziggy only hit her once, straight in the teeth with her fist. “Touch him again and I'll bend your face! Piss off!” Joan staggered back to grab for Alex again and Alex clung to Ziggy with all his might. He was terrified and Ziggy felt the bolts of hysteria shooting frm his body. Or were they? “Alex! Show her Mr Crawley! Quickly Alex!” Alex managed to pull the stuffed spider from under his shirt. “Michael!” An impossibly hot and bright blue flame shot from the encased talisman, straight into the eyes of Alex's grandmother. Joan screamed in pain and Alex screamed in terror. “Shh. It's OK , Alex, it's fine. Jack! Oh where are you man?!”

“Nag, nag, bloody nag.” Jack came wading through the carnage. “Come on, the fire's spreading.” He lifted Alex and dragged Ziggy over to the barn. “Help me, Ziggy!” He began kicking at it with his his feet. “Shite!" He hopped out of the way when Ziggy ran at it with a pick axe.

*

Robert Reynolds died in the blaze at the barn, as did four other people, John Frazer included. Joan Reynolds was blinded due to heat damage. The stroke she suffered later in hospital left her almost completely paralysed. Lavinia and Eric Stark vanished, along with thousands of pounds from trustfunds for which they were responsible. Jack O'Connor was treated for a deep grazing burn caused by a ricocheting bullet, the gun was never found. Alex O'Connor suffered a major hangover for three days, something Ziggy got for five just with lager. All she suffered was singed eyebrows.