Epilogue
Five days later, Jack and Gwen were standing in the shadows of a yew tree in the drizzle of a cold Cardiff morning, watching as a pitiful straggle of mourners trudged away from a freshly dug grave with a black marble headstone.
'Didn't have many friends, did he?' Gwen said sadly.
'At least his mom loved him,' said Jack, indicating a sobbing woman being comforted by a grey-bearded man in a black coat.
When the mourners had departed, Jack and Gwen emerged and walked slowly across to the grave. The ground squelched beneath Gwen's feet. The sky overhead was a sinewy tangle of black and grey.
She knelt to place a posy of snowdrops against the headstone, and paused for a moment to contemplate the simple inscription beneath the name and dates: My Beloved Son. Taken Too Soon.
'The man who saved Cardiff,' Gwen murmured, straightening up. 'And no one will ever know.'
'Though if it hadn't been for Oscar, Cardiff wouldn't have needed saving in the first place,' Jack pointed out bluntly.
Gwen scowled. 'That was hardly his fault.'
'No,' said Jack. 'I guess not.'
They were silent for a moment. The chill breeze rippled through Gwen's hair and snatched at the tails of Jack's greatcoat.
'Wonder where the Dellacoi is now,' Gwen said eventually.
Jack shrugged. 'Found a way home, I hope. We're monitoring for energy readings, but. . . zilch.'
Gwen sighed. 'I really hope it doesn't turn up again.'
'Me too,' said Jack. 'That kind of virtual reality I can do without.'
Gwen smiled and took his hand. 'Come on, let's go.'
Together they trudged down the gentle incline towards the cemetery gates. Behind them the rising breeze plucked at the flowers on Oscar's grave, snatching up delicate white petals, which swirled away on the wind.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Big thanks to Sarah and Guy, Steve and Gary, and as ever to Nel, David and Polly, my wonderful, supportive family.