“There was nothing left for us in the States. I hoped that bringing him home might have some effect on him. Even after so long. I guess I was really hoping for a miracle.”

“But she couldn't even get him into a wheelchair. Honest to God, Father, he was as stiff as a poker.”

A vegetable. My father is a vegetable.

“Everyone has been so good to us.”

“She did her best, so she did, but she couldn't bend him at all."

USELESS. USELESS. USELESS.

“I'm sorry, Father, but I never offered you anything.”

“No thank you, Catherine. Don't trouble yourself.”

“Please, Father?”

“A cup of tea would be lovely then. Thank you very much.”

“I won't be a minute....”

“You can't beat a nice cup of tea. I could never take to the coffee at all. Especially the decapitated. It gives me woeful migraine.”

“Isn't she a wonderful person, Mrs Carter?”

“Her poor mother was the same. Waited on himself hand and foot- God, what's that? What's wrong, Catherine, you're as white as a sheet!”

“Scientia potestas est! Mensa mensa mensam.”

“Look at her eyes, Father!”

“Are you unwell, Catherine? Is there anything we can do?”

“I want to be alone. Go away, go away!”

“Maybe we should call the doctor?”

“I said go away! Go away! I want to be alone!”

“Are you sure, Catherine? Come along, Mrs Carter, we can-”

“Leave me alone! Close that door! Damn you! Damn you! Damn you!”

“In Kitty Hawk, North....”

“Daddy, you bastard! Oh, Mike, Mike.”

Clutching at the blankets, she drags her father from the bed - Bastard! Bastard! - and presses the pillow to his face. The rigid wings shudder for an instant, then agitate the air.

“It should've been you, Daddy. It should've been you....”

She falls across his body and, slowly, silence fills the room like darkness. continue