The Watchers by Wendy Reakes Page A

as they were released from their rotting confines.
     
    End of Part One

Part Two

     
    "Perfect is my seat in Caer Sidi
    Neither plague nor age harms him who
    dwells within.
    Manawydan and Pryderi know it.
    Three organs play before it about a fire.
    And around its corners are ocean's currents.
    Above it the fertile fountain,
    And sweeter than white wine is the
    drink therein."

Chapter 15
    London
     
    Keri Rains closed her office doo r and went back to her desk. She needed some privacy. The Prime Minister’s ‘open-door’ policy was becoming awkward for her and many other members of the house. In Keri’s opinion, the PM was trying too hard. Alice Burton wasn’t the first lady Prime Minister. She didn’t have to prove her worth by promoting herself as the people’s choice, not when she had already taken the majority in the election.
    Alice Burton was already a week into her second term in office and again the walls were rattling under the weight of her reign. ‘A people person’ she called herself, but everyone who knew her, knew she was not. Just as she had in her first term, she was keen to try new policies, new housekeeping regimes and new staff incentives. She wanted to prove to the country she was all about people, ready to stand by the population of Great Britain and to turn the country around, to make it great again.
    Keri sat down in her revolving leather chair as she picked up the phone. She dialled Harry’s number at work. “Harry Rains, please.” They put her through almost immediately.
    “Hiya, kiddo.”
    “How are you?”
    “I’m okay. You?”
    “You know.” They both knew exactly what each other meant. It was going to be Elizabeth’s birthday next week. And as they had both suffered the loss of their daughter, the upcoming event was on both their minds, as it was every year. “Yeah, I know.” There was a long uncomfortable pause before Harry spoke. “Look, Keri. This probably isn’t the right time...”
    Somehow she knew what he was going to say. She and Harry had separated over a year ago. Their marriage hadn't survived the loss of their girl. They'd tried at the beginning, but eventually, they knew it was never going to be the same again. "What is it?"
    “I’ve met someone.” He was cautious with his words, knowing what her reaction was going to be.
    She wasn’t completely surprised. “Don’t, Harry…You need to think about Elizabeth here. What is she going to say when she comes home and sees you with someone else? She won’t understand.” Keri attempted to catch her breath, but her non-filtered emotions were spilling out of her mouth now. “We’ve got to try and keep things as they are, Harry. We talked about it, remember? We agreed.”
    “I know. I’m sorry. I can’t help it.”
    “You can. You can help it, for God’s sake.”
    “Keri, it’s all right for you. You have enough faith in her coming home for the two of us. I can’t be as optimistic as you.”
    “Bull.”
    “Keri…”
    “Are you coming next week or not?”
    “I’m sorry…I’m not.”
    “Fine. I’ll go alone.”
    “Keri!”
    She could hear in his voice the discomfort he felt. Good! “Don’t worry about it, Harry. It’s only her twelfth birthday. Nothing special!”
    “Look, stay in town. We can have dinner, celebr...I mean, just be together in a restaurant, like normal bloody people.”
    “Normal?” She wanted to slam the phone down so hard he’d go deaf. “What’s so normal about celebrating our child’s birthday, when we don’t know if she’s dead or alive?”
    Keri could feel her voice breaking. She wiped a tear from the side of her eye. She wasn’t going to cry. She was too angry. “Look, Harry, don’t decide now. We’ve got a few more days. But, if you don’t come, I am going alone. Elizabeth was born on the solstice and so that’s where I’m going to be, just like we’ve always gone for her past two birthdays.” She took a breath. “And when that sun comes up over