s [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

in my right, I
followed them.
As my foot touched the first step, a trembling vibration shook the violet air
about me. Now almost
I regretted having called upon Llyr to break Medea's spell. For Llyr was
awake, watching, and warned.
The pulse of Llyr muttered through the huge Caer. The golden lightnings flamed
from the Window high above.
Briefly two black small silhouettes showed against that amber glow. They were
Edeyrn and Medea, climbing.
After them I went. And at each step the way grew harder. I seemed to walk
through a thickening, invisible torrent dot was like a wind or a wave flowing
down from that shining window, striving to tear me from my foothold, to rip
the crystal sword from my grip.
Up and up I went. Now the Window was a glaring blaze of yellow fires. The
lightnings crackled out incessantly, while rocking crashes of thunder
reverberated along the vaulted abysses of the Caer.
I leaned forward as though against a gale. Doggedly I fought my way up the
Page 57
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
stair.
There was someone behind me.
I did not turn. I dared not, for fear the torrent would sweep me from my
place. I crawled up the last few steps, and came out on a level platform of
stone, a disc-shaped dais, on which stood a ten-foot cube. Three of its sides
were of black rock. The side that faced me was a glaring blaze of amber
brilliance.
Far below, dizzyingly far, was the floor of the Caer. Behind me the stairway
ran down to those incredible depths, and the tremendous wind still blew upon
me, pouring out from the Window, seeking to whirl me to my death.
To the Window's left stood Edeyrn, to its right, Medea. And in the Window
The blazing golden clouds whirled, thickened, tossed like storm-mists, while
still the blinding flashes spurted from them. The thunder never ceased now.
But it pulsed. It rose and fell hi steady cadence, in unison with the
heart-beat of Llyr.
Monster or mutation human once, or half-human Llyr had grown in power since
then. Ghast Rhymi had warned me.
Part machine and part pure energy and part something unthinkable, the power of
Llyr blasted through the golden clouds upon me!
The Wand of Power dropped from my hand. I lifted the crystal sword and managed
one forward step.
Then the helltide caught me, and I could advance no further. I could only
fight, with every bit of my strength, against the avalanche that strove to
thrust me toward the edge of the hanging platform.
Louder grew the thunders. Brighter the lightnings flamed.
The cold stare of Edeyrn chilled me. Medea's face was inhuman now. Yellow
clouds boiled out from the Window and caught Edeyrn and Medea in their
embrace.
Then they rolled toward me and overwhelmed me.
Dimly I could see the brighter glow that marked Llyr's Window. And two vague
silhouettes, Edeyrn and Medea.
I strove to step forward. Instead I was borne back toward the edge back and
back.
Great arms caught me about the waist. A braid of white hair tossed by my eyes.
The giant strength
file:///G|/rah/Kuttner,%20Henry%20-%20The%20Dark%20World%20-%20uc.txt (59 of
65) [2/1/2004 3:31:32 AM]
file:///G|/rah/Kuttner,%20Henry%20-%20The%20Dark%20World%20-%20uc.txt of
Freydis stood like a wall of iron between me and the abyss.
From the corner of my eye I saw that she had wound a scrap torn from her white
robe about her head, shielding her from the Gorgon's stare. Blindly, guided by
some strange instinct, the
Valkyrie thrust me forward.
Against us the golden clouds rolled, sentient, palpable, veined with white
lightnings and shaking with deep thunders.
Freydis strove silently. I bent forward like a bow, battering against the
torrent.
Step by step I won forward, Freydis to aid me. Ever she stood as a bulwark
against my back. I
could hear her panting breath, great gasps that ripped from her throat as she
linked her strength with mine.
My chest felt as though a white-hot core of iron was driven through it. Yet I
went on. Nothing existed now but that golden brightening amid the clouds,
clouds of creation, sentient with the shaking tumult of breaking universes,
worlds beyond worlds crashing into ruin under the power of
Llyr....
I stood before the Window.
Without volition my arm swept up. I brought the Sword Called Llyr smashing
Page 58
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
down upon Llyr's
Window.
In my hand the sword broke.
It fell to tinkling fragments at my feet. The veined blue glimmers writhed and
coiled about the broken blade.
Were sucked inte-the Window.
Back rushed the cloud-masses. A tremendous, nearly unbearable vibration ripped
through the Caer, shaking it like a sapling. The golden clouds were drawn
through the Window.
With them went Edeyrn and Medea! [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]