Ultimatum
Page 38
Then Jesper Stenberg slowly nodded to her from the window, and time started to move once more. Turning the scene into a cacophony of voices, movement, and flashing lights.
Julia turned and started to walk away. A mild wind was blowing off the water, carrying with it the sound of faint laughter.
Julia told herself that it belonged to David Sarac.
Epilogue
The tiger’s body is lying stretched out in the clearing. Its shaggy coat is spattered red with blood. Its eyes stare blankly up at the night sky. At heavens and stars it can no longer see.
The little girl is on her knees on the soft ground. She slowly runs her hand over one of the tiger’s paws. Then she bends down and kisses it on the nose.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “Thank you for saving us.”
She gets to her feet and turns toward the red-haired woman standing behind her, and takes her hand. Then she looks over her shoulder.
“Are you coming, Amu?” She holds her free hand out toward him. It’s so small, so beautiful. Possibly the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.
“I’m coming, Tindra,” he murmurs.
• • •
The words were still ringing in his head as the plane’s landing gear hit the scorching-hot tarmac and woke him from his slumber.
THANKS
There are always a lot of people involved in the creation of a book. Some are easy to thank, like my family, publisher, editor, and agent. Or all the brilliant people who translate my stories into a myriad different languages. Others are harder to thank, because I am prevented for various reasons from giving your real names. But that doesn’t change my appreciation of your help.
Anders de la Motte
Malmö, 2015
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photograph © Jorgen Ringstrand
Anders de la Motte is the author of the award-winning Game trilogy and has previously worked as a police officer in Stockholm, as well as an international security manager. He is considered Sweden’s most exciting and innovative new thriller writer.
MEET THE AUTHORS, WATCH VIDEOS AND MORE AT
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Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Anders-de-la-Motte
Facebook.com/EmilyBestler
@EmilyBestler
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2015 by Anders de la Motte
Originally published in 2015 in Sweden by agreement with Salomonsson Agency
English language translation © 2017 by Neil Smith
Cover design by Alex Merto
Cover image © George F. Mobley/National Geographic/Getty Images
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
ISBN 978-1-4767-8809-8
ISBN 978-1-4767-8811-1 (ebook)