Vespers

Forty-Six

The walk back to the statue’s crown was slow and painful. It also hurt because Joyce knew what she and Gentry were going to find when they got there.

Joyce wasn’t sure she would have been able to kill the spawn of the giant bats. But when Gentry told her about the charge that had flowed up the statue, she knew that that probably wouldn’t be necessary.

They were breathing heavily, their nostrils stinging from the tart electric smell that hung inside the statue, as they dragged themselves up the final leg of the climb-the stairs that led along the right side of the crown. As they ascended toward the landing, they saw a sky turning blue through the twenty-five small windows and sunlight skimming across the bay. The sun warmed the crown, though Joyce felt cold as they stepped onto the studded steel floor. It was singed black in spots where the electricity had shot through it.

When they finally entered the small chamber, neither Gentry nor Joyce was looking at the floor or even at the new day. They were looking at what was on the opposite side.

“Aw, jeez.” Gentry stopped walking and turned away.

Two enormous baby bats were lying spoonlike on their sides. They were nearly three feet long and facing the back of the crown. Their eyes were shut and their heads were resting near the newcomers. Their fur was off-white and their wings-relatively small for their size-were translucent and folded around them. Neither of them was moving. Their faces were turned out slightly as though they were watching for someone…waiting.

Joyce continued toward the bats.

“Are you sure they’re dead?” Gentry asked.

“Pretty sure,” she said.

“ Nancy -”

“It’s okay. If they were breathing rapidly, normally, the windows would be steamed up.” She reached the bats and knelt by the one in back. She reached around it, put her hand gently on its chest, and felt for a heartbeat. After a moment she leaned over it and felt the chest of the bat in front. “They’re dead,” she said quietly.

Joyce let her fingers linger on the pup’s fine fur before rising. It was like touching the surface of a bubble bath, the fur was that soft. And it was that innocent. These creatures had done nothing wrong except to be born where and when and how they were.

She felt miserable.

“So history won’t quite be repeating itself,” Gentry said.

“No,” Joyce said sadly. “It won’t.”

Gentry limped up behind Joyce and put his hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I can’t even imagine everything you’re feeling right now.”

She reached across her chest and rubbed the back of his hand. “You’d be surprised what I’m feeling right now. Come on,” she said. “We’re finished here.”

They went back downstairs where they were met by the incoming SWAT team. The heavily armored police officers ushered them outside quickly, as though they were in danger. Joyce and Gentry were taken to the administration building first aid center. Kathy and T-Bone were already there, sitting in plastic chairs as a pair of paramedics examined them. T-Bone had his camera on the floor and Kathy had the tape in her hand. She refused to put it down.

After receiving emergency medical treatment for cuts and burns, the four were bundled onto a harbor boat. Kathy and T-Bone stood in the front of the boat; Joyce and Gentry sat on an equipment locker in the stern. They watched as the last remaining vespers scattered through the bright daylight, headed for shelter.

As soon as they were underway, senior police officer John Esty brought a radio to Gentry. It was Weeks. Gentry held the radio between them where Nancy could hear.

“That was a very nice fireworks display,”Weeks said.

“You should have seen it from the inside,” Gentry replied.

“I’m sure. You both okay?”

“We’re a little banged up, and we’ll have to do the rabies shot thing, but we’re alive,” Gentry said. “A lot of good people aren’t.”

“I hear you,”Weeks said. “There are going to be a lot of questions when you get back, about the museum attack, the tunnel operation, and what happened at the statue. But I’ve spoken with the mayor and the police commissioner and we’re going to put you two in the hospital for observation. While you’re there we’ll minimize the bullshit as much as we can. You did a helluva job, both of you, and we’re all very grateful.”

“Thanks,” Gentry said.

Joyce asked what was going to be done with the remains of the bats.Weeks informed her that their disposition would be decided in a day or two and that Al Doyle was on his way over to collect them. She said that she wanted to be part of any team that was put together to examine the remains.

“Of course,”Weeks said. “Absolutely.”

Weeks said he’d see them in a few minutes. He and the mayor had a few matters to attend to, like making sure traffic could start coming into the city again, that any remaining vespers were cleared from the subway, and that Albany and Washington sent people and money to help clean up guano, fix the tunnel, and make sure that Lady Liberty didn’t lose her arm.

Gentry turned the radio off.

Joyce looked at him. “How’s your ankle?”

“A little surgery, a little rest, no more bats, and it should be as good as new.”

“I think we’ve pretty much guaranteed the no-bats part,” she smiled.

“I hope so,” Gentry said. “So. Can I buy you coffee when we get back?”

“No thanks.”

He seemed wounded.

Her smile broadened. “Hasn’t it occurred to you, Robert, that I just don’t like the stuff?”

“Actually, no. I thought you were turningme down.”

“Uh-uh. It’s coffee I don’t like. Not the server.”

He smiled back and put his arm around her.

She hadn’t felt cold, but now she felt wonderfully warm.