Ch. 5: The Hill of the Road

Back to Arheled

             Forest   woke   up   early   that   Sunday. When   he   went   outside   he   gasped:   from   tree   and   sky   a   frosty   silver   mist   softened   the   air,   and   a   soft   fierce   hoar   overlaid   everything. The   air   bit   when   he   breathed. He   laughed   aloud.

             The   squeaking   of   bicycle   handbrakes   from   the   gate   made   him   start. Ronnie   Wendy   had   come   to   a   stop   outside   the   chain-link   fence   at   the   far   end   of   the   bridge,   wearing   a   hooded   brown   coat   and   brown   suit   pants;   he   looked,   in   fact,   so   like   the   first   time   that   Arheled   had   manifested   to   him   that   Forest   was   startled. A   year   ago,   only   a   year   ago,   he   would   have   been   afraid   of   this   grim-faced   man   with   the   burning   eyes;   but   now   he   himself   had   changed,   had   grown,   and   he   looked   back   at   the   boy   he   had   been   as   if   across   an   abyss.

             “I’m   glad   you’re   up,   Forest.”   said   Ronnie   when   Forest   came   onto   the   covered   bridge. “Get   ready   for   church. I   want   you   to   come   to   Mass   with   me.”

             “I’m   not   Catholic.”

             Ronnie’s   glittering   eyes   met   his. “You   went   already   once   before. Why   are   you   afraid   to   go   now?”

             “It’s   not   that—it’s—it’s—“

             “This   is   the   1st   Sunday   of   Advent. It   is   a   day   of   great   import   for   us   Catholics,   for   today   the   New   Mass   is   implemented. I want   you   there   with   me. What   affects   us   affects   you   all.”

             “But,   it’s   just,   I   feel   that   if   I   go   there,   I’ll   sort   of   incur   a   duty—I’ll   feel   I   have   to…”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “To   join   us.”   said   Ronnie,   reading   his   thoughts. “And   rightly so,   for   in   the   last   hour   you   either   are   with   the   Church   or   against   Her;   for   all   who   have   truth   are   linked   with   the   Church,   by   cord   or   thread   or   even   shadow. All   incline   in   the   end   toward   Her,   for   in   Her   alone   is   the   fullness   of   truth,   and   all   truths   meet   in   Her. It   is   not   surprising,   Forest,   you   should   feel   the   call   to   join   us.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   mean   it’s   like   running   away   from   the   Road.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie,   his   long   face   strange   inside   his   hood,   smiled. “Yes. You   could   have   fled   from   Arheled,   afraid   of   the   things   he   was   showing   to   you;   refused   or   tried   to   refuse   the   sight   burgeoning   in   you,   until   anguish   and   sorrow   and   doom   forced   you   to   accept   perforce   the   duty   you   denied. But   you   didn’t,   Forest. Nor   will   you   now. Come. You   will   go   with   me   to   Mass.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   are   not   asking. You   are   commanding.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             A   red   light   shone   for   an   instant   in   Ronnie’s   eyes. “And   I   have   the   right   to   command.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Forest   smiled. “I   know. I’ll   get   dressed.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             He   came   back,   looking   glum. “I   can’t   find   the   key. The   gates   are   locked   now.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Red   light   flamed   in   Ronnie’s   hands. He   slammed   them   on   the   gates. The   padlock   popped   open.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh.”   said   Forest.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   left   a   note?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Yep,   said   I   was   out   biking   around   the   lake,   would   be   back   in   time   for   church.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Mass   is   as   8.”   said   Ronnie. “We   should   have   enough   time.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh,   that   reminds   me. I   have   something   for   you.”   said   Forest. He   drew   out   from   under   his   coat   the   ancient   sheath   of   black   and   red   leather   with   a   metal   backing,   strange   runes   stamped   into   the   surface,   flowing   characters   neither   Tengwar   nor   Cirith   but   Numenorean. The   red   gems   in   the   hilt   glowered   like   coals.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie’s   eyes   flashed   the   same   hue. “Barrow-blade.”   he   breathed. “One   of   the   last   blades   of   Numenor. Where   did   you   get   this?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   have   one   like   it.”   said   Forest. “This   is   Trollsbane. I   got   it   from   the   Halfelven.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie   took   the   sword   gravely. “This   is   indeed   an   honorable   weapon.”   he   said. “You   can   tell   me   afterwards;   we’re   running   late.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   look   like   Arheled.”   said   Forest.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie   gave   a   sour   smile. “So   do   you,   with   those   old   eyes   and   that   terrible   thoughtful   quiet. So   do   all   of   us. He   has   remade   us   in   his   image   and   likeness.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   ride   up   the   winding   lake   road   was   a   quiet   one,   the   Sunday   morning   full   of   frost   and   wood   smoke. They   charged   down   Lake   St   and   rode   along   Main   until   they   reached   St. Joseph’s.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   driveway   up   the   hill   to   the   church’s   front   steps   was   already   packed   with   cars. Ronnie   chained   their   bikes   to   the   flagpole   closer   to   the   church. Two   steel   poles   stood   side   by   side,   bearing   far   above   the   US   flag   and   the   Vatican   flag   in   yellow   and   gold.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   notice,   Forest,   that   the   flag   of   the   Church   is   not   placed   underneath   of   the   national   flag,   but   beside   it   and   apart   from   it.”   said   Ronnie. “She   stands   apart   from   the   kings   of   the   world,   although   acknowledging   them   and   their   authority.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “She?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “The   Church   is   the   mystical   Bride   of   Christ,   as   well   as   being   His   Mystical   Body. Hence   we   usually   refer   to   the   Church   as   Her.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             They   mounted   the   great   granite   stairs   and   entered   the   vestibule. Ronnie   blessed   himself   with   holy   water   and   Forest,   after   a   long   hesitation,   did   so   too. Up   front   they   could   see   the   Midwinter   family   in   their   usual   pew,   but   Lara   was   not   with   them. Nor   was   Lilac,   for   she   was   dead. Forest   wondered   what   she   had   been   like.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Drat,   they’ve   replaced   the   Adoremus   missals.”   Ronnie   muttered. The   red   hymnals   had   held   traditionalist   songs   and   many   Latin   chants   for   parts   of   the   Mass   and   many   old   hymns   he   doubted   would   be   in   the   new   versions;   those   would   probably   resemble   the   “Gather”   hymnals.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             A   bell   rang,   and   everyone   rose. From   overhead   the   cantor’s   strong   beautiful   voice   sounded   through   the   speakers. “Please   join   us   in   our   entrance   hymn…”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Forest   watched   with   some   curiosity   as   the   priest,   lectors   and   acolytes   processed   out   of   the   sacristy. White   cassocks   on   black,   the   priest   and   deacon   vested   in   violet. At   Old   Baptist   the   minister   usually   wore   black. Ronnie’s   deep   voice   growled   underneath   the   music,   and   certainly   under   the   high   nasal   tones   of   Mr. Slocum   not   far   off. The   long   straight   hair   of   Moria   showed   from   a   side   pew,   and   there   seemed   almost   to   be   a   light   about   her. Ronnie’s   eyes   narrowed.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “She   hasn’t   been   around   since   October.”   he   muttered.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Who   is   she?”   whispered   Forest.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “A   very   enigmatic   person.”   Ronnie   answered. “I   have   no   idea   what   she   is. She   baffles   me. What   do   you   See   about   her?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “She   shines.”   said   Forest. “She’s   not   evil.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “That   I   know.”   agreed   Ronnie. “But   is   she   with   us?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Father   Leo,   large,   heavy   and   slow,   faced   the   church   as   the   music   ended. Slowly,   as   if   gathering   energy   between   every   word,   he   recited   the   entrance   prayers. Ronnie   listened,   a   strange   delighted   glee   on   his   sad   grim   face. The   prayers   were   like   and   yet   utterly   different   from   the   ones   that   he   was   used   to,   that   he   had   heard   his   whole   life:   there   was   a   formality   in   their   tone   and   phrasing   that   somehow   made   them   more   apt,   more   fit   for   the   celebration of   the   Sacrifice   of   the   Mass.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “…the   Lord   be   with   you.”   Father   finished.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie,   who   was   studying   the   Mass   card   in   his   pew,   was   prepared. Instead   of   the   automatic   response,   “And   also   with   you”,   which   he   had   said   aloud   since   he   could   speak,   he   said   firmly,    “And   with   your   spirit,”   feeling   a   thrill   as   the   old   words   echoed   through   the   church. About   half   the   people   forgot   and   said,   “And   also   with   you,”   while   others   caught   themselves   halfway   and   said,   “And   also   with—your   spirit.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “And   with   your   spirit.”   murmered   Forest.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   confess,”   began   the   priest,

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “To   almighty   God,   and   you   my   brothers   and   sisters,   that   I   have   greatly   sinned,   in   my   thoughts   and   in   my   words,   in   what   I   have   done   and   what   I   have   failed   to   do;   through   my   fault,   through   my   fault,   through   my   most   grievous   fault;   therefore    I   ask   Blessed   Mary   ever-virgin,   all   the   Angels   and   Saints,   and   you,   my   brothers   and   sisters,   to   pray   for   me   to   the   Lord   our   God.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie’s   eyes   were   shining. All   his   life   he   had   spoken   the   “contemporary”,   “new”   forms,   learning   as   he   grew   older   the   more   solemn   wording   of   the   Confetior   of   the   Latin   Mass;   and   now   the   “contemporary”   was   outdated   and   left   behind,   and   the   old   forms   were   “new”   and   established,   to   be   heard   every   Sunday   at   the   most   liberal   of   parishes. Unless   some   pastor   here   or   there   dared   to   hold   out   and   keep   on   saying   the   “old”   forms. Ronnie   almost   laughed. Forty,   nay   twenty   years   ago,   it   had   seemed   as   if   the   old   traditions   and   solemnities   would   be   drowned   in   a   rising   tide   of   pop   music   and   guitars;   and   even   during   the   90s   and   2000s   he   remembered,   the   old   things   were   islands,   a   Latin   Mass   here,   a   Gregorian   Chant   Norvus   Ordo   there   with   parts   in   sung   Latin,   while   everywhere   else   the   folk   music   sang   and   the   pastors   beamed   and   bobbed. Now   the   ancient   things   stood   triumphant   in   the   sky,   banishing   the   sea   before   them;   the   Breaking   Breads   eddied   in   lagoons,   trying   to   stay,   but   the   tide   was   set   the   other   way   and   the   modernists   were   being   swept   out   with   it.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             This   being   Advent,   there   was   no   chance   at   singing   the   revised    Gloria,   so   the   Kyrie   Eleison   was   followed   by   the   readings. This   time,   when   the   priest   just   finished   saying,   “The   Lord   be   with   you,”   Ronnie   slipped   and   said,   “And   also   with—your   spirit.”   and   made   a   face   at   himself,   smiling.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   Nicene   Creed   surprised   Forest:   it   had   not   been   recited   at   the   weekday   Mass   he   had   attended   with   Arheled,   so   long   ago   before   he   even   knew   him   by   that   name. And   Ronnie   devoured   the   words,   his   eyes   gleaming,   for   they   rang   in   the   church   like   words   of   power,   like   the   terrible   sound   of   some   divine   and   rightful   incantation:

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“I (not   we)   believe   in   one   God….

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I   believe   in   one   Lord   Jesus   Christ,

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">the   Only   Begotten   Son   of   God,   born   of   the   Father   before   all   ages. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">God   from   God,   Light   from   Light,   true   God   from   true   God,

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">begotten,   not   made,   ''consubstantial   with   the   Father, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">through   Him   all   things   were   made.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">For   us   men   and   for   our   salvation   he   came   down   from   heaven

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">and   by   the   Holy   Spirit   was   incarnate   of   the   Virgin   Mary, <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">   and   became   man.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">For   our   sake   he   was   crucified   under   Pontius   Pilate,

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">he    suffered   death    and   was   buried, ''   and   rose   again   on   the   third   day… ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I   believe   in   the   Holy   Spirit,   the   Lord,   the   Giver   of   life,

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">who   proceeds   from   the   Father   and   the   Son,

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">who   with   the   Father   and   the   Son   is   adored   and   glorified, ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">who <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">   has   spoken   through   the   prophets.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I   believe   in   one   holy   catholic   and   apostolic   church,

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">I   confess <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">   one   baptism   for   the   forgiveness   of   sins,

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">and    I   look   forward   to    the   resurrection   of   the   dead,   and   the   life   everlasting,   Amen.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “My   sisters…”   Father   Leo   said   wearily. There   was   a   pause   as   if   he   was   gathering   effort. “My   brothers…the   Lord   be   with   you.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “And   with   your   spirit.”   said   Ronnie,   and   the   Midwinters,   and   Moria.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Let   us   give   thanks   to   the   Lord   our   God.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “It   is   right   and   just. ''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">”   said   the   congregation,   Ronnie   with   immense   relish.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “It   is   truly   right   and   just,   our   duty   and   our   salvation,   always   and   everywhere   to   give   you   thanks,   Lord,   holy   Father,   almighty   and   eternal   God,   through   your   beloved   Son,   Jesus   Christ,   your   Word   through   whom   you   made   all   things,   whom   you   sent   as   our   Saviour   and   Redeemer,   Incarnate   by   the   Holy   Spirit   and   born   of   the   Virgin. Fulfilling   your   will   and   gathering   to   you   a   holy   people,   he   stretched   out   his   hands   as   he   endured   his   Passion,   so   as   to   break   the   bonds   of   death   and   manifest   the   resurrection. And   so   with   the   Angels   and   all   the   Saints,   we   declare   your   glory;   may   our   voices   be   one   with   theirs   as   we   acclaim:”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   cantor   broke   into   a   strange   and   powerful   chant,   the   unknown   words   sounding   on   Forest’s   ears   like   thunder:   “''Sanctu-us,   Sanctu-us,   Sanctus   Domini   Deus   sabaoth,   Plenie   sunt   chaeli   in   terra,   Gloria   tua;   Hosanna   in   excelcis—Benedictus,   qui   venit   in   nomine   Domine;   Ho-sa-anna   in   e-excel-ci-is.” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “What   does   that   mean?”   Forest   whispered.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie’s   eyes   glowed. He   replied   in   a   strange   chanting   murmer,   “Holy,   Holy,   Holy   Lord   God   of   hosts. Heaven   and   earth   resound   your   glory;   hosanna   in   the   highest. Blessed   is   he   who   comes   in   the   name   of   the   Lord. Hosanna   in   the   Highest.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Forest   said   nothing. His   eyes   were   like   saucers. Green   flickered   and   gleamed   in   their   depths. For   one   perilous   instant,   as   Ronnie   had   said   those   words,   Forest   had   had   the   same   exact   feeling   as   he   did   when   he   beheld   the   Tree   in   his   first   dreams   long   ago.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             So   the   New   Mass   proceeded,   and   Ronnie,   homeschooled,   son   of   traditionalists,   felt   at   last   vindicated,   for   the   very   forms   of   the   regular   Mass   now   were   traditionalist;   and   Forest   beside   him   from   the   Baptist   church,   listened   in   amazement   to   something   beyond   any   service   he   had   ever   heard.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Even   the   words   of   consecration   had   changed. “In   a   similar   way,   when   supper   was   ended,   he   took   this   precious   chalice   in   his   holy   and   venerable   hands,   and   once   more   giving   you   thanks,   he   said   the   blessing,   and   gave   the   chalice   to   his   disciples,   saying,   Take   this,   all   of   you,   and   drink   from   it,   for   this   is   the   chalice   of   my   Blood,   the   Blood   of   the   new   and   eternal   covenant,   which   will   be   poured   out   for   you   and   for   many   for   the   forgiveness   of   sins.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie   remembered   the   evolution   of   these   words. At   Vatican   II   the   form   had   been   “for   you   and   for   all   mankind”,   but   the   feminists,   ever   touchy,   chopped   off   the   “mankind”   and   left   it   with   “all”,   despite   the   clear   words   of   Scripture,   that   sinister    many   with   the   implication   of   damnation   which   made   the   modernists   squirm   in   their   pews.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Then   they   chanted   the   Mystery   of   Faith,   in   Latin,   without   organ;   only   the   voices   of   the   people   rising   in   deep   thunder,   “Mortem   tuam,   annonciamus   Do-o-omine…”   Forest   thought   he   had   never   heard   something   so—suited   for   church. Ronnie   smiled;   he   was   glad   he   had   not   gone   to   the   later   Masses. Of   late   they   had   begun   to   incorporate   the   new   words   and   sing   the   new   forms   of   the   “Holy,   Holy,   Holy,”   the   “Amen”   and   the   Profession   of   Faith;   but   to   his   chagrin   and   the   discordance   of   the   ritual,   what   had   they   chosen   for   music   but   the   same   hoppy   pop   tune   that   the   guitar   masses   always   used,   warping   the   new   words   to   it. And   words   like   “Holy   Lord   God   of   hosts”,   “we   profess   your   resurrection”,   did   not   fit   to   a   light   fluttery   tune   that   danced   on   needlepoints.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             When   the   time   came   to   receive   the   Eucharist,   Ronnie   left   Forest   to   stay   in   his   pew   and   went   up   to   receive. Forest   noticed   he   knelt   to   receive;   only   the   Midwinters,   Moria   and   Mr. Slocum   seemed   to   do   likewise.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             After   Mass   Ronnie   lingered   to   exchange   a   few   enthusiastic   observations   on   the   “new-old   Mass”   with   Mrs. Midwinter,   then   caught   up   to   Forest   and   they   headed   outside.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “What   was   that   Mysterium   Fidei?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Mystery   of   Faith.”   said   Ronnie. “They   always   sing   it   that   way   here. Where   is   she? I   just   saw   her…oh   good,   there   she   is.”   He   skittered   down   the   drive   and   caught   up   to   Moria.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Hello   Ronnie. Hello   Forest. Did   you   like   the   new   Mass.”   she   said. Forest   was   struck   with   the   odd   deliberate   poise   of   her   words   and   the   piquant   way   her   voice   dropped   at   the   end   of   a   sentence.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Was   the   umbrella   yours?”   said   Ronnie.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Moria’s   face   with   its’   perpetual   little   smile   did   not   falter. “It   was. You   used   it   well.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Why   did   it   not   save   her?”   The   hardness   in   Ronnie’s   voice   made   Forest   glance   quickly   at   him. It   was   terrifying. His   legs   vibrated   faintly   and   his   eyes   were   like   twin   stars   in   some   distant   universe   where   all   the   skies   were   red.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “It   tried.”   Moria   said   smoothly   in   her   regal   monotone. “But   it   was   not   magic. It   was   no   stronger   than   her.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   are   not   human.”   blurted   Forest.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   smile   remained,   but   the   eyes   flickered. Moria   turned   to   face   him,   her   young   round   face   unchanged. “I   am   human.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   hold   yourself.”''   Together. No,   he   had   to   speak''. “You   grab   your   voice. You   think   out   every   motion. You   aren’t   natural. Between   one   word   and   another   you   control   your   voice. You   are   a   mask. You   are   not.”   What   you   seem.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             When   Moria   spoke   again   her   voice   was   so   rich,   so   glowing,   so   impossibly   full   of   impossible   joy,   both   staggered   as   if   turned   to   jelly. Only   when   her   voice   fell   silent   did   they   shake   their   heads,   blink   and   ask   her   what   she   had   said.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “That   is   why   I   control   every   word. Every   step. I   dare   not   let   slip   what   I   am   underneath. I   was   human. I   am   more.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Before   they   could   recover   she   was   sailing   on   down   the   sidewalk,   and   still   they   stood   rooted   until   she   was   out   of   sight.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   December   night   lay   over   the   land,   and   it   was   cold. A   keen   sharp   cold,   spicy   with   frost   but   not   deep. The   bare   forests   lay   open   to   the   moon. Cold   and   powerful   she   stared,   at   her   full   now,   filling   the   forest   with   a   silver   brightness. Blue   shadows   lay   cold   beside   the   trees. A   silver   haze   filled   the   distant   depths. Smoke   from   chimneys   glowed   white   and   wan   blue,   as   if   wrought   of   moonsmoke   and   cotton. Blue-grey   lay   the   fallen   leaves,   stiff   with   falling   frost.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie   Wendy,   reading   by   a   simple   lamp   in   a   dark   house   (he   preferred   dimness;   his   few   candles   he   was   saving   for   power   outages),   heard   an   odd   sound   from   his   roof. A   scraping   and   creaking. Frowning   he   donned   his   shoes   and   cloak,   buckled   on   the   Trollsbane,   and   pushed   open   the   door. At   the   last   minute   he   took   from   under   his   bed   the   sneakers   of   Arheled   and   put   them   on.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   grim   grey   moonday   lit   the   yard,   even   under   the   old   pines   near   the   other   house. For   a   moment,   surveying   the   roof,   he   thought   there   was   nothing   there,   that   he   had   only   heard   a   squirrel.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Until   the   roof   began   to   move.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Red   light   flamed   in   Ronnie’s   eyes. Red   fire   flamed   in   the   dragon’s   eyes   as   it   uncoiled   itself   from   his   roof. Sinuous   and   lithe   it   dropped to   the   ground. Other   dragons   began   to   emerge   from   the   edge   of   the   trees,   and   soon   they   encircled   him   round   in   a   ring   of   gleaming   eyes,   scales   reflecting   many   shades   of   silver,   and   grey,   and   purple   beneath   the   moon.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             As   Ronnie   circled   from   one   to   another,   slowly   turning   from   foe   to   foe,   the   dragons   all   began   to   dance. Their   long   bodies   shortened   until   they   could   stand,   and   in   an   eerie   silent   dance   they   moved   around   him,   hideously   graceful   underneath   the   bitter   moon.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “What   do   you   want?”   the   harsh   voice   of   Ronnie   echoed.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   dragons   made   no   answer,   smiling   salaciously   as   they   undulated   round   him. So   many   at   once   he   had   little   hope   of   killing,   and   he   knew   it,   and   they   knew   it. Then   they   threw   back   long   snouts   and   unleashed   a   blaze   of   powers,   fire   of   all   colors,   ice   and   lightning   and   light,   arching   sudden   and   violent   underneath   the   blue-white   moon. Equally   sudden   their   fire   was   ceased. Every   dragon   lowered   its’   head   and   stared   at   Ronnie   in   the   center   of   their   circle;   and   he   saw   with   dawning   horror   that   the   ash   of   their   powers   had   fallen   in   lone   glittering   lines,   forming   a   sign   of   power   with   himself   at   the   center:   a   symbol   of   fell   magic,   which   would   make   use   of   him.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Red   fire   grew   in   Ronnie’s   eyes.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   heads   of   the   dragons   all   tilted   to   the   moon,   and   they   howled   a   single   word,   a   word   distinct   yet   which   seemed   to   make   no   sense.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Bending   down   Ronnie   slammed   his   hands   upon   the   earth.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Red   fire   leaped up. To   Ronnie’s   horror   the   earth   did   not   answer   his   call. The   fire   swayed   and   danced   around   him,   flickering   back   and   forth   along   the   lines   of   the   spell. He   could   not   use   his   power here. The   symbol   was   taking   it   whenever   he   unleashed   it.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             He   drew   the   sword   of   the   Barrow-downs   that   long   lay   broken,   and   the   black   metal   was   overlain   with   a   sheen   like   the   reflection   of   red   light,   and   the   writhing   characters   of   Numenor   gleamed   like   red   and   golden   flame,   and   from   the   red   jewels   in   the   hilt   red   rays   beamed. The   dragons   gave   a   simultaneous   intake   of   breath. Ronnie   lunged. At   all   costs   he   must   get   out   of   that   terrible   symbol.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Fire   blasted   against   him. Fire   split   upon   him. He   was   wearing   the   shoes   of   Arheled,   and   no   fire   could   bite   on   him. The   dragon   he   was   making   for   squealed   and   tried   to   dodge;   but   the   sword   Trollsbane   flamed   with   red   fire,   and   cleft   the   iron   scales   like   grass,   and   spilled   her   blood   upon   the   ground.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   Dragons   shouted   again. And   Ronnie   froze. Between   one   step   and   another   power   held   him. Again   they   shouted,   and   this   time   he   understood   the   word   that   they   were   saying.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Faaafniiiir!!” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             With   a   blast   of   red   fire   Ronnie   broke   free. Magic   could   not   long   delay   one   of   the   Children   of   the   Road. He   slammed   one   hand   upon   the   scales   of   the   dragon   he   had   wounded. Earth-power   shattered   her   body;   she   collapsed,   the   earth   consumed   her. And   Ronnie   was   out   of   the   deadly   circle.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Earth   shook. Earth   groaned. As   Ronnie   fell   over   he   saw   the   red   Road-power   stolen   from   him,   tricked   out   of   him,   flaring   high   within   the   circle,   and   inside   it   something   rising,   something   mighty   was   ascending. Huge   cracks   snaked   out. The   houses   swayed.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Red   light   flamed   from   Ronnie’s   hands   where   they   touched   the   earth. The   earthquake   ceased. He   groaned   as   he   lay   upon   the   earth:   it   was   taking   all   his   power   to   hold the   earthquake   down. Where   were   the   others? Wasn’t   he   in   danger? Or   did   he   have   to   call   them   himself?

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Red   light   leaped   up   from   the   magic   circle. Red   light   leaped   up   from   Ronnie’s   hands. Out   of   the   earth a   shape   was   forming,   a   shape   was   building,   higher   and   higher   like   a   flickering   tower. Ronnie’s   voice,   rough   and   powerful,   roared   a   single   word   as   he   sent   forth   his   call:

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Laaraaaaaa!!!! ''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   dragon-circle   scattered,   dragons   teleporting   to   safe   distances. Within   their   circle   there   now   lay   a   huge   form,   wreathed   in   red   lightning   that   flickered   slowly   along   him.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Hail,   great   Uncle,   two-blooded   monster,   born   of   Frost-giants,   who   took   on   our   form! Hail   son   of   Unbegotten,   dragon-hearted,   giant-blooded,   slain   of   Sigurd,   now   returned! Hail   Fafnír,   Hriedmar’s   son,   incarnated   by   Road-power!”   ''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">all   the   Dragons   cried   in   chorous.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Out of   the earth   as   the   earthshaking   ceased,   Lara   rose,   wan   and   grim. She   looked   around,   surprised,   at   the   dragons   and   at   the   huge   body   of   Fafnír,   around   which   the   lightnings   sank. Awful   eyes   opened   and   stared   into   hers. Even   as   their   eyes   met,   the   dragons   all   disappeared.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “How   did   I   get   here? And   where   am   I?”   said   Lara.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I’m   afraid   I   called   you.”   said   Ronnie.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             She   turned   around   and   saw   him   for   the   first   time. “You   what?”   she   said   in   a   frozen   voice.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   had   need   of   you. When   I   need,   I   may   call. If   you   are   led   by   me,   you   must   answer.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh,   I   must. How   very   interesting. And   I   suppose   I   don’t   even   get   to   answer   no.   I   just   have to   appear   like—like   a   freakin’   Jinn   in   a   bottle??!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Did   you   see   what   they   did?”   said   Ronnie   fiercely. “They   took   my   own   power   and   turned   it   into   magic,   trapping   me   in   a   magic   glyph   and   calling   up   the   worst dragon   save   only   Cornello   himself,   while   I   lay   helpless!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Really. I   saw   no   dragons. You   didn’t   need   me. And   even   if   you   did   I   do   not   like   simply   being   whistled   for,   as   if   I’m   your   Arheleded   slave! You   think   just   because   you   got   put   in   charge   that   you   can   snap   your   fingers   and   call   us   out   of   the   woodwork?!”   The   scattered   clouds   were   sailing   over   the   moon   now,   and   the   yard   grew   dark   and   hidden.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “There   wasn’t   time   to   make   a   phone   call!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Riiight. Well,   here’s   a   news   flash   for   you. I   was   tied   for   leader   until   Travel   caved   and   betrayed   me. That   means   I   don’t   take   orders   from   you,   and   I   most   certainly   do   not   get   pulled   over   at   your   bidding!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   face   of   Ronnie   in   the   light   of   his   own   eyes   was   hard   as   stone. “Do   you   reject   my   authority,   Lara   Midwinter?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Lara’s   eyes   glittered   like   diamonds. “You   have   no   authority   over   me. No   one   does. I   obey—if   I   choose   to. I   will   not   be commanded. And   I   will   not   be   called!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “We’ve   had   all   this   out   before.”   Ronnie   said   grimly. “I   seem   to   recall   who   the   winner   was   that   time.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             A   dreadful   smile, so   unlike   her   normal   face   it   seemed   as   if   an   alien   was   suddenly   peering   out   through   it,   flashed   over   her   face. “We   were   under   the   earth   then…but   things   are   different   now.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   last   ragged   tails   of   cloud   withdrew    from   the   moon. A   great   lake   of   open   sky   yawned   in   the   firmament. The   yard   brightened. Grey   grass   gleamed   with   frost. Silver   mist   sifted   through   the   trees. Strong   cold   light   fell   about   them. Like   a   dead   grim   face   the   white   eye   stared   in   the   dark   hard   sky. Lara   lifted   her   head   to   the   moon. An   awful   laughter   shook   her,   soundless,   unsmiling. Her   eyes   in   the   frosty   air   burned   like   twin   stars.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Then   she   lowered   her   face   and   turned   her   blinding   eyes   full   upon   Ronnie   Wendy.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh   my   God.”   he   muttered.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   light   that   broke   out   of   her   was   so   great   that   it   filled   the   night   for   miles   around,   filled   sky   and   heart   and   mind. Red   against   it   flared   the   power   of   the   revealing   sight   of   Ronnie. He   staggered. The   sheer   excess   of   light   was   bearing   him   back. Through   the   glare   pierced   his   gaze,   seeking   out   the   eyes   of   Lara   behind   their   shield   of   light. He   found   them.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Lara,   Star   of   the   Road!” <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">   he   roared.    “Look   upon   my   eyes,   and   gaze   into   their   depths!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Eye   met   eye. Power   met   power. Red   lightning   swirled   in   the   eyes   of   Ronnie. Lightning   staggered. Redness   failed. Slowly   the white   fire   of   Lara   bore   him   back. Even   through   the   blinding   light   he   could   see   the   alien   smile   on   her   face.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Do   you   begin   to   see   it? Do   you   begin   to   know   it   now?”   the   voice   of   Lara   rang   through   the   storm   of   her   power. “I   am   greater   than   you,   Ronnie. I   will   not   dree   the   Hill   of   the   Road   to   pull   and   to   call   me   as   if   I   was   his.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Red   fire   was   quenched. Red   power   extinguished. Ronnie   bent   beneath   the   blast   of   white,   one   hand   lifted,   redness   flickering. He   crashed   to   one   knee. White   power   smote   him,   downward   falling,   pressing   him   fallen   on   the   earth before   her.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Lara   folded   her   arms,   a   small   smile   on   her   shining   face. Ronnie   lifted   his   head   from   the   ground.'' ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">“You…are   not…Lara.”   he   rasped.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh,   yes   I   am.”   Lara   snapped.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “No.”   said   Ronnie,   pulling himself   slowly   to   his   feet. “You   are   not. You   possess. You   are   not   of   the   Road.'' ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   are   Diana!” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">              The   strange   smile   on   the   features   of   Lara   broadened.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Diana!” <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">   the   voice   of   Ronnie   roared. ''“In   the   name   of   the   Road   you   will   go   out   of   her!” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   smile   slipped   and   fell. Lara   shuddered. A   light   as   fell   and   blue   and   white   as   the   Moon   herself   broke   out   of   her.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “When   the   Moon   shines,   I   am   master,   Hill   of   the   Road. ''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">”   she   said   in a   terrible   voice.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Power   fought   power. Earth   leaped   and   raged   at   the   call   of   Ronnie. Earth   dissolved   and   was   quelled   at   the   white   strength   coming   from   Lara. Walls   of   earth   burst   around   her. Walls   of   earth   were   dissolved. Cast   in   ruin   Ronnie   fell,   blackened and   smoking,   the   Arheled   shoes   that   alone   kept   him   living   blistered   and   breaking,   upon   the   heaved   tossed   earth   where   once   had   been   the   two   blue   houses,   yard   and   trees.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Hmm.”   said   Lara   critically,   pacing   around   him. “You’ll   live. I   could   kill   you   right   now…in   fact,   I   probably   should…but   if   you’re   in   danger,   the   others   will   show   up,   or   maybe   even   the   old   man   himself. And   besides—“

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “No,”   she   said   in   a   different   voice,   sweeter,   more   girlish:   the   voice   of   the   old   Lara   Ronnie   had   been   friends   with   once. “I   don’t   like   him,   but   I   won’t   let   you   kill   him.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Why,   Lara,”   said   the   colder,. more   womanly   voice   she   had   used   up   to   now. Diana’s   voice. “I   thought   you   hated   him.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   just   wanted   to   put   him   in   his   place,   teach   him   to   mind   his   own   business,   you   know? We’re   not   killing   him.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “This   is   going   to   be   a   little   hard   for   you,   sweetheart,”   she   said   in   her   Diana   voice,   “but   while   the   Moon   shines,   I   am   master,   and   I   call   the   shots.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   said   you   would   not   possess!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Lara,   Lara,   Star   of   the   Road…you   let   me   in.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   let   you   help   me. I   am   Lara. I   am   this   body. I   say   what   to   do. I   am   my   own   mistress,   no   one   else’s!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “You   sweet   simpleton,   you   cannot   master   anyone   on   your   own;   if   you   banish   me,   you   will   be   subject   again   to   him. See   how   weak   he   is. Yet   under   the   earth   you   could   do   nothing   to   him;   he   is   immune   to   you. Do   you   think   you   can   gainsay   Arheled,   who   appointed   him   over   you,   on   your   own? Without   me,   Lara,   you   are   nothing.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Don’t   push   it,   Moon-girl.”   Lara   said   coldly. “I’ll   accept   your   help,   but   if   you   ever   try   defying   my   will—back   to   the   heavens   you   go.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   voice   of   Diana   was   filled   with   a   secret   smile. “Tell   yourself   so,   child,   if   you   wish. I   am   greater   than   you. I   will   submit—for   now.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   voices   died   away. Lara   had   gone. Frost   began   again   to   settle   on   the   hills   of   upheaved   earth. Cold   stared   the   moon   through   the   tattered   clouds   upon   the   battered   man   sprawled   on   the   dirt. Slowly   he   moved. Blear   eyes   blinked   as   he   pulled   himself   to   hands   and   knees,   surveying   the   wreckage   of   his   former   home. Mounds   and   pits   of   piled   soil   gleamed   dark   and   silver   in   the   cold   light. A   few   jutting   boards   and   logs   burned   bare   were   all   that   remained   of   the   two   detached   houses   by   the   Fragale   Paving   Co. in   Burrville.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Soil   shivered   and   fell   in   little   showers   down   the   sides   of   the   mounds. Deep   within   his   bruised   eyes   a   red   spark   gleamed.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Soil   poured   in   rivers   from   the   sides   of   the   mounds. Slowly,   slowly,   creaking   with   power,   Ronmond   Wendtho   rose   from   the   earth. Slowly   he   hauled   his   stooping   frame   to   an   upright   posture;   slowly   straightened   bended   shoulders,   his   head   lifted,   and   his   eyes   awoke.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Soil   burst   in   ascending   rivers,   rising   airborne   all   around   him. Red   light   burst   from   his   eyes   unbleary,   and   his   voice   rose   so   huge   and   mighty   that   windows   broke   in   nearby   Burrville.'' ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Laaaaraaaaa!!!! ''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Slowly   Lara   shimmered   into   view   amid   the   rising   mists   of   earth. She   had   been   sitting   at   her   desk,   doing   some   schoolwork;   she   fell   over   from   her   seated   position   and   stared   up   at   Ronnie’s   burning   eyes.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “How   dare   you…”   <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">she   hissed,   struggling   to   her   feet.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Earth   rumbled   all   around   her. With   an   earthen   shout   as   deep   as   stone,   Ronnie   grew   before   her   eyes,   he   grew   taller,   wreathed   with   lightning,   red   fire   around   him   like   a   tower   of   flame. He   took   one   step   toward   her. Earth   around   him   melted   instant,   melted   red,   and   on   seas   of   lava   he   strode   toward   her. Lava   spread   on   every   side. White   power   poured   forth   desperately   from   her,   till   it   seemed   a   tornado   of   red   and   white   light   was   mingling   and   warring   in   the   skies   above   them. Lava   leaped   and   sprayed   about   them. Still   upon   the   molten   rock   both   they   stood,   hands   outlifted,   misty   white   power   struggling   desperately   with   transparent   red   light   laced   with   lightning. Step   by   dreadful   step   as   against   a   heavy   wind   Ronnie   pressed   onward,   berserk   fury   in   his   burning   eyes,   his   body   glowing   red   as   if   he   too   was   melting. The   white   fire   wreathing   Lara   flared   and   sputtered. An   anguished   cry   shook   the   tormented   girl. Ronnie’s   power   beat   down   hers. Ronnie’s   hand   clamped   over   her   eyes. White   went   out. White   fire   extinguished. Suspended   from   his   hand,   Lara’s   shoes   began   to   melt   from   the   lava   as   the   power   of   Diana   faded. With   the   strength   of   the   earth   Ronnie   held   her   free   of   the   lava   with   one   hand,   and   lifted   the   other   from   off   of   her   eyes.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Now   will   you   look   upon   my   eyes   once   again.” <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">   he   said.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Unwilling   Lara   lifted   her   eyes   until   they   looked   into   Ronnie’s. Like   caves   of   deep   fire   they   burned   in   his   head,   burning   into   hers. She   went   pale   as   a   corpse. Light   drained   from   her   eyes. Limp   she   collapsed   in   his   grasp. Diana   was   cast   out   of   her.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Lava   turned   instantly   to   stone   all   around   them. The   rock   underneath   them   glowed   suddenly   with   the   same hue   that   Ronnie   gave   off,   and   they   sank   into   the   rock,   and   the   crowds   of   curious   villagers   and   gathering   police   and   firemen   were   at   last   able   to   draw   near. But   all   that   met   their   eyes   was   a   scene   of   disaster.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie   rose   out   of   the   earth   at   the   house   of   Arheled. A   fire-glow   shone   in   the   old   windows   and   smoke   came   from   the   chimney,   thick   and   silver   in   the   cold   defeated   moonlight. The   door   opened   and   a   ruddy   glow   spilled   into   the   darkness   of   the   pines. A   tall   cloaked   figure   stood   in   the   doorway.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">              “Come   in,   Ronmond.”   said   Arheled.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie   wordlessly   sat   down   by   the   hearth. It   was   warm   but   smoky   in   the   little   house.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Burrville   has   fallen.”   he   said. “Riverton   may   be   lost   as   well.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “The   Star   is   still   there.”   said   Arheled,   pumping   the   fire   with   a   bellows.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “The   Star   is   not   pure   in   my   sight.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Arheled   sat   down   and   poured   out   some   wine   into   two   glasses. Ronnie   sipped   his. It   had   a   powerful   sweet   pungency,   like   tart   nectar;   it   was   better   than   any   wine   he   had   ever   tasted.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Do   not   hate   her,   Ronmond.”   said   Arheled. “It   was   not   entirely   her. The   Moon   wanted   both   your   deaths. But   Lara   resisted   her   from   finishing   you   off. And   you   cast   her   out.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   hope   so.”   Ronnie   murmered. Slumber   was   stealing   over   him. He   roused   himself. “Why   did   you   confirm   my   leadership? Lara   resents   it. I   fear   that   was   why   she   let   Diana   in.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Not   you.”   said   Arheled. “Grief. That   grief   is   blunted   now. If   she   does   not   hear   or   see   you   for   some   time—all   of   you—she   may   yet   heal. I   will   walk   in   her   dreams,   so   that   when   the   Road   returns   she   may   be   there   beside   us.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “What   must   I   do,   Arheled?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Return   to   Burrville.”   said   Arheled. “The   old   realty   offices   on   the   corner   of   Burr   Mt. Rd   are   vacant;   now   apartments,   their   tenants   moved. You   shall   live   there.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   have   only   what   I   wear,   Arheled. Not   even   my   bike   escaped.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Burrville   must   be   held.”   replied   Arheled. He   held   out   a   key. “I   rescued   your   bike,   your   phone,   your   savings   and   your   clothes;   you   will   find   them   there. The   apartments   are   in   a   legal   limbo;   the   bank   foreclosed   and   evicted   the   tenants,   but   the   landlord   sued   the   bank. A   squatter   will   be   safe   there   until   winter   is   over. By   that   time   you   will   be   skilled   enough,   I   deem,   to   erect   yourself   housing.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie   rose   and   bowed. “Yes,   my   lord.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Forest   was   the   first   one   to   get   the   paper   this   time. It   was   colder   than   ever;   in   the   teens,   most   likely. Winter   was   finally   here. It   had   been   warmish   right   up   to   St. Nick’s   Day   (the   6th;   he   had   looked   it   up)   when   all   the   rain   hit,   and   the   lousy   half   inch   of   snow,   and   then   it   had   grown   cold.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             It   was   interesting   and   rather   pleasant   to   be   part   of   a   family   again. The   four   dark   years   when   he   only   remembered   Dad   and   not   Bell,   he   looked   back   on   with   a   sort   of   suspended   disbelief,   as   if   watching   a   stranger. Who   was   that   ingrown,   untalking   kid,   with   the   insane   dreams   and   the   little   paintings? Now   Dad   was   back,   married   to   Mom,   and   his   sister   was   hopefully   asleep   so   he   could   read the   paper   in   peace   before   she   pestered   him   to   death   over   it. It   was   kind   of   nice   being   pestered. Bell   never   stopped   talking,   and   Forest   really   enjoyed   just   sitting   there   and   listening   to   her,   now   and   then   saying   something.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Bell’s   door   was   closed,   so   Forest   gleefully   snuck   into   the   main   room   and   curled   up   under   a   blanket   near   the   heater. The   green   square   lettering   of   the   Register   Citizen   always   delighted   him:   it   reminded   him   of   hollies. Dad   had   finally   gotten   around   to   buying   a   tree   from   New   Baptist   ($30)   and   it   stood   bare   and   undecorated   by   the   fireplace   waiting   for   Mom   to   get   around   to   decorating   it.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   first   thing   he   saw   was   the   headline:   ERUPTION   IN   BURRVILLE??

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Oh   no.”   Forest   muttered. “Oh   no.   I   don’t   want   to   know.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             But   he   read   on   anyway,   of   course. ''   “WINSTED—Early   last   night   police   and   fire   crews   were   alerted   by   agitated   residents   of   a   fantastic   display   of   lights   in   Burrville,   on   the   Winsted   Rd   near   Burr   Mt,   right   across   the   street   from   the   firehouse. Crews   found   themselves   unable   to   approach   due   to   a   blinding   light   that   necessitated   welding   goggles. Donning   these,   our   representative   saw   a   veritable   vortex   of   erupting   energy,   perhaps   due   to   igniting   gas,   rising   like   a   white   and   red   tornado   to   a   height   of   nearly   a   mile. It   could   be   seen   from   almost   everywhere;   reports   from   as   far   away   as   North   Massachusetts   and   southern   Connecticut   are   coming   in   as   this   issue   goes   to   press. The   phenomena   stopped   abruptly,   only   to   resume   a   few   minutes   later,   not   as   bright   and   changing   swiftly   to   red. Ground-to-sky   lightning   was   observed,   despite   the   cloud   cover   being   devoid   of   storm   clouds. This   second   phase   ceased   as   abruptly   as   the   first. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Crews   approaching   the   scene   discovered   the   source   of   the   phenomena   was   the   Fragale   &   Sons   Paving   Co,   currently   managed   by   one   Roger   Harding,   who   could   not   be   reached   for   comment. Two   adjacent   houses,   let   to   tenants,   were   completely   gone,   together   with   the   pine   trees   that   had   surrounded   them;   the   area   resembled   a   crater   ringed   with   tossed   earth,   and   the   central   two   hundred   feet   of   this   apparently   had   turned   into   lava   and   abruptly   cooled. Cause   and   nature   of   the   phenomena   are   still   being   investigated,   but   one   fireman,   who   spoke   under   condition   of   anonymity,   told   our   representative   “you’d   need   one   hell   of   a   bomb   to   melt   dirt   to   a   puddle   like   this.” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   buildings   are   tenanted   by   a   family   of   four,   who   were   not   home   at   the   time   of   the   event,   and   a   bachelor   named   Ronnie   Wendy,   who   was   mistakenly   reported   missing   for   nearly   a   month   in   October   Whether   he   was   home   at   the   time   has   not   been   ascertained. Whether   this   bizarre occurrence   has   any   connection   to   the   previous   series   of   strange   events   that   have   plagued   Winsted   some   five   miles   north,   is   a   matter   of   dispute. Police   Commissoner   Cornello   Hellar   is   disposed   to   think   so,   but   Fire   Marshal   James   Elliot   denies   it.” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Dragons.”   said   Forest. “Or   worse.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   key   turned   in   the   lock   of   the   small   realty   building,   shut   in   by   yews,   across   the   intersection   from   the   crater. Ronnie   entered. In   the   dim   light   of   evening   he   made   out   piled   assorted   junk,   and   moving   carefully   across   he   stepped   on   something   that   made   a   familiar   boop   noise   and   lit   up. His   cell   phone,   turned   on. Using   the   light   of   the   little   screen   Ronnie   surveyed   his   new   home.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   old   tenants   had   left   a   lot   of   junk,   including   several   torn-open   bags   of   clothes. Ronnie’s   own   clothes   and   possessions   were   piled   amid   these. He   dragged   a   mattress   into   an   interior   closet   and,   clenching   his   fist,   called   up   geothermal   heat   until   the   inside   was   warm. There   was   no   heat   otherwise. He   stretched   tents   of   sheets   over   the   closet   door   and   spread   out   his   sleeping   bag   and   quilts. This   would   have   to   do.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             One   of   the   torn   bags   caught   his   eye. He   held   the   cell   phone   above   it. Projecting   from   the   hole   was   a   leg   of   trousers. He   pulled   out   a   pair   of   brown   corduroy   pants,   and   a   red-brown   yarn   hat   tumbled   to   the   floor. Beneath   them   were   an   ancient   oiled   coat   of   brown   leather,   and   a   long   scarf   of   white,   grey   and   black   plaid   that   looked   silver.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   eyes   of   Ronnie   gleamed   as   he   held   them   up.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   winter   set   in   like   a   seesaw. One   week   it   was   in   the   50s;   three   days   later   iron   cold   fell   upon   Winsted,   and   the   week   before   Christmas   it   was   back   up   near   50   and   raining   to   boot.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   sky   was   a   brilliant   blue   on   Christmas   Eve,   unmarred   by   shadow   of   cloud. Thin   blue   smoke   rose   from   the   ramshackle   chimney   of   the   queer   little   house   beneath   the   mountain,   and   thin   white   smoke   streamed   from   the   crazily   bent   stovepipe   emerging   from   the   floppy-hat   roof   of   the   squat   tower. Nuncle   Jimmy   rested   from   sawing   up   the   last   remains   of   a   huge   oak   deadfall   to   sniff   the   air   appreciatively:   he   was   burning   oakheart,   and   it   had   a   delicious   sweet   meaty   smell,   like   bacon. Perhaps   the   cold   would   stay   this   time. He   had   welcomed   the   warmth;   it   was   a   good   time   to   wash   the   backlog   of   dirty   dishes   and   sweep   the   floors   before   Christmas,   but   it   was   a   bit   irritating   when   your   body   was   in   full   cold   mode. But   it   was   a   perfect   time   to   bathe;   he   had   no   running   water   and   the   fireplace   heat   never   reached   the   bathroom,   so   bathing   for   him   consisted   of   heating   up   potfuls   of   water   and   pouring   it   over   himself. One   had   to   bathe   once   a   week   in   the   winter   or   the   grime   would   accumulate.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   have   a   queer   feeling   in   my   bones   about   today.”   he   said   aloud,   squatting   on   a   rock. He   often   talked   (and   shouted,   and   laughed)   to   himself;   it   was   one   sign   of   a   healthy   mind. His   hollow   brown   face   was   filled   with   thought. “Everything’s   quiet. Land   and   air   and   stone   is   quiet. Even   that   marvelous   blue   sky   is   quiet.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             He   unfolded   himself   from   the   rock   with   a   heaving   sigh   and   pulled   the   log   into   position. As   the   antique   bucksaw   ate   slowly   into   the   dense   pinkish   wood   beneath   its’   weathered   brown   surface,   he   was   still   pondering. Not   ominous,   he   decided. Waiting,   more   like. As   if   something   both   good   and   doomed   was   approaching.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Could   just   be   Christmas.”   he   said   aloud. “They   say   Our   Lord   was   born   at   midnight,   after   all.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             He   was   still   thinking   about   it   as   a   serene   but   cold   evening   settled   upon   the   North. The   temperature   was   falling   with   incredible   rapidity. When   night   had   come   he   got   ready   to   head   down   to   the   Methodists’   for   carols;   though   he   was   fiercest   of   Catholics,   he   was   good   friends   with   many   of   the   Methodists,   and   carols   were   carols. As   he   banked   the   fire   and   headed   over   to   stoke   the   stove,   his   eyes   rested   for   a   moment   upon   the   great   central   beam,   where   his   long   sword   hung   in   a   handmade   denim   sheath   with   a   wood   backing   on   two   nails.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Sorrow.”   he   muttered. “Let   there   be   no   sorrow   tonight,   but   peace   on   earth   to   men   of   good   will—and   to   those   of   ill   will,   destruction.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Darkness   lay   cold   over   Winsted   as   Nuncle   Jimmy   walked   down   Boyd   Street. A   sad   blueness   lingered   in   the   west. As   he   passed   the   privet   hedge   separating   church   from   bank   (an   ironic   pun,   he   thought)   he   bent   a   searching   glance   upon   the   old   grey   milestone.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   always   feel   something   mystical   about   a   milestone,   something   no   mere   road   sign   can   possess.”   he   mused. “As   if   at   any   moment,   it   might   point   the   way   not   merely   to   Hartford,   but   to   places   Hartford   could   never   comprehend.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Suddenly   he   paused   and   retraced   his   steps. Something   about   the   letters   had   caught   his   eye. He   leaned   over   the   finger   of   grey   stone,   and   his   eyes   dilated. His   breath   came   hard   and   quick. The   writing   was   no   longer   the   same. It   now   read:

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Temple   Fell   2   M. The   Rd   Opens     6   hours. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Frantically   Nuncle   Jimmy   glanced   at   the   clock   on   the   ambulance   tower. It   showed   a   few   minutes   to   seven. He   waited,   staring   at   the   rock   face,   tracing   the   cold   graven   letters   to   assure   himself   of   their   reality. Seven   came. And   at   once,   without   the   smallest   change   or   shift,   as   if   it   had   always   been   there,   the   graven   numeral   6   was   now   a   curving   5.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Nuncle   Jimmy   made   the   Sign   of   the   Cross   as   he   turned   to   go   inside.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Lara. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   girl   stirred   in   her   chair. She’d   only   fallen   asleep   for   a   few   minutes. Summer   was   making   toddler   noises   as   she   stood   in   her   crib,   huge   blue   eyes   goggling   at   everything. Who   was   calling?

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Lara. ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Wearily   she   got   up   and   opened   the   door. Delicious   iron   cold   poured   in. Her   eyes   widened.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Before   her   stood   the   Man   in   Brown   as   she   had   first   seen   him. His   brown   coat   had   a   hood   that   was   cast   back. His   silver   plaid   scarf   covered   his   mouth,   and   keen   eyes   burned   under   a   red-brown   yarn   hat. He   wore   brown   corduroy   pants.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Arheled?”   she   said   aloud.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   man   lowered   his   scarf. Lara   gasped. The   face   was   like   and   unlike   Arheled’s,   younger,   sterner   and   with   darker   eyes…and   then   she   realised   it   was   Ronnie   Wendy.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “The   son   of   Arheled.”   he   replied.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Lara,   still   and   stiff,   said   nothing.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “The   Road   returns   tonight,   Lara.”   he   said. The   keen   grim   eyes   stared   into   hers. “Does   the   House   of   Midwinter   stand   with   the   Road?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “The   Star   stands   with   the   Road.”   she   answered   listlessly. She   could   fight   no   longer. She   was   exhausted.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Come   then   to   the   10:00   Mass,   and   I   will   take   us   all   to   Temple   Fell. Will   you   come?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Again   Lara   seemed   unable   to   say   anything,   anything   but   the   words   that   came   into   her   head;   she   was   drained,   wearied   of   battle,   she   no   longer   was   able   to   stand   against   her   terrible   kinsman   of   the   Road.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   will   come.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie   gave   a   strange   and   formal   bow. “Then   I   bid   to   you   a   Merry   Christmas,   Lara   Midwinter.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Out   of   the   earth,   as   if   rising   on   an   unseen   elevator,   Ronmond   Wendtho   rose   upon   the   height   of   the   bare   field   of   Spencer   Hill   at   the   northernmost   part   of   the   Nine   Hills. Red   Light   flashed   in   his   eyes. Red   light   leaped   from   his   lifted   hands. He   raised   his   voice   in   an   awful   shout,   echoing   off   the   mountains   around   him:

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;">''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Forest!!! Bell!!!” ''

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">He   clenched   his   left   hand. “Brooke!!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">He   clenched   his   right   hand. “Travel!!!”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Out   of   the   earth,   all   around   him,   the   Children   of   the   Road   rose   at   his   summons. Earth   condensed   on   them   into   coats   of   thick   rough   cloth;   only   Travel   was   bundled   up.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Bell   was   the   first   one   to   speak. “Ronnie??”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Yes,”   his   voice   cut   into   and   silenced   their   exclamations,   “I   am   Ronnie. I   am   the   Man   in   Brown. I   am   the   leader   of   the   Children   of   the   Road. I   am   your   leader   by   vote   and   by   appointment,   by   woe   and   pain   and   purpose. I   have   called   you   all   here   because   it   is   now   Christmas   Eve.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Why   didn’t   you   just   use   a   phone?”   said   Travel. Upon   all   their   faces,   varied   as   they   were,   there   was   a   strange   and   mysterious   likeness;   something   in   the   set   of   chin   and   eye,   the   slight   furrow   of   brow,   the   cast   of   face;   a   look   stern   and   wise   and   solemn   all   at   once. They   were   the   sons   of   Arheled,   remade   in   his   image.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Fafnír   arises,   dragons   wielding. Cornello   walks,   these   hills   haunting. The   only   way   that   we   can   speak   unheard   by   our   new   foes   is   the   way   that   we   speak   now.”   he   answered.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Who   is…?”   Brooke   was   beginning,   but   Ronnie   was   speaking   again.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “Come   to   Mass   at   St. Joseph’s   at   10:00,   and   then   we   go   to   Temple   Fell. The   Road   returns   tonight. The   Milestones   are   already   awake. At   midnight   we   will   walk   the   Road. Come   to   Mass.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “But,   Ronnie,”   said   Brooke,   “we’re   not   Catholics.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             The   eyes   of   Ronnie   glittered   red. “Do   we   not   share   the   same   Baptism? Are   we   not   Christians? Did   I   command   you   to   go   Catholic?”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “We   will   come.”   said   Travel.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “We   will   come.”   said   Forest. He   silenced   his   little   sister   with   a   stern   look. “In   the   end,   the   Catholics   are   right.”

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             “I   will   come,   also.”   said   Brooke.

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 1em 0px 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">             Ronnie   nodded. “I   will   see   you   then.”   he   said. His   eyes   flamed   red. The   hill   shook. All   five   of   them   sank   into   the   ground   and   were   gone.

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