Chapter 8. Sunburst

Winston could hear Finn calling out his name - he wanted

to answer, to explain.... but couldn't

He fell forward onto the ground and lay unable to move.

He saw Finn's boots came to a stop in front of his face.

He felt Finn roll him over and clear mud from his mouth.

As Finn check him for wounds, he wanted to tell him was

sorry. He felt Finn's hands on his face, then the pressure

of Finn's hands on his chest. Leave me, he wanted to say.

Don't waste anymore time on me.

There was no more time left - he knew it.

His life was over, he could feel the very last part of it

trickling away. Winston closed his eyes for what he knew

would be the last time.

In the stillness he heard a woman's voice.

"May I have a moment of your time."

It was like a burst of sunlight through the darkest of clouds.

Warmth spread across his chest and his face, and he

felt eep deep inside him.

"My name is Eurides "

Winston took a breath, then another, and for the first

time in his life, he was aware of his heart beating and

blood flowing through every part of his body.

He felt like he was floating. He had the sensation of being lifted

and placed on his feet. Winston stood beside a woman who's

face shone with inner power."

"Am I dead?" he asked.

"I have a favour to ask of you first Winston."

It seemed to Winston that time itself had stopped

The battle field was completely still. It was fixed and

unmoving, like the pieces of a chess board.

Eurides was resting her hands on Finn's shoulders.

The tenderness in her face made Winston think that

Eurides and Finn were somehow connected.

"As Finn's Nain would say - I need to get all my ducks

in a row, and I could use you help to do that Winston."

*