Warrior in the Shadows

by Marcus Wynne

  "I think you should have these back," he said. "I didn't get a chance to use them."

  "Oh, you used them all right," Robert said. "I'll take the one back."

  He took the small bone and tucked it into the breast pocket of his khaki shirt.

  "You keep the other. A memento."

  Charley held the quartz crystal in his hand, wrapped his fingers around it.

  "I'll do that, Robert."

  3.28

  It was biting cold in Minneapolis, with a crystal-clear sky and the sharp edge of bright light on the snow piled on the streets and sidewalks. It was too cold to be sitting outside, but Charley bundled up and sat at a lone table and chair outside the Linden Hills Café. Inside, Kativa waited for their coffee and rolls. Charley took out the crystal from the left side pants pocket where he kept it. He held it up to his eyes and studied the world through it. Everything looked so normal in the light of day.

  Kativa brought out coffee and croissants.

  "What are you doing?" she said.

  Charley wrapped his fingers around the crystal and put it away.

  "Nothing," he said. "Just remembering how some things end."