Nightmare

83

‘Robbie, it’s okay,’ said Nightingale. He forced a smile. ‘It was always going to end this way.’

‘I’ve got you. I’ve got you,’ said Hoyle. As he grabbed at Nightingale’s right hand both Nightingale’s hands slipped from the railing. Hoyle grunted as he took all of his friend’s weight.

‘No, you haven’t, mate,’ said Nightingale. He could feel his wrists slipping through Hoyle’s fingers.

‘Jack!’ shouted Hoyle.

‘It’s okay, Robbie. Really. It’s okay.’ And Nightingale meant it because it really was okay.

‘No!’ Hoyle screamed.

Nightingale felt his left hand slip from Hoyle’s grip and then his right hand was free and he was falling backwards, away from the balcony.

He heard Hoyle scream and then all he could hear was the wind rushing past his ears. His arms and legs were pointing upwards and he suddenly realised how beautiful it was: pure blue sky and high overhead the white trails of jets flying to far-off places.

There’d be no pain, he knew that. When he hit the ground he’d be travelling at a hundred and twenty miles an hour and it would be over in a fraction of a second. He thought about counting or praying but he did neither; all he did was think about Sophie and Jenny and smile because by dying he was saving them and that was all that mattered.

He was right.

There was no pain.

He hit the ground and it was over in an instant.