PREFACE
They entered the clearing together, synchronized in every movement, so much like I'd seen them before. But there were so many of them. I'd been forewarned, of course, but even having dealt with them before, I was ill-prepared for their numbers.
As they fanned out in perfect formation, my thoughts moved to Katie. Curious that after all this time, after the journey of my life, I'd found something satisfying only now at the moment of my death.
And yes, I suddenly realized, this was to be the moment of my death. I'd longed for it in a way, for two and a quarter centuries, for twenty-two score and five years by the old reckoning, maybe longer if I was honest, if I included my human years, which my father certainly would have.
Well, today was as good a day as any to die.