California Fire And Life

131

Jack doesn't know that.

He's still in the building and it's on fire. The gas pours out of the can, spreading accelerant all over the floor and fumes in the air and the fumes ignite like WHAM and a column of flame shoots upward.

Flame and smoke and darkness and Jack loses sight of Nicky Vale.

All Jack can see is Goddamn Billy heading not for the door but farther into the rec hall, in toward the old kitchen, and Jack's thinking, Get out of here but he's also thinking, Get Billy out of here, too, so he goes after him.

Which is like stupid, Jack tells himself. Which is like dumb because all the old wood is igniting, then the covers on the furniture ignite, and the fucking furniture ignites. The fire is free burning, there are flames everywhere, the place is filling up with smoke and that son of a bitch Billy was going to set you up anyway so why are you going after him?

Because you're a dog and that's what a dog does. A dog doesn't leave.

Jack drops down and stays low, down where the air is, and makes his way after Billy.

Into the kitchen.

The old kitchen where they used to cook up hamburgers and hot dogs and big pots of chili.

And there's Goddamn Billy standing by the old stainless-steel counter.

Lighting a cigarette.

"Come on!" Jack yells. "We can get out of here!"

Maybe.

The ceiling's on fire, the roof's involved.

"We can get out of here!" Jack repeats.

"No," Billy says.

Puts the stick to his lips and takes a long drag.

"Billy, I can get us out of here!" Jack shouts. "If we go now!"

His eyes are starting to tear up. Tear up and burn and he can feel the smoke scorching his throat. Looks behind him and sees the flames. Looks up and sees little tongues of flame start to lick the kitchen ceiling.

"Can't do it, Jack."

Jack starts to cry. Goddamn it, Billy. It could be seconds to flashover. Seconds till the fairies start flying and flashover happens and everything ignites.

We can't wait any longer, Billy.