The Tremaynes had built a fortress, but not even a fortress could stand in the path of the ferocious gas blaze surely eating its way to them. There was no time for anything; he could only carry her through the tunnel space, locked to his body with one arm, while he used his feet and his free hand to drag them along. When he came to the end of the tunnel through the debris, Darrin was waiting to help him. He allowed Marissa to collapse into Darrin’s arms, then slipped free himself, calling to Ralph and Teddy that they must hurry. He jumped clear and swept Marissa into his arms, leaving the others to deal with Sandy and Father Donohue as he carried her fleetly from the building and into the daylight. There was not much of it. The smoke was a blanket upon them now. She inhaled and exhaled on a shaky note. Her eyelids flickered open, and she offered him a feeble smile. Then her eyes flickered shut once again. He set a finger upon her pulse and found it steady. He whispered her name and leaned closely over her, listening to the pattern of her breathing.
