Chapter 23. Wish upon a star


    Finn and Bish made plans to catch the same train back


    to London. They stood in the carriage windows waving until


    steam clouds blocked the view of the platform as the train


    pulled away. Bish lifted a bag onto the overhead rack and


    sat across from Finn. "What are your intentions with Vie?''''


    Finn put a bag under his seat and sat down.


    "Vie is the one with all the intentions Bish, ask her."


    Bish laughed and looked out the window.


    "I love my cousin Finn. She means the world to me. Promise


    me you''ll look after her when I''m gone.''''


    "What are you talking about Bish?"


    "I''ve had the same dream a few times now. I''ve seen what''s


    going to happen - how it''s going to end, as clear as I''m sitting


    here next you. I''m not coming back from this War."


    Finn was lost for a moment. ''''If you''re that certain Bish,This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    just don''t go. Get off the train at St.Erth and sit the


    War out. Become a conscientious objector."


    Bish shook his head. "There''s no escaping your fate."


    Finn wondered what was there to be gained in believing in


    such a stupid concept.


    "Do you remember those two brothers from school who


    lived at the end of Swan Rd?"


    Finn was glad for a change in subject. "If they''re on the train


    we should sit together."


    ''''Unlikely." Bish said.


    "They''re both dead. Killed in separate actions in the first


    few weeks of the War. I wonder if they thought they were


    coming back."


    Fate can go and fuck itself thought Finn.


    *


    After the train was out of sight, Bish''s sisters walked into


    town. Nain Joan and Vie walked back up the hill together.


    "You didn''t want to go with the girls?" Nain Joan asked.


    "To be truthful I find their company to be painfully dull.


    They''re a coven of dowagers in waiting."


    Nain Joan laughed. "There''s always room at our house for


    you Vie. I could use some help in the garden."


    Vie smiled. "Thank you Nain Joan. Do you think F-Finn''s


    Father would mind if I visited."


    "He will be very pleased to meet you Vie." Nain Joan saw


    that Vie was carrying something close to her chest.


    "What have you got there?"


    Vie opened her palm. She was holding the desert glass


    marble. "Finn gave it to me. It''s beautiful don''t you think."


    "It is." Nain Joan said.


    "Finn said that it''s meant to keep you safe and bring you


    good luck. He said that if I looked through it, I might even be


    able to see into the future."


    Vie pressed it to her chest. "Last night when I was lying in bed


    I looked through it and thought I saw a falling star."


    Nain Joan saw the innocent longing in Vie''s face.


    "So I made a wish on it, does that sound silly?"


    ''''It doesn''t sound silly at all." Nain Joan said.


    "I think that falling star has a wish set aside - just for you."


    *


    This is Book 1 in a series.


    Book 1. Sleep now in the fire


    Book 2. Wake now in the fire


    Book 3. Breathe now in the fire


    If you would like some visual context for Eurides,


    Youtube search - Regiment tribal fusion dance


    Any feed back or comments you care to give would


    be welcome.