76.
   When we jumped into the balloon, it shot into the air and carried us out of the city. Claudia was beside herself. She wept. She covered her face and sobbed. “When you came into our world, I didn’t know the horror of your world would follow you!”

   Pat stood on the rim of the basket gripping one of the swaying ropes. “The horror of both of our worlds is following him and he has to keep going because both of our worlds depend on it.”
   Claudia looked away. “I don’t know whether Boris is alive or dead. He is a father to me!”
   I stood next to her letting her hurl her fury at me. “I’ve been through enough and now this! Now I bring it to those I love! Why have you people come back? You have sucked us dry and now your return to feed on our bones!”
   “This wasn’t my idea.”, I muttered seeing Boris’s big ruddy face and feeling the crush of despair.
   “We have to go on!”, pleaded Nanette. “For so many who have died, we have to go on! For Boris!”
   Claudia raised her face from her hands. She looked down at Nanette and stroked her head. She stared into the distance. She took my hand in hers. “I will suffer this pain, but you must promise me something, Oliver. Only your promise will make all of this worthwhile. If anything happens to me, you must continue. Promise me this.”