The Final Winter

Epilogue

A news reporter came onscreen. She was enveloped by an over-sized pink ski-jacket. “Good evening, I’m Jane Hamilton, reporting for Midland-UK News. Fortunately, after nearly 19-inches of snow, the weather finally seems to be improving. Temperatures have already begun to rise and the snow is predicted to end soon. Roads will soon be in the process of being reopened while rail links are expected to be resumed within the next few d—”

Harry found himself at the bar of The Trumpet. It didn’t happen instantly and it felt as though he had flowed back into his body like gravy through a sieve. At first he remembered nothing…

Until the person next to him spoke.

“How you feeling there, Harry Boy?”

Harry almost choked at the sight of the Irishman – The Devil – and started to panic as it all came rushing back. Please, not again. Is this hell? Is this the abyss?

“Calm there, fella. You made it. All is well for another millennium or so. The big guy gave you all another chance.”

Harry was stunned. “He… he did?”

Lucas laughed and sipped a pint in front of him. “Don’t act so feckin surprised. It’s what you planned, isn’t it?”

“Well… yeah, but I didn’t expect to be back at the bar. I thought I really would go to the Abyss, or maybe, best-case-scenario, God would let me into Heaven for my good deed. I didn’t expect… this.”

“Well, as it turns out the man-upstairs loves a little sacrifice, here and there, and yours was a biggy. He decided that your final deed was enough to convince him that maybe humanity still had a fighting chance. Good on you, lad! Though you’re the only one that can remember any of it, so don’t expect a fanfare.”

Harry shook his head, blinking, and feeling like he’d just awoken from a dream. “So why are you here? Here now, I mean?”

“Because I wanted to give my thanks. I like this crazy, fecked-up world as much as anyone, and without it I wouldn’t have a thing to do but sit around in an overcrowded Hell. Truth is I knew there was a chance you might turn things around.”

“That’s why you were here wasn’t it? To help me?”

Lucas hushed him and looked left and right shiftily. “Keep your voice down. If Michael and his choir of gayboys heard that, they’d be after me with their self-righteous wings all in a flap. I didn’t come to help you. I just wanted to make sure you were… properly informed.”

Harry nodded and smiled, looking around the brightly-lit bar and feeling more hope than he had since Toby was born. “Well, Lucas,” he said, “if you didn’t fill me in on what was happening then I wouldn’t have had a clue. I certainly wouldn’t have made the deal I did. If you hadn’t turned up we’d all be in Hell, so… thank you. For a Devil you’re sure not what I expected… Lucas?”

The Prince of Hell had departed, disappearing without Harry or anybody else noticing. Harry hoped Lucas had stayed long enough to hear him say thanks.

At the end of the bar, Harry noticed Old Graham sitting alone, drinking by himself. Harry smiled, finding it ironic that he was so happy to see the old codger. Harry made his way over to Old Graham who looked up as he approached.

“Hey, Harry,” he said.

Harry sat on the stool next to the old man. “Hey, Graham. You’re into History and all that aren’t you? Weren’t you in the army?”

Old Graham beamed proudly. “That I was, ten long years. In the Signals I was. Hit the Falklands a full hour before the SAS did. Yet they get all the glory.”

“Brilliant,” said Harry. “I wanted to learn more about the past, and about brave men like you. I was thinking about going to the Imperial War museum at the weekend. Would you like to come with me and be my guide?”

For a moment, Harry thought the old man was going to fall off his stool. Then he gathered himself together and nodded enthusiastically. “You know I haven’t been out of this bloody town in eight years. I would love to come, Harry. Thank you, I mean it.”

Harry patted him on the back. “Good. We’ll have to make a regular thing of it. Right now though, I’ve got to go, so I’ll come by tomorrow night to see you. You’ll be here right?”

Old Graham laughed. “Does the Devil have horns?”

Harry raised an eyebrow. “I think you’d be surprised.”

Old Graham obviously didn’t understand and Harry was glad about that. Knowledge of the night’s previous run of events was a burden he was more than happy to shoulder alone. He walked over to the centre of the bar where he had been speaking to Lucas before he disappeared. Back to Hell or wherever. On the other side of the wooden surface was someone he wanted to talk to very much.

Steph spun around and smiled when she saw him. Harry couldn’t forgive himself for ever ignoring how beautiful she was. He would make up for it though.

“Harry,” she said to him. “Another drink?”

Harry shook his head. “No thanks, I’ve given up.”

Steph looked at him in bewilderment. “What since five minutes ago?”

Harry nodded and grinned. “It seems like longer, but yes I have. Time to start living my life in better ways.”

Steph seemed genuinely happy. “Good for you, Harry.” Then suddenly her expression flipped upside down and she seemed very sad. “Does that mean you won’t be coming in here anymore?”

“Maybe,” said Harry. “Which is why I wanted to know if you’d come to dinner with me on your next night off.”

Steph’s face lit up. “I’d love to. I’m free Thursday night.”

Harry reached out and took Steph’s hand. She seemed embarrassed but he could tell that she also liked the feel of the two of them touching. “Then it’s a date. You can tell me all about this pet grooming business you’re going to set up.”

Steph was surprised. “How did you know about that?”

“I don’t know,” said Harry, “but I want to learn all about it, and all about you. Right now I have to go, so I’ll be back tomorrow night to arrange with you.”

Harry left Steph in a fluster behind the bar and moved towards the exit. Damien was lay across the coach, enjoying the fire. As Harry got closer Damien noticed him staring. The boy stood up.

“The fuck you looking at?”

Harry smiled. Finally he could see through Damien’s hardman disguise and see the lost boy beneath it. “Hey, Damien. I just wanted to ask you something.”

“What?”

“Well, I used to have a successful business, but I sold it. I was thinking of starting up again, though, so I need a partner – someone young and smart. Guess I’m looking for an apprentice, but I don’t have a son. I used to but he died. His name was Toby.”

Damien’s eyes flickered back and forth, as if he expected a sneaky attack to come at any moment.

Harry continued. “I know you’re a busy guy, but I don’t think you enjoy selling drugs. You’re better than that and I’d really like to help you be successful in a less dangerous way. I need a man like you. I think we can make a lot of good honest money together.”

For a while it seemed like Damien was going to strike out and hit him. Harry wondered for a moment if he’d misjudged the boy and was relieved when his demeanour finally softened. “You serious?” he said.

“Very!” Harry went for a handshake. “Deal?”

Damien smiled and shook Harry’s hand. “Yeah, deal.”

“Great, I’ll speak to you about it soon.” Harry walked away, but Damien stopped him.

“Harry?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks. You know, for the opportunity and everything. Most people just think I’m a thug.”

Harry nodded. “You and I are going to change their opinion.”

He made it over to the pub’s door and prepared to leave. There was a lot to do in order to get his life back on track, but first he needed to find a phone. Harry was going to make a call to the Police and tell them about a rapist named Nigel. The sicko’s truck was parked off the main road right now and if they came quickly they would find enough evidence inside to put the man away for a very long time.

Harry was going to start living his life, putting the world right and making things better, one thing at a time. For the first time in a long time, he was finally looking forward instead of back.