‘You’re so frail.’ Hugo knew, however, that he would take him.
‘So is the seed – the new god. I had this weird dream – only last night. I was on a cliff top and a beam of light came in from over the sea and I kind of bathed in it. Later on I walked back to the beach and there you were, playing with your kid.’
‘What happened next?’
‘I don’t know. It hasn’t happened yet’ Garry was bolt upright, his hands reaching out, his eyes shining. Hugo knew that he had as much to offer to this sick boy as the gods had to offer to him.
‘I’ll go down and see your mother,’ said Hugo.
‘Please, God – make her understand.’
Garry was so weak that the walk up the cliff path was too much and several times Hugo had to half carry him. He was almost unconscious when they reached the top, where the weather was misty and dull, the sea moving sluggishly below. He wrapped his coat around the boy’s thin frame.
‘They’ll come,’ he said, with confidence.
They sat on the salt grass for an hour while the mist thickened, but at no time did Hugo’s faith weaken. He put his arms around Garry’s shoulders and held him tight. They did not speak for a long time, simply watching the mist slowly rise and the sun spread halting rays over the grey ocean.
‘Will they come?’ whispered Garry.
‘Oh yes,’ replied Hugo with complete assurance. ‘They’ll come.’
Gradually the waves turned a crystal green and the damask light spread. A gull wheeled over their heads, seeming to mock them with its plaintive cries, and somewhere from the horizon came a hollow booming.
‘Shall we pray?’ asked Garry.
The beam came out of nowhere, bathing them in its radiance.
This electronic edition published in 2011 by Bloomsbury Reader
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Copyright © Anthony Masters
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ISBN: 9781448205165
eISBN: 9781448204724
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Hidden Gods Page 19
