Nobody said anything for a while.
John stood on the wall with his hands at his sides. He did not put them back in his pockets. The old woman stood at the top of the stairs and did not come any closer.
Then the Lull breathed out again, and there was no more time.
The heaviness rolled over the wall. Almond felt it press behind his eyes like two thumbs. Unclosed held. Beside him, Silvester's knees sagged, and Almond held on to his arm and carried him through it.
"Up!" Silvester shouted.
Down in the streets, the town got up again. Fewer, this time. Almond saw a woman in a doorway try to stand, and slide back down, and stay there.
"That's four," Silvester said. His voice was hoarse. "I've got nine more in me. Ten, if I'm lucky."
"It's not going to run out of breath," said Big D.
He had come up the stairs behind them. He stood at the parapet and looked out at the great gray shape curled in the north field.
