102 The New City

The celebrations continued long after then. The people of Provda spilled out into the streets celebrating their freedom with reckless abandon. Many could not believe that they were actually free. As for Gavadiol, the first thing he did was seek out his father. The old man was still kneeling in the street, his head bowed absolutely exhausted. When his son came to drag him up, he was surprised to see tears running down his face. “Dad, why are you crying? We've done it father. We have done it. This journey is finally over.” But the man wasn't even looking at him. He was looking up at the sky and his lips were moving. “Dad, what are you saying?” But he soon realised as he read the man's lips that the words he was mouthing were not directed at him. Indeed, they were for someone else entirely. “I did not fail you, my Helena. I know you're up there smiling at me now. I did not fail you.” Gavadiol felt a tap on his shoulder and even before he looked back, he already knew who it wa