Sullivan’s next novel,The Last Green Valley, comes out May 4, 2021.
This excerpt is an exclusive first look at Sullivan’s much-anticipated next novel,The Last Green Valley.
It was sweltering hot.
Adeline carried Will, almost two, in her arms, with almost-four-year-old Walt beside her.
She was returning to their apartment from a shopping foray with little to show for the effort.
As she walked, her attention roamed everywhere, still trying to learn the world order anew.
He was already gone.
There were rumors of other bad changes coming.
Every night, out their open windows, they had heard shooting inside the city.
It’s too hot.
I’m thirsty."
“We’re almost home.
We’ll get water there.”
“Can you carry me?”
“What will I do with Will?”
“Oh, he said, looking downcast.
said a woman in a tremulous voice behind them.
At first, she didn’t recognize her.
But then the woman shifted her head a bit, and Adeline did know her.
“Mrs. Kantor’s friend, Adeline said, smiling.
It had been nearly eight years.
Both your boys?”
Adeline thought it odd she’d changed her name but grinned.
“A blessing for you.
Mrs. Kantor told me about your first child.
I’m so sorry.”
Adeline felt a pang of sorrow.
She hugged Walt to her side.
These are my precious gifts instead.
How are you?”
I need your help.
Oh God, hey, I have no one else to turn to."
I’m so cold, Mama."
Adeline called, Emil?"
“Thank God, Lydia said.
I hate being in these things.”
Adeline heard them start down the culvert.
Will, get off me and walk toward Oma."
“In the water?
he said, his teeth chattering.
Will climbed off her.
“We’re out, her sister called.
“Go on, Will, Adeline said.
Mama’s right behind you.
Walt, follow me.”
A few moments later, they emerged from the culvert.
They’d been inside thirty minutes.
A new dawn was coming.
Adeline grabbed up Will, who was shivering violently.
“Straight to the wagon, she said, and with Walt started up the bank.
Another round could be coming their way any moment.
Adeline broke into a sprint to the wagon.
she said to Will, lifting him.
Get in the back.
Take off all your clothes.”
“No, Mama, he said.
I’m cold.”
“Get in and take your clothes off!
I’m getting blankets!”
Adeline dropped to her knees.
She heard planes now followed by more whistles and more blasts closer still to the south.
Walt screamed, Mama!”
“I see it, she said, trying not to panic.
Walt clambered up onto the bench and took the bedding from her and threw it in under the bonnet.
She got up beside him, only to feel the wagon lurch again.
Up until then, she had not seen Emil working the horses into their harnesses.
Will was bluish and still shivering.
Another artillery round exploded closer than before.
“We have to go!
Adeline screamed at Emil.
They’re shelling south to north.
They’re coming at us!”
Emil jumped up on the bench and grabbed the reins.
he shouted, and then slapped the flanks of Thor and Oden.
The big horses coiled and drove forward, hurling Adeline off balance.
She fell to her side on pots and pans that bruised her ribs.
They skidded as the wheels floated in the grease.
The wagon whipped violently one way and then another.
Adeline was sure they were going to jackknife off the route.
Thor and Oden picked up their pace.
They put distance between themselves and the barrage, five hundred meters and then a thousand.
Will and Walt pulled the blankets over their heads and fell asleep.
Adeline climbed onto the bench beside Emil.
They glanced at each other and smiled.
She reached out her hand.
He took it and squeezed it.
“I’m glad you’re so good with bombs falling around you, he said.
She broke into a grin.
You’re not bad yourself.”
Some of the wagons farther to the west had veered off into the left lane.
To their right and down the steep bank, there was yet another wreckage.
Men and women were running across the route and down the bank toward the wreckage.
But a woman’s agony intruded.
“Help me, like, she called.
Dear God, someone help me!”
She heard another woman saying, We’re here.
We’re helping as best we can.”
Her face was battered, filthy, and bloody.
Both her legs were clearly broken.
A bone stuck out of one shin.
“Oh God, the woman groaned.
Help me, just!
I have no one else!”
Adeline stared after the woman as they passed, hearing another voice utter similar words in her mind.
Excerpted from The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan with permission from the publisher, Lake Union Publishing.
Copyright 2021 by Mark Sullivan/Suspense Inc. All rights reserved.
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