The Power of Five Oblivion

of us. You were taken away from us right at the start and I know how much they hurt you, trying to turn you into one of them. But in the end, you were stronger than all of them put together and you came through. If it wasn’t for you, we would never have got here. You opened the doors even though you knew what it meant. And I’m just so glad that I was able to see you and be with you. You were the best brother anyone could ever have. I will always think of you. I’ll never forget you.
    “And Matt. What can I say to you, Matt? You were my friend. You were our leader. I still don’t understand how you figured it all out but I know Scott didn’t betray you. Not really. He did what you wanted him to do – we all did – and you went through all that pain and death just so things would work out the way they were meant to…”
    It felt strange, giving the funeral address when anyone else would have said that Scott and Matt were standing right beside him. But Jamie understood. They were the same but different. They had lived ten thousand years apart, mirror images separated by a gulf of time. He had once had to step into Sapling’s place and he knew better than anyone how strange it was to have to live up to himself.
    A few hours had passed since the funeral. It was late at night, although the sky was still bright. The snow had finally stopped falling and so they had lit a bonfire on the ice, not wanting to hide themselves away in the carcasses of the planes or even in the tents that had been abandoned. Lohan had brought out rugs, blankets and cushions, which he laid out around the fire, and he had managed to find a surprising amount of food, left behind during the evacuation. He and Holly were preparing a hot dinner. They had promised a feast, although it was going to be a lonely one. They were almost certainly the only people on an entire continent, utterly alone in the middle of the vast wilderness.
    Of the five Gatekeepers, Pedro was the happiest. He felt a great sense of contentment just being back with the others, cradling a mug of hot soup that Holly had given him and talking animatedly to Scarlett, who was sitting beside him. He was describing his escape from the Castel Nuovo and he was clearly sparing no details. Jamie saw Scarlett gasp out loud and then rock back, holding her nose. He was sitting on the other side of the fire with Flint, the two of them sharing a bottle of red wine.
    “How did you get here?” Jamie was asking.
    “I’m not really sure,” Flint replied. “You and I were together only yesterday. Anyway, it was yesterday for me. The battle happened. We all went to bed. And then I woke up here with Matt telling me to get into the jeep. I didn’t believe I’d have to go through it all a second time!”
    “I was certain I’d never see you again.”
    “I’m sorry you had to, Jamie. As soon as I found myself here, I knew what it meant. Scott…”
    “I can’t believe Scott is dead when I’m sitting here talking to you,” Jamie said. He thought for a moment. “I suppose you’ll have to leave quite soon, like I did.” It was a gloomy thought, being on his own again.
    “I don’t know,” Flint said. “I expect Matt will tell us.”
    Holly appeared, struggling with a large steel cauldron, steam rising into the air. Jamie glanced in her direction and smiled. Scarlett and Pedro liked her already. Holly had spent her whole life in the same small community and had suddenly found herself caught up in things she couldn’t possibly understand, incredibly transported to the other side of the world. She had also been hurt. Her left hand was bandaged following the gunshot that had gone right through it during the ambush at St Meredith’s. But she had just got on with it, doing whatever she could to help the others.
    Lohan had followed her over, carrying a tray with plates, cups knives and forks. He had even found one of the bottles of brandy that he had brought with him from Serra Morte. Jamie watched as he uncorked it with his teeth and took a swig straight from the bottle. The flames of the bonfire sparked. Suddenly they were all feeling warm and close together.
    “Dinner is ready,” Lohan announced.
    “What is it?” Flint asked.
    “It’s whatever we were able to find, thrown together and cooked in red wine,” Lohan replied.
    “Lohan did it all,” Holly said. “I’m useless in the kitchen. And don’t let him pretend it’s just scraps. We actually found some proper meat and