2
Major Zimholt continued descending the long metal staircase down toward the beckoning lights below. Alice paused on the stairs to look back and check on Marnie.
She was having a slow, laborious time of it, gripping the metal handrail for support while she stepped sideways down each stair first with her good foot, then with the bulky black boot. Good foot, boot.
Alice gave her a look of sympathy.
“Screw it,” Marnie muttered.
She bent over and ripped the hook and loop straps free. She pulled off the stiff boot and handed it to Alice.
Then she held her arms out to her sides and launched herself forward, like a diver off the board. She flapped her arms twice, quickly, then glided the rest of the way down.
She landed on her good foot and hopped over to the side where she could lean aga
