XXVII (A and B)

(A)

Counting moments
in-between the carnage
with a mechnical pause
before she spoke
'We have no option'
She said eventually to me.

'I know' I looked at her
emptying my words into the distance
'I know;
and stepped towards the bomb
before a voice carried out
'No'

(B)

'No' I turned out.

It was the Rat King.