Heretics book 3 - The Apocryphile Press

sight of Tobias, leaping up and licking almost everyone
there. Then, abruptly, the dog turned and wagged into the
kitchen. Slurping noises were immediately audible.
Brian stretched. “Toby has the right idea. This calls for
champagne.” He followed the lab into the kitchen.
“Ah only wish Dicky were here to see this,” Dylan added,
a wave of sadness washing over his features. Susan squeezed
his hand, commiserating, but saying nothing.
“Uh, guys...” Brian called from the kitchen. “Come see
this.”
As they filed into the kitchen, Terry started laughing.
There, in the very place where the bowl of guacamole had
been sitting days before, was a mass of green pulp, dripping
off the table onto the floor.
:: 78 ::
THE KINGDOM :: 385
Just as the last of the sun sank below the horizon, the first
spat of rain hit Richard’s cassock. He pulled it more tightly
around him, and stood at the curb, looking at the warm,
cheery lights of the Friary. He dared come no closer—the
warding, which Terry no doubt had already set in place
again, would not allow it. He was, after all, a vehicle for a
demon, and he had yet to see one that could defy Terry’s
wards.
He fought back a surge of sadness. He knew his friends
would be celebrating their victory, and he longed to share it
with them. His love for them rose up with a lump in his
throat, and he uttered a small, pained cry as he swallowed it
down.
Against his momentary despair, he summoned up the
memory of his vision—and marveled at the pain and uncer-