Incendiary (Inferno 4)

“Yes, Dad,” he huffs as he goes back to grunting and groaning.

I watch him for a moment, wondering when he’s going to have the common sense to start twisting the damn thing instead of just pulling it, then turn my attention back to the girl.

“Get yourself down there and clean it up,” I say, nodding toward the entrance of the deep, dark hole they’re both so afraid of.

“I’ll do it,” Richter interjects immediately.

I arch an eyebrow at him as he begins to quickly pull himself up over the top, then dangles his legs over the side. When he hesitates, I chuckle and reach for the back of his shirt, yanking him back onto the grass.

“You’ve already got a chore,” I remind him pointedly before I look at the girl. “And you don’t. Now get down there and clean up what’s left of your mother. Take it all out to the clearing and dump it with Jocelyn’s bones. Those two were pretty much the same. Their remains can rot together.”

I lift my arms over my head, clasping my hands together, giving my muscles a good, firm stretch as I watch the girl climb over the side.

I could make this easy on her and toss the ladder down, but if she can do this without any extra help, then she’ll prove herself to be worth more than I already think she is.

“And when you’re both done with your chores, wash up. Dinner will be in a few hours, and we have some things to discuss.”