“Pa always said if you stand on a hill and look down over a town, that it begins to look like a cemetery. All those little houses lined up neat in a row are just coffins. Reckon he was right, Pete. Just look at how small our lives are down there, all stuffed up inside those little brick boxes. Life before the Restless Ones was a kind of livin’ death. Their workplaces and houses were nothin’ but tombstones. Don’t you see it now?”

“Yes,” said Peter taking his hand.

“Tell me you see it.”

“I see it, Coop. I see it all now.”

Cooper turned round, squeezing Peter’s hand once to tell him he loved him. Then, with the ropes of his hair roiling in the spiralling snow, called back. “Reckon we round everyone up and take ’em to the town hall. Becky and Tokala, you take the apartments on the west side of the street. Earle and I will take the east. And Emmett, if it int too much to ask of you …”

Emmett let go of the waitress’s hand. “You’re a good leader so you’re worried about putting too much pressure on me because I’m young.”

“I int your leader,” said Cooper. “I’m just your friend.”

Emmett shrugged. “We don’t have time for semantics. But it’s OK. You’ll need Earle’s big hands for knocking down doors. I’ll lead the Dead to the hall and wait for you all there.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Earle stepped forward, patting Emmett squarely on the back. “Are you sure these big hands can’t give you a big hug first?”

“Only if you promise not to crush my vital organs.”

“I promise no such thing.”

Earle took Emmett in a bear hug, scrubbing the top of his head with her fist and everyone took a moment for their own handshakes and well wishes before splitting off. They started to make their way down when Peter cleared his throat.

Cooper turned back. “Pete, you’s coming with me.”

“No.”

“Pete, that int no question.”

Peter tucked a ribbon of Cooper’s hair back behind his ear and kissed him. “And I’m really praying that any future marriage proposal will be a little bit more romantic than that, but there was a whole thing with a trapdoor and the sheriff I haven’t even told you about yet, so I think I’ll be OK without you for five minutes. And besides, there’s someone I need to find. Someone who won’t be home.”