Conmager swung the wheel hard left. The winged demon leveled the assault rifle and fired. Flashes of light burst from the barrel, and a web of cracks spread through the windshield. Simon heard a series of dull thumps as the bullets shredded through the van’s side. Conmager jerked the wheel back to the right and crashed through a trio trash cans on the curb. The engine roared as Conmager pumped the gas and dragged the van back onto the road. Simon looked over his shoulder and saw the winged demon receding into the darkness.
“Is everyone okay?” said Katrina.
Simon wiped a gallon of sweat from his brow. “Yeah. Just super.”
“We’re not going to be able to get out of the city, are we?” said Katrina.
Conmager shook his head. “No.” A look of terrible pain crossed his face, followed by grim resolution. “No. Then it has come to the last chance I foresaw. So be it. Take the wheel.”
“What?” said Katrina. “You idiot, we’re going over seventy. We’ll splatter all over the street.”
“This road remains straight for a while,” said Conmager, teeth grinding. “Take the wheel. Now!”
Katrina loosed a long stream of curses, but reached over and took the wheel. Conmager levered himself up and slid into the space between the seats. Katrina climbed over him and dropped into the driver’s seat. The van almost crashed into a streetlight, but Katrina managed to maintain control.
“What are you doing?” said Simon.
“Make for this address,” said Conmager, rattling off a street and number.
“Why? That leads back towards the city!” said Katrina. “That’s…damn it, that’s only fifteen blocks from Wycliffe’s warehouses. Why the hell are we going back that way?”
“If you want to save your life, if you want to save the life of your betrothed, you will do as I bid,” said Conmager. He turned around and reached for his staff.
Katrina hit the brakes, skidded, and managed to reverse direction. “And what will you be doing?”
Conmager pulled his staff into the front seat. “I must slow the winged demons long enough for us to get there. Turn here.”
Katrina hit the blinker and turned. A black van, its headlights off, shot past them. Simon saw the black van’s brake lights come on.
“Drive!” said Conmager. He rolled down his window. “Drive with all speed. It is your only chance.”
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The Tower of Endless Worlds Page 52