Ch. 3: The Pain of Arheled

Back to Arheled

July   gave   up   on   raining—finally,   after   a   damp   fungus   wiped   out   half   the   pea   patch—and   stayed   hot. Even   after   the   4th   the   heat   continued. Mrs. Deer,   pausing   in   her   weeding   to   mop   her   wrinkled   face   for   the   hundredth   time,   commented   on   this   in   her   odd   chirpy   voice,   and   Ronnie   Wendy,   in   need   of   money   with   rent   to   pay,   nodded   in   a   polite   but   preoccupied   way   and   went   on   pulling   baby   raspberries   out   of   the   half-dead   skeletal   pea   vines. A   few   anemic   pea   pods   hung   despondently   from   the   poles.

             “You   picking   blackberries   this   year,   honey?”   said   Mrs. Pine   from   the   tomato   patch. They   were   flourishing   under   the   heat,   but   then   they’d   been   started   indoors   way   back   in   Jan.

             “Season   just   started.”   said   Ronnie. “I’m   curious,   Mrs.   Pine:   how   come   you   didn’t   just   banish   the   plague?”

             “Do   you   seriously   think   we’re   going   to   die   of   hunger   if   we   don’t   get   in   enough   peas?”   she   retorted.

             “Besides,”   chirped   Mrs. Deer,   “we   dare   not   interfere   with   the   course   of   the   Earth’s   rhythems,   lest   we   spark   off—well—weird   consequences. And   even   though   the   Father   of   Dragons   knows   who   we   are,   he   is   sealed,   and   he   often   keeps   secrets   from   his   master,   whom   he   hates. How   is   little   Brooke   doing,   by   the   way?”

             “Fine.”   said   Ronnie   shortly.

             The   deep   doleful   voice   of   Mrs. Pine   came   from   the   potato   beds. “Then   she   is   not   fine.”

             “I   don’t   think   I   should   be   discussing   it   with—others.”   Ronnie   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;">             There   was   silence   for   a   while   as   all   of   them   worked   on,   absorbed   in   their   tasks. It   was   broken   by   Mrs.   Hill,   who   said   to   Ronnie,   “Why   didn’t   you   use   the   Key?”

<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—didn’t   seem   wise.”   Ronnie   said,   sounding   like   Forest. “They   felt…”

<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;">             “Well,   wouldn’t   you   be   short-tempered   if   you’d   been   between   time   layers   for   who   knows   how   many   millennia?”   Mrs. Pine   retorted.

<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   am   not   answerable   to   you.”   said   Ronnie. “I   answer   to   Arheled   alone.”

<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;">             “His   reasons   are   his   own.”   murmered   Mrs. Deer,   a   slight   smile   on   her   papery   face. “But   does   he   even   know   what   they   are?”

<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   did   not   say   anything,   but   continued   pulling   weeds.

<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   glad   when   2:00   came   and   he   could   leave—pulling   weeds   in   boiling   sun   was   something   he   couldn’t   bear   any   later   than   that,   even   with   his   straw   hat. Mrs. Hill   paid   him,   and   as   he   thanked   her   and   turned   to   his   bike,   she   said   mournfully,   “You   could   have   your   old   apartment   back,   you   know. It’s   still   empty.”

<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’ll   think   about   it   if   I   can’t   afford   my   rent.”   he   promised. “But   Burrville   is   much   more—centrally   located. Torrington   and   Winsted   are   both   up   a   flat   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;">             He   stopped   at   several   patches   he   remembered   from   last   summer,   already   a   memory   both   near   and   yet   distant   as   a   strange   country. Had   he   really   lived   in   a   house   of   stone   where   all   his   cooking   was   done   on   a   fire? It   seemed   so   strange,   and   so   natural.

<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;">             Arriving   in   Winsted   he   headed   over   to   the   park   and   the   cemetery   on   its’   hill,   leaving   his   bike   in   the   bushes   on   the   far   side. Ancient   paths   climbed   up   onto   the   railroad   grade,   but   the   forest   honeysuckle   bushes   had   overrun   most   of   them. Following   these   onto   the   crest   of   the   narrow   ridge,   Ronnie   skirted   several   piles   of   concrete   rubble   and   navigated   a   curving   path   through   dangling   ropes   of   bittersweet,   emerging   onto   an   open   roadway.

<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;">             In   the   long-ago   past   the   Tiffany   and   Pickett   Company—main   product,   pallets   and   crates,   according   to   the   old   white   letters   on   the   red   brick   of   their   front   wall—had   made   a   road   up   onto   the   abandoned   railroad,   either   for   dumping   purposes   or   for   a   reason   now   lost. The   roadway   swung   up   from   the   left   and   followed   the   rail   bed   under   the   cemetery   hill,   a   wooded   slope   rising   on   the   right   to   the   graves   near   the   top,   until   terminating   suddenly   near   the   place   where   the   grade   met   the   Still   River   Turnpike   at   the   Gates   of   Winsted. It   was   sunny   still   in   a   few   places,   where   the   trees   had   not   yet   drawn   down   overhead,   and   wild   strawberry   carpeted   the   ground. Blackberries   grew   on   the   edges   now   and   again,   and   uncapping   his   mayonnaise   jar   Ronnie   began   to   pick. Sometimes   he   wore   his   straw   hat,   and   sometimes   he   swatted   mosquitos   with   it. They   seemed   to   be   haunting   the   place   like   evil   demons   in   bug   form.

<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   smell   of   crushed   blackberry   and   hot   sun   and   leaves,   as   well   as   sweat   mingled   with   tick   repellant   (it   never   repelled   mosquitos),   was   to   Ronnie   the   essence   of   middle   summer. He’d   picked   berries   since   he   was   little,   often   with   the   same   fanatical   determination   he   was   doing   it   with   now. There   was   a   fascination   in   hoarding   berry   after   berry,   winning   it   from   thorns   and   bugs;   bushes   drew   you   on,   one   bush   to   another,   until   the   entire   world   consisted   of   green   leaves   steaming   in   hot   sun,   the   red   raspberries   and   dark   purple-black   blackberries   and   the   rare   golden-orange   yellow   raspberries   gleaming   like   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;">             He   finished   the   “upper   head”   of   the   rail   grade   and   headed   back   to   where   the   roadway   first   climbed   up. There   it   bent   back   on   itself   in   a   U   as   it   went   down,   paralleling   the   grade   but   some   15   feet   below   it. Here   the   original   brick   buildings   of   the   Pickett   Co. had   once   stood,   until   they   burned   long   ago   and   were   razed. Last   year   they   had   been   a   steaming   area   of   great   heaps   of   rubble,   brick   rubble   and   mashed   wood   rubble   and   scrap   iron,   some   spread   out   in   great   bays   along   the   grassy   track   and   some   in   small   hills. There   had   been   blackberries   all   over   the   ruins,   for   the   razing   had   evidently   been   some   time   ago. Closer   to   the   road   there   were   some   still-standing   brick   skeletons   with   fossil   trucks   a   century   old   rusting   in   peace,   and   old   truck-trailers   falling   quietly   apart,   and   then   the   back   doors   and   loading   docks   of   the   main   building. They   held   that   peculiar   quaint   shamble-shamble   air   that   comes   to   factories   that   have   endured   for   many   generations.

<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   long   brick   building   had   recently   been   fixed   up,   the   young   trees   growing   around   the   windows   removed,   and   the   fixers   had   apparently   moved   to   the   back. The   rubble   was   now   buried   with   clayey   fill,   the   scrap   metal   hauled   away,   and   the   sunny   grass   of   the   roadway   bulldozed. And   with   it   went   half   the   blackberries. Ronnie   shrugged   and   heaved   a   sigh,   went   back   to   his   bike   and   then   headed   up   to   the   library   to   check   his   email. Brooke   hadn’t   answered   his   letter. BZPower,   the   Bionicle   Lego   website,   informed   him   that   one   of   the   ongoing   serials   of   the   fascinating   storyline   had   finally   been   completed,   and   he   lost   touch   with   the   outer   world   for   a   while.

<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   Midwinter   was   dreaming.

<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;">             At   least,   she   suspected   that   she   was. Ancient   shapes   of   worn   wood   that   yet   was   somehow   as   vague   as   dark   mist,   arched   over   her   and   groped   around   her,   like   some   twilight   forest   sunk   beneath   the   seas. Did   dreaming   people   know   they   were   dreaming? She   looked   at   her   companion,   intending   to   ask   him,   but   no   sound   came   out. He   did   not   seem   surprised. How   long   he   had   been   there,   pacing   steadily at   her   side,   she   did   not   know. He   was   cloaked   and   robed   in   black,   but   had   no   hood,   so   that   his   shadowy   hair   and   hard   grim   face   were   plain   to   see.

<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   see   it,   then,   don’t   you,   little   Star?”   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;">             Her   voice   made   some   sound,   although   she   still   couldn’t   speak.

<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;">             “Fleme   in   your   throat?”   he   said,   a   queer   light   in   his   ancient   eyes. Meeting   them   was   like   looking   into   a   frozen   pond:   a   pond   of   acid.

<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   interesting   that   we   conceive   of   dragons   as   the   oldest   force   in   the   world.”   he   said. “In   the   East   they   are   gods,   or   at   any   rate   benevolent. And   the   West   equates   them   with   the   Devil. I   wonder   what   they   would   think,   those   emptied   mystics   and   gaunt   saints,   if   they   could   look   back   into   the   foundations   of   the   world   and   see   who   it   really   was   that   sang   in   the   darkness. They   would   find   no   Dragons   there. Not   even   their   Father   had   yet conceived   that   form.”

<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   paced   slowly   on   through   the   chill   night-blue   mist,   the   tormented   shapes   of   the   ancient   trees   wild   and   despairing   overhead,   as   if   frozen   in   the   act   of   uttering   one   last,   futile   scream. “And   if   they   looked   further,   to   find   the   World   Serpent   or   to   uncover   Ouroboros,   they   would   see   only   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;">             Nothing   at   all? ''<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">   Lara   tried   to   say.

<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;">             “Nothing   lies   outside   the   Circles   of   the   World,   and   into   Nothing   shall   it   return. For   we   sang   it   out   of   Nothing   in   the   beginning   of   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;">             We? ''

<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;">             Her   companion   gave   a   grim   laugh. “Yes,   haven’t   you   heard   them   chirping   that   silly   hymn   at   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;">

<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   sang   in   the   morning   till   the   Valar   kicked   me   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;">They   said   I   couldn’t   sing,   that   I   only   could   shout ''

<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   I   sang   even   louder,   till   they   had   to   sing   along ''

<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   I   am   the   Lord   of   the   Song,   said   he. ''

<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;">Come,   the   Nine,   the   Seven   and   the   Three ''

<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   am   the   Lord   of   the   Rings,   said   he 

<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’ll   unmake   you   all,   wherever   you   may   be 

<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   I   am   the   Lord   of   the   Rings,   said   he.” ''

<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;">             His   voice   was   rough,   grinding   and   not   at   all   harmonious,   but   Lara   knew   the   tune,   nonetheless:   it   was   one   she   heard   about   ten   times   a   year   whenever   she   went   to   the   folk   Masses.

<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   are   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;">             “I   see   you   have   figured   out   how   to   speak.”   mocked   the   dark   man. “Who   am   I? Many   before   you   have   wanted   to   know,   and   many   before   you   have   gone   mad   at   the   first   syllables   of   my   unutterable   name. I   am   the   source   of   all   power. I   am   the   One   who   arises   in   Might. But   these   riddles   mean   nothing   to   you,   I   see.”

<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   know   who you   are.”   Lara   managed   to   force   her   voice   to   croak.

<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   dark   man   gave   a   sardonic   smile. “Do   you? If   you   had   the   faintest   idea   to   whom   you   were   speaking,   Starmaid,   you   would   be   rolling   upon   the   ground,   convulsed   with   horror,   and   the   only   coherent   sounds   from   your   mouth   would   be   your   screams   for   mercy.”

<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   don’t   recall   Hurin   having   that   reaction.”

<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   dark   one   bent   upon   her   a   look   that   was   darker   yet. “I   thought   you   disliked   those   stories,”   he   sneered. “I   thought   your   mother   in   her   great   wisdom   isolated   you   from   Tolkien. Do   you   know   what   I   did   to   him   afterwards? Do   you   know   how   long   I   hunted   and   haunted   him,   till   he   had   betrayed   everyone   that   wished   him   well? Oh,   I   see   Ronnie   never   bothered   to   go   into   that   when   he   told   you   the   story.”

<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   stood   in   front   of   her,   spreading   his   cloak. “You   shall   see   for   yourself   how   powerful   I   am!”

<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;">             Light   filled   the   heavens.

<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;">             Dark   night   though   it   was,   the   stars   gleamed   so   close   and   large   around   her   that   the   sky   was   spangled   day. If   indeed   they   were   stars,   for   their   forms   changed   like   lightning,   and   queer   coruscations   and   whorls   of   light   and   energy   and   power   burst   and   flamed,   Star   against   Star,   and   weird   bladed   weapons   appeared   and   vanished.

<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   at   war.

<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;">             Far   below   Lara   saw   only   a   great   plain   of   water   like   a   silver   floor—an   ocean?—cratered   with   the   splash   of   stray   blades   and   rays   of   power. Her   mind   reeled,   overcome   by   the   magnitude   of   the   battle   that   was   happening   as   the   Stars   went   to   war. Light   burst,   whirling   and   flaming   in   countless   forms   and   bulging   rays;   it   was   beyond   description   or   comprehension. One   figure   in   the   midst   of   the   turmoil   remained   still   and   dark,   unshining,   a   dreadful   mirth   in   his   eyes   as   he   watched   the   heavens   destroy   themselves.

<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;">             Striding   through   the   warring   Stars   there   came   a   figure   more   brilliant   than   they;   and   he   was   not   silver,   nor   white,   but   a   blazing   blue. Like   a   comet   he   clove   his   way   through   the   whirling   disorder,   power-bursts disrupted   and   splintered   by   his   passage   as   if   by   a   thunderbolt. Inexorably   he   bore   down   on   the   dark   figure,   until   he   stood   before   him,   and   saw   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,   old   Arheled,”   said   the   Dark   Planet,   “I   wondered   how   long   it   would   take   you   to   tumble   to   me.”

<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;">             “Angar!”   roared   Arheled. “It   is   you   who   are   stirring   them   up! You   it   is   who   engineered   this   war. Defend   yourself,   son   of   the   Moon,   for   your   life   ends   tonight!”

<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   Angar   laughed. Hard,   grinding,   horrible   was   the   sound. “And   you   are   the   one   to   take   it?”   he   sneered. “Learn,   then,   Arheled,   just   whom   it   is   you   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;">             A   huge   and   horrid   smile   blossomed   on   his   face. His   eyes   were   so   bright   the   light   of   them   hurt   Lara’s   mind. Like   a   black-silver   wind   his   power   rushed   against   Arheled. Up   from   Arheled   boiled   the   full   majesty   of   his   noble   being,   and   behind   him   was   the   might   of   the   Road   within   him;   and   layer   after   layer   of   blue   flame   shredded   before   the   dark   wind,   as   the   tremendous   power   of   Arheled   was   ground   down   and   crushed   by   the   strength   of   his   enemy. Angar’s   smile   widened. Aheled’s   glow   sputtered   and   flickered. With   one   last   effort   he   threw   back   his   head   and   shouted,   “Who   are   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;">             The   last   thing   Lara   heard   as   she   struggled   into   wakefulness   was   a   single   word   from   the   dark   figure:

<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;">             “Chaos.” ''

<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   blue   house   in   Burrville   stood   in   it’s   tree-shaded   yard,   looking   over   a   rail   fence   at   the   paved   bike   path. The   air   was   hot   and   soft   and   very   sleepy. An   occasional   rattle   and   shout   from   the   paving   company’s   buildings   broke   the   hum   of   insects   and   the   soft   warm   quiet,   and   then   faded. Ronnie’s   old   truck,   dotted   with   cherry   leaves,   sat   in   the   driveway   like   an   ancient   junked   car   waiting   to   be   scrapped. It   was   very   peaceful   here.

<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   dark-green   SUV   with   flame-and-skull   decals   pulled   with   a   scattering   of   gravel   into   the   paving   company’s   lot. A   tall   stately   blonde   got   out,   her   eyes   blank   and   impersonal   behind   sunglasses,   her   tiny   shorts   and   bikini   top   displaying   a   stunning   body,   long   and   golden. The   driver   of   the   asphalt   truck   that   was   refueling   gave   a   long   whistle,   and   the   abrupt   gruff   man   lecturing   him   actually   forgot   what   he   was   saying. She   had   green   gleaming   sequins   on   her   top,   and   a   handbag   of   tortoiseshell   pattern   swung   from   one   bare   shoulder.

<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;">             “Would   either   of   you   hot   beefcakes   be   the   landlord   of   that   little   house?”   she   said. Her   voice   was   smooth   and   rich. The   gruff   middle-aged   man   oozed   that   he   was   the   one   in   question. She   gave   him   a   dazzling   and   totally   artificial   smile   and   said,   “Good,   then   we   have   something   to   discuss. Is   there   somewhere   more…private,   perhaps?”   He   eagerly   headed   off   towards   his   office,   and   with   a   little   kiss   of   her   fingertips   to   the   woozy   truck   driver   she   followed.

<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;">             In   the   office—a   cluttered   little   oven   stuffed   with   papers   and   smelling   rather   of   tar   and   grease—he   sat   down   in   an   ancient   swivel   chair   and   gestured   her   to   another. A   small   fan,   whirring   like   an   oversized   fly,   made   a   valiant   attempt   to   cool   the   air. Yet   despite   the   hot   day,   not   a   bead   of   sweat   marred   her   smooth   skin. She   draped   her   marvellous   legs   over   the   chair’s   arm,   looked   up   at   him   and   smiled.

<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   am   I   to   call   you,   hon?”   she   drawled   intimately.

<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’m   Roger. I’m   the   acting   manager   here. And   you   are…?”

<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;">             “Well,   I’m   sure   you   could   call   me   ‘hot   babe’   or   ‘sexiee’   but   I   usually   prefer   to   be   called   Mrs.   Lane.”

<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;">             His   face   dropped   like   a   rock. “Married?”

<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   waved   one   hand—ringless,   he   observed—negligently. “Once. It’s   long   behind   me. And   how   about   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;">             She   observed   his   hand   suddenly   burying   itself   among   papers,   amused. “I—um—well—you   might   say—“   he   stammered. “But,   uh,   you   were   saying   something   about   the   blue   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;">             “Yes,   hon,   if   we   must   get   down   to   business   so   soon,   I   was—interested—in   renting   it.”   she   drawled. “So   much   more   convenient   than   where   I   live. Is   it   available?”

<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;">             “Um—it’s   actually   leased   for   a   year,   which   doesn’t   expire   till   November. One   of   those   college   professors.”

<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   is   he   living   there   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;">             “Um—no,   actually   he   moved   out   in   May   and   a   friend   of   his,   a   young   fellow   by   the   name   of   Ronnie   Wendy,   is   staying   out   the   remainder   of   the   lease.”

<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;">             “Well,   then,   I   really   don’t   see   what   the   problem   is.”   Mrs. Lane   said. “He’s   obviously   not   the   one   who   paid   the   lease. That   lease   was   made   out   by   Professor   Light. If   you   refund   him   his   money,   Ronnie   will   be   nothing   but   a   squatter.”

<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;">             “Well…um…there’s   complications.”

<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,   you   mean   the   rent?”   He   started. “Hon,   trust   me,   I   know   all   about you.”   Her   voice   grew   low   and   syrupy. “Do   we   have   a   deal?”

<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;">             “Well,   Mrs.   Lane,   uh…it’s   rather…”

<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;">             “Please. Call   me   Camilla.”

<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;">             “Camilla,   yes,   nice   name,   but…”

<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   leaned   back   against   the   arm   of   her   chair. Her   glasses   gave   no   hint of   what   was   in   her   eyes,   but   her   face   was   suddenly   like   carved   marble. “So,   I   see   things   are   going   to   be   a   little   difficult.”   she   observed   coolly. “Such   a   pity. And   we   were   getting   along   so   well. But   it   seems   I   have   no   other   choice.”

<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   lifted   up   her   sunglasses   and   showed   him   her   naked   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;">

<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   Midwinter   headed   up   to   the   counter   with   her   usual   impatient   manner. Brandan   was   at   the   cash   register   and   looked   a   little   surprised   to   see   her:   she’d   been   scheduled   off   for   three   days   straight.

<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;">             “Hey,   Lara!”   he   greeted   her. “Surprised   to   see   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;">             “You   know   today’s   payday.”   she   said. “And   since   I’m   not   in   all   weekend—because   I   worked   the   4th—I   came   in   to   get   my   paycheck.”

<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;">             Totally   missing   the   sarcasm,   he   nodded   sagely   and   said   that   made   sense,   and   as   there   was   no   line   he   tried   to   make   small   talk. Finally   she   said,   despairing   of   him   getting   the   hint,   “Brandan,   go   get   the   manager   so   I   can   get   paid.”

<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,   right,   sorry.”   he   said,   flustered,   and   hurried   in   back. Heather,   who   was   no   longer   on   speaking   terms   with   him   after   some   fight   or   other,   caught   Lara’s   gaze   and   rolled   her   eyes. Lara   smiled.

<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’s   not   that   bad.”   she   said   to   Heather,   feeling   guilty.

<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,   just   a   total   blockhead   and   moron   and—“   Further   recitation   of   her   catalogue   of   the   attributes   of   Brandan   was   cut   off   by   Shawn   arriving   so   fast   he   skidded   around   the   corner. He   looked,   with   his   brown   skin   and   faint   Hispanic   cast   of   face,   a   little   like   Obama   in   his   pale   blue   manager’s   shirt   and   tie. She   signed   for   her   paycheck,   and   deciding   Brandan   needed   some   kindness   she   gave   him   a   nice   smile   as   she   left.

<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   almost   collided   with   Ronnie   Wendy. It   had   been   cool   and   rainy   all   day—unlike   yesterday’s   heat—and   he   wore   a   long   shiny-blue   insane   coat   that   presumably   was   waterproof. “Ronnie!”   she   exclaimed.

<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;">             “Hey,   Lara!”   he   smiled.

<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   tell   me,   you   actually   cracked   and   forgot   your   parsimonious   ways   and   are   going   to   buy   a   cheeseburger.”

<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;">             “Nah,   if   I   want   some   tasty   fast   food   all   I   have   to   do   is   dig   in   the   park   trash   cans.”   Ronnie   said loftily.

<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   please. My   Uncle   Peter   is   bad   enough.”

<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   worry,   I   only   do   that   when   I’m   hungry.”

<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;">             “Well, goodness,   make   sure   you   eat   before   you   leave   the   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;">             “Have   you   ever   tried   eating   when   you   first   get   up   at   5   in   the   morning?”   Ronnie   retorted. “You   rather   assume   you   won’t   be   hungry   till   you   get   back. Of   course,   biking   up   to   Winsted   tends   to   change   your   mind.”

<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’re   hopeless. How’s   Brooke   doing? I   haven’t   heard   from   her   since   she   woke   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;">             Ronnie   sobered. “Neither   have   I.”   he   said. “She   won’t   answer   her   phone,   and   when   I   called   the   house   her   dad   said   she   wasn’t   up   to   conversation. But   he   insisted   she   was   all   right. I’m   worried.”

<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   frowned. “Ronnie…I   think   she   may   have…gone   through   things,   on   that   island. If   that’s   the   case,   then   for   a   man   to   try   to   contact   her…might   be   a   bad   idea.”

<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   looked   grave. He   nodded. “Well,   you’re   the   woman;   you   would   presumably   know   better   than   I   would   about   such   things. Maybe   we   should   hint   to   Bell   to   get   in   touch   with   her—they   were   pretty   close.”

<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;">

''

<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;">Empty   days,   each   one   the   same ''

<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;">Meaningless,   encased   in   pain ''

<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;">Waiting,   waiting,   endless   sighs ''

<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;">Staring   at   the   barren   sky…. ''

<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;">Brooke   Pond   shook   her   head,   the   words   still   echoing   in   her   ears. Never   mind   that   other   ears   had   heard   it   and   other   times   had   sung   it;   they   might   well   have   sprung,   wild,   laden   with   lamenting,   fresh   from   her   own   heart.

<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   hadn’t   eaten   in   days. Food   made   her   sick. Anything   made   her   sick. Once   she’d   forced   herself   to   eat   a   brownie   Dad   made   just   for   her—dear   old   fuddlehead,   she   really   wished   she’d   been   a   little   less   rude—and   that   was   yesterday. Did   a   person   die   of   starvation   in   three   days? Or   was   it   four.

<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   gazed   moodily   down   from   the   edge   of   the   bluff. An   old   piece   of   rope   strung   between   two   trees   near   some   tattered   ruins   of   tent   and   old   ashes   in   a   stonepile,   announced   a   former   campsite. The   air   was   dark   with   pregnant   rain   and   sad   grey   clouds   poured   by   overhead. The   spillway   gorge   of   Mad   River   Dam   was   wild   and   green,   and   utterly   desolate.

<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;">Empty   days   will   never   end ''

<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;">Vacant   nights   leave   me   unchanged ''

<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;">Lost   to   light,   adrift,   deranged ''

<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;">Waiting,   waiting,   while   the   sky ''

<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;">Sheds   its’   stars   as   though   it   cries… ''

<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;">             Hard   to   think   it   was   only   four   days   since   she   returned,   and   two   weeks   since…she   flinched. A   shudder   of   nausea   went   through   her;   but   she   didn’t   throw   up. There   was   nothing   in   there   but   water. Once   when   she   was   small   she   had   had   a   frog   in   her   bed,   her   brother’s   one   and   only   attempt   at   a   practical   joke. The   horror   of   a   squirming   slimy   something   under   her   when   she   lay   down,   had   pretty   much   driven   her   into   a   screaming   fit. Hysterics,   they   called   it   once. Freaking   out,   they   called   it   now. She   hadn’t   been   able   to   sleep   in   a   bed   for   weeks. Her   brother   was   so   shocked   by   her   reaction   he   never   did   that   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;">             Thinking   about   her   captivity   was   like   that. It   made   her   nauseous. She   would   feel   that   again,   that   loathsome   touch,   and   lie   rigid   as   a   board,   hoping   she   wouldn’t   scream   or   throw   up. It   felt   like   the   frog.

<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   gazed   dully   out   at   the   dismal   land. Dad   had   insisted   she   go   for   a   walk,   get   some   fresh   air. She   had   obeyed,   listlessly:   who   cared   what   she   did,   anyway? He   had   dropped   her   off   and   made   her   promise   to   call   when   she   wanted   a   ride   back. Cool   damp   wind   sighed   past   her,   feeling   like   dragon   scales. Her   eyes   withdrew   from   the   dreary   valley,   resting   instead   on   the   old   rope. Good   rope,   too. Never   let   a   rope   go   to   waste,   Dad   would   say. She   found   herself   walking   over   to   it. There   were   no   knots,   just   a   couple   loops   tossed   around   the   tree. She   unwound   it,   her   eyes   dull,   her   mind   throbbing   slowly.

<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;">Vacant   nights   will   never   end ''

<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;">Absent   sun   and   tearlike   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;">Torn   away   from   where   they   are ''

<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;">Waiting,   waiting   while   light   dies ''

<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   watch   the   light   gone   from   the   sky ''

<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;">Starlight   fades   within   my   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;">

<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   tied   the   noose. It   must   be   strong. The   slipknot. Yes,   it   would   tighten. Good   rope,   greenish   a   bit   with   moss   but   tough   enough   not   to   break. There   was   a   tree   right   there,   growing   out   over   the   edge. She   reached   up   and   fastened   it. Tight,   it   had   to   hold   a   lot   of   weight. She   stepped   forwards…''. ''

<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;">Hollow   dawn   and   lying   morn ''

<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;">Fake,   its’   light,   so   faded,   worn ''

<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;">Waiting,   waiting   for   the   lie ''

<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;">False   lips   to   say   what   hides… ''

<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;">             There   was   a   strong   hand   clamped   upon   hers. At   the   touch   she   flinched,   tried   to   pull   away,   to   take   the   step   into   peace….

<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.” <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">   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;">             She   found   herself   seated   on   the   cliff   height   as   before,   the   rope   lying   in   her   hands,   snapped   like   thread. She   looked   up. Arheled   was   between   her   and   the   brink,   leaning on   the   tree   she   had   been   about   to   use.

<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   business   is   it   of   yours?”   she   said   sullenly.

<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;">             “Your   life   and   your   death   are   most   certainly   my   business.”   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;">             “You’re   pretty   quick   to   stop   me   now.   Where   were   you—then?”

<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   same   place   that   God   is,   when   thousands   of   women   across   the   groaning   world   suffer   the   torments   of   violation.”   he   said. “Bringing   out   of   it   a   greater   good.”

<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;">             “Easy   for   you   to   say   that.”   Brooke   said   scornfully.

<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   it   is   true,   nonetheless.”

<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   know?”   Brooke   muttered,   staring   dully   at   the   ground. “You   don’t   know   a   thing   about   what   I’m   going   through. You’re   not   a   being   of   lust. You   probably   don’t   have   a   body. You’ve   never   known   pain.”

<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   I   do   know.”   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;">             She   turned   a   furious   face   upon   him. “How? You’re   Arheled! You’re   some   kind   of   god! You’ve   never   been   raped!”

<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;">             “Yet   I   also   have   suffered,   Brooke.”   Arheled   said   to   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;">             “Riiight.”

<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   see,   Brooke,”   Arheled   said   slowly,   as   if   the   words   were   difficult,   “one   does   not   need   flesh   in   order   to   suffer   pain. Nor   is   a   body   needful   to   know   violation. It   was   long   ago. Thousands   of   years…and   yet   it   rises   as   fresh   as   yesterday.”

<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;">             His   face   suddenly   grew   drawn,   ancient   as   rock,   graven   and   furrowed   by   some   unimaginable   torment   that   had   turned   his   face   to   stone. “When   the   heavens   were   convulsed   with   war,   and   the   Sun   and   moon   battled   their   own   children,   and   the   Nine   Planets   led   legions   of   stars   against   each   other,   I   came. And   I   walked   against   Angar   in   the   strength   of   the   Road,   for   out   of   him,   I   saw,   came   the   madness   that   was   driving   on   the   Stars,   and   I   thought   to   cast   him   down   and   stop   the   war,   before   Middle-earth   perished   beneath   us. But   he   was   no   longer   Angar.”

<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;">             Brooke   listened,   hardly   able   to   breathe,   captivated    by   the   pain   in   his   face,   which   in   so   incredible   a   being   seemed   monstrous   beyond   belief. Arheled   no   longer   saw   her. His   form   flickered   and   wavered,   his   eyes   flaming,   haunted   by   what   that   day   had   done   to   him. “A   power   was   in   him   more   ancient   and   terrible   than   the   Road   itself,   and   it   saw   me,   and   it   grappled   with   me. And   I   was   not   strong   enough. The   Road   was   not   strong   enough.”

<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;">             His   eyes   rested   on   hers,   so   old   and   so   filled   with   anguish   that   Brooke   forgot   her   own   despair   for   pity. “Then   he   violated   me. Then   his   mind   raped   mine. Then   I   learned   about   pain,   Brooke,   and   knew   what   suffering   meant. Nine   thousand   years   I   have   tried   to   forget;   but   you   have   challenged   me,   and   I   must   answer. Are   you   content?”

<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   whispered,   “I’m   so   sorry…I’m   just…I   can’t…”

<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   God,   one   always   can.”   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;">             “Can’t   you,   like,   heal   me   or   something? So   I   can go   on   living? I   can’t   even   swim   now. I   can’t   even   bathe. Water   feels   horrible. Water   feels   like…his   tub.”

<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;">             “Call.”   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;">             “Wh…what? Call? What   do   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;">             “You   know   the   names. You   affine   with   water. If   you   seek   healing,   it   lies   in   that.”

<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;">             Brooke   cast   down   her   eyes. They   grew   blank. They   looked   inwards. Her   face   seemed   to   shine,   as   if   something   stirred   far   within. From   down   under   the   surface   of   her   memory   ancient   words   stirred,   strange   words   in   a   mighty   tongue   floated   to   the   surface,   took   form   on   her   lips,   and   she   uttered   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;">             “Daslenga….”   <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">she   said. ''   “Daslenga   Dílendo!” ''

<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   rock   shook   under   her   feet. Far   below   to   her   left,   where   the   canyon   plunged   down   to   end   in   the   Valley   of   Voices,   there   rose   up   against   the   damp   green   of   the   far   hill,   a   tremendous   pile   of   brown   water. With   feet   of   fluid   it   strode   forth,   trees   crashing   aside   like   weeds,   walking   up   the   canyon   floor   towards   her. Brooke   stood   with   upheld   arms,   laughter   boiling   wild   within   her   and   ringing   from   her,   power   filling   her. It   was   like   being   drunk   and   sane   at   the   same   time. Color   flooded   her   heart   and   soul. She   felt   the   river   striding   toward   her,   felt   his   dark   secret   valleys   and   cool   glens,   tasted   slimy   stones   and   the   deep   tang   of   mossy   earth   and   the   clear   sweetness   of   springs;   tasted   the   heart   of   the   rock   and   the   blood   of   the   hills,   and   saw   all   the   strange   places   that   he   passed   before   the   Still   swallowed   him;   felt   the   warmth   and   soft   weedy   taste   of   the   lakes   that   drained   into   him   and   the   odd   tang   of   water   flag   and   high   grass   and   shingle   banks,   dark-blue   rocks   crusted   white   with   waterlime   and   dry   algae.

<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   Daslenga   stood   before   her,   and   wished   to   know   her   will.

<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   felt   him   deep   inside   her,   a   person   of   his   own,   asleep   for   ages   beyond   number   since   the   Light   sent   away   the   things   of   darkness   and   of   twilight. Eyes   as   old   as   the   Earth   stared   into   hers. He   spoke,   but   his   voice   was   like   the   stone-echo   of   distant   voices   that   she   heard   in   the   Nanto   Nenlë,   so   that   if   she   understood   him,   it   could   not   have   been   by   sound.

<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   am   here. Tell   me   thy   rede. ''

<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   of   Chaos   stirs.”   she   bade   him. “Return   to   your   bed. And   await   our   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;">             I   will   be   ready. ''

<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   the   figure   of   water   streamed   through   the   air,   spreading   with   a   roar   back   into   his   dry   bed.

<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;">             “Walk   with   me   a   little   while,   child   of   the   streams.”   said   Arheled. “Look   upon   the   tiny   things   of   the   earth   you   would   have   left,   and   see   the   wonders   of   the   intricate   fingers of   the   Gods. Let   us   find   delight   in   the   seeing,   that   we   may   put   behind   us   the   pain   we   have   endured,   and   gain   the   strength   to   compass   it   and   offer   it   to   God. For   no   force   is   as   powerful   as   that   of   suffering,   which   can   sway   even   the   faces   of   the   Lords   of   the   West.”

<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   walk   with   you,   Arheled.”   Brooke   said   gravely.

<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   passed   down   the   open   white   road,   the   wet   green   weeds   scattering   dew   like   diamonds. Arheled   passed   by   an   odd   spirelike   stem,   with   short   blueish   needle-leaves   rather   like   rosemary,   which   opened   at   the   top   into   small   hooded   pealike   flowers. They   were   a   beautiful   delicate   yellow   blending   with   orange,   like   some   hard   “cream”   candies   Brooke   remembered.

<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;">             “Creamflower.”   Arheled   said   fondly. “I   have   long   forgotten   what   its’   name   was   among   men.”

<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   walked   on. Wild   carrot   opened   broad   white   baskets   of   tiny   flowers—“Queen   Ann’s   lace”,   she   remembered   dimly,   was   their   other   name. Then   came   tough-stalked   plants,   like   ragged   short   vines   with   stemless   flowers   rather   like   a   daisy   but   a   lonely   pale-blue. There   were   whole   drifts   of   them,   almost   like   snow.

<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;">             “Bluedrift.”   he   said. “Men   call   it   flax,   though   the   true   flax   is   a   different   plant   indeed. It   grows   beside   roads,   even   as   the   maple   wards   roads.”

<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—those   roads?”

<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.”   Arheled   replied   solemnly. “Especially   those.”

<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   walked   on,   whether   down   that   strange   canyon   or   down   some   place   removed   from   the   world,   Brooke   did   not   know. She   suspected   Arheled   was   skipping   randomly   from   place   to   place,   but   the   things   he   was   showing   her   were   so   fascinating   that   in   the   marvel   of   small   detail   she   forgot   to   notice   the   forest   around   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;">             He   showed   her   secret   blossoms   in   the   soggy   hearts   of   swamps,   that   thrived   on   mud   and   still   water   and   ancient   tussocks   built   by   forgotten   years   of   sedge-roots. He   took   her   to   deep   brown   beaver-ponds   where   the   pond-lilies   lay   like   cups   of   white   and   yellow   on   the   scumless   surface,   the   water   kept   clean   by   the   unusual   rains   much   later   into   summer   than   they   were   wont. He   showed   her   water   irises,   blue   and   deep   yellow,   great   leaves   like   green   swords.

<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;">             “Fetch   me   one.”   he   bade   her. “You   need   not   dread   the   water. If   you   do   not   wish   to   touch   it,   it   will   not   touch   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;">             Brooke   put   one   tentative   foot   on   the   water. It   gave   like   rubber   but   bore   her   up. Laughing   she   danced   out   onto   the   pond,   bent   down   and   pulled   at   a   pond-lily. It   was   harder   than   she   expected   and   in   the   concentration   of   pulling   at   it   she   forgot   about   the   water   she   stood   on,   and   suddenly   with   a   gasp   plunged   into   deep   brown   wetness. It   felt   cool   and   warm   and   completely   delicious. Surfacing   she   shrieked   with   laughter   and   swam   to   the   shore,   floundering   through   slimy   shallows   and   splashing   onto   land.

<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   was   so   good.”   she   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;">             “I   thought   it   might   be.”   Arheled   said,   a   gentle   smile   on   his   powerful   old   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;">Into   deep   mossy   forests   they   wandered,   where   under   the   last   laurel   cups   pink   ladyslippers   rose   from   two   dark   green   leaves,   and   queer   and   varied   fungi   grew   on   trees   and   old   logs. They   appeared   on   strange   hilltops   and   saw   the   compact   beautiful   plants   growing   out   of   the   living   stone. Into   the   lowlands   they   descended. They   paused   beside   a   blackberry   bush   so   fruitful   it   would   have   made   Ronnie   go   ballistic,   and   Brooke   found   herself   shoveling   down   the   berries   like   a   bear.

<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;">             “Wow,   I   never   knew   raspberries   were   this   good!”   she   said   between   berries. The   odd,   sweet,   seedy   tartness   of   the   big   cuplike   berries,   that   formed   a   hollow   clump   of   tiny   gobules   around   the   white-knobbed   stem,   tasted   like   everything   fair   that   she   had   ever   known.

<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;">             “These   are   not   raspberries.”   said   Arheled. “They   are   blackberries.”

<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;">             “Nun-uh! Blackberries   are   those   big   pricker   bushes   with   the   long   berries!”

<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   talking   about   raspberry   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;">             “I   could   look   up   so   many   gardening   books…!”   Brooke   spluttered,   laughing.

<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   none   of   them   reaches   back   as   far   as   my   memory.”   said   Arheled. “I   watched   the   first   berries   born   out   of   the   earth. I   saw   them   in   all   their   varieties as   they   walked   down   the   ages. I   was   there   before   their   skin   mutated   into   thorns. You   can   fling   authorities   at   me   as   much   as   you   desire;   but   I   esteem   your   books   as   straw,   and   their   words   as   rotten   wood.”

<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   the   only   one   up   to   now   that   I   heard   of   giving   them   the   reverse   names.”   said   Brooke   through   a   mouthful.

<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   blackberry   has   long   been   known   by   the   name   of   its’ brother,   and   its’   brother   by   its’.”   answered   Arheled. “The   blackberry   has   small   greenish   canes,   that   turn   blue-lavender   in   winter   and   bear   fruit   in   middle   summer. The   raspberry   has   great   canes   of green   and   dark   red-purple,   and   it   forms   impenetrable   brakes   laden   with   great   berries   like   small   castles,   sometimes   as   large   as   strawberries. Raspberry   makes   good   jam,   but   blackberry   better   pies.”

<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;">             Brooke   became   aware   of   movement   in   the   vines   not   far   away. She   stared   harder. Suddenly   she   gasped:   as   if   he   had   been   invisible,   Ronnie   Wendy   came   into   focus,   wearing   faded   black   pants   and   faded   shirt   of   forest   green. He   wore   a   black   hat   over   his   reddish   hair,   and   his   bronze   arms   fit   right   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;">             He   saw   her   at   the   same   time   and   his   face   suddenly   ignited. “Brooke!”   he   exclaimed,   hurrying   over. “Brooke,   we   were   all   worried   about   you. Are   you   all   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;">             “Yes,   I   suppose   I   am,   now. I   had   a—depression—for   a   while,   but   I’m   all   right   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;">             Ronnie   nodded,   looking   relieved. “I   forgot   to   ask   you. Is   Kevin   dead?”

<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;">             Brooke’s   face   pinched. “Yes.”   she   said   shortly.

<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;">             “Good.”   Ronnie   said   with   a   harsh   smile. “Yes,   yes,   eternal   rest   grant   unto   him   and   all   that,   but   don’t   expect   me   not   to   rejoice   when   justice   is   done.”   he   added   to   Arheled,   who   had   lifted   an   eyebrow.

<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   would   be   foolish   to   expect   that   of   one   who   is   not   a   saint.”   Arheled   answered   mildly. “But   I   came   to   see   you   for   another   reason,   Ronmond. I   wish   to   know   why   you   are   deserting   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;">             Ronnie   threw   up   his   hands. “The   landlord’s   a   crook.”   he   said. “He   served   an   eviction   notice   on   me   saying   I   hadn’t   paid   any   rent. And   I   went   to   look   up   all   the   receipts   from   the   money   orders   I   paid   him   with,   and   they   vanished. I   can’t   find   them   anywhere. So   what   can   you   do,   really?”

<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.”   Arheled   stated. “It   is   south   that   our   peril   lies. There   are   movements   in   the   earth. Our   enemies   are   biding   time. Soon,   I   feel,   they   will   emerge;   but   until   they   make   their   move   we   are   left   waiting.”

<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;">             “Well,   then   maybe   you   can   do   something   to   help   out.”   snapped   Ronnie. “I   have   stuff,   you   know. I   can’t   very   well   live   in   my   truck. Even   if   I   could,   where   would   I   park   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;">             “Stuff   is   unessential,   Ronnie.”   said   Areheled. “You   may   be   fond   of   your   old   chair,   or   the   movies   you   watch   on   your   TV,   but   in   the   long   run,   do   they   matter?”

<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   matter   to   me,   Arheled.”   Ronnie   said. “Humans   need   little   things   to   survive,   to   make   homes   with. Useless,   perhaps,   to   lofty   beings   like   yourself;   but   we   are   small   creatures,   and   small   things   make   our   lives.”

<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   Brooke’s   surprise   Arheled   began   to   chuckle. “Well   spoken,   Hill   of   the   Road!”   he   laughed. “You   have   just   negated   five   thousand   years   of   Eastern   murmers   about   detachment   from   things   and   the   unimportance   of   possessions. The   Christian   celebrates   the   details   of   life,   even   when   he   swears   a   vow   of   poverty   to   give   them   up;   the   East   ignores   the   lesser   things,   for   the   individual   does   not   matter.”

<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   you’ll   help   me,   then?”

<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   it   say   in   the   Bible,   something   about   not   preparing   a   defense   because   the   Spirit   will   tell   you   what   to   say?”

<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,   but   that’s   if   you’re   on   trial   for   the   Faith!”   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;">             “Not   entirely.”   said   Arheled. “It   means   that   sometimes   you   have   to   take   a   blind   step,   trusting   in   Providence   to   keep   ground   beneath   your   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;">             Ronnie   sighed,   and   his   shoulders   drooped. “Very   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;">             “Goodbye,   Ronnie!”   Brooke   called   as   the   world   suddenly   began   to   waver   around   her. The   next   moment   she   was   back   at   her   house,   and   Arheled   was   nowhere   to   be   seen.

<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   was   humming   to   herself   as   she   tripped   inside. Mom   was   doing   the   dishes   with   a   dismal   expression,   and   Brooke   laughingly   kissed   her   and   pushed   her   out   of   the   way   and   finished   them. Mrs. Pond   stared   at   her   as   if   she   was   a   ghost. Mr. Pond   came   up   from   the   den,   and   Brooke   went   over   and   kissed   him,   too. “Thanks   for   the   brownie,   Dad.”   she   said. “I   was   too   gloomy   to   remember.”

<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’re   certainly   chipper.”   he   said,   looking   puzzled. “What’d   you   do,   get   anti-depressants?”

<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   friend   gave   me   some   therapy.”   she   said. “He   dropped   me   off   here. Yes,   he   did   actually   give   me   some   antidepressant,   and   it   should   last   a   while. So   I’m   back   to   normal…I   hope.”

<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;">             Roger   Harding   was   feeling   good   today.

<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;">             Ever   since   that   hot   blonde   had   walked   in,   he’d   felt   on   top   of   the   world,   as   if   he   couldn’t   do   a   thing   wrong. He   was   pretty   sure   he’d   had   sex   with   her,   but   for   some   reason   there   was   a   fog   in   his   mind   about   the   end   of   her   visit. He   thought   he remembered   her   body   on   his,   but   why   couldn’t   he   be   sure? You’d   think   an   experience   like   that   would   stay   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;">             Anyway,   the   papers   had   gone   without   a   hitch. She’d   assured   him   Ronnie   would   have   no   proof   of   having   paid   rent,   and   she   wasn’t   the   sort   you   tended   to   disbelieve. Soon   Ronnie   would   be   gone,   and   she   would   be   living   there   instead. The   thought   made   him   breathe   heavily.

<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   gave   a   start   on   seeing   that   someone   had   walked   into   the   office,   and   hastily   composed   himself. A   disreputable-looking   fellow,   with   a   light   plaid   shirt   and   faded   jeans,   the   sort   of   low   felt   hat   that   only   old   men   wore   shading   his   beard-stubbled   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;">             “Yes,   can   I   help   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;">             The   stranger   quietly   examined   the   chair   in   which   She   had   sat   and   paid   him   no   heed.

<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;">             “Excuse   me! I   said,   can   I   help   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;">             The   stranger   at   last   looked   up. “No.”   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;">             “Wh…?”

<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   am   in   no   need   of   help. I   have   come   instead   to   help   you.”   He   sat   down   at   last. “You   see,   I   have   a…relative…staying   in   that   blue   house. He   has   some   very   interesting   things   to   say   about   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;">             “I   don’t   doubt.”   said   Roger,   feeling   on   top   of   the   situation   again. “Quite   a   problem   tenant. He   lights   fires   in   the   backyard   and   holds   parties   at   all   hours. Neighbors   have   been   complaining. And   he   hasn’t   paid   rent   since   he   moved   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;">             “Indeed.”   the   tramp   said. “Now   that’s   a   very   strange   thing,   because   I   heard   from   Hunter   Light   that   the   lease   was   paid   up   through   October.”

<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;">             “Ah   yes,   I   believe   the   check   was   held   up   by   the   bank,   but   I   refunded   him   his   lease. He   should   have   received   it   by   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;">             Slowly   the   tramp   removed   an   envelope   from   his   pocket. “Ah,   this   one,   you   mean?”   He   tossed   it   into   the   air,   and   it   fell   down   as   confetti. One   of   the   pieces   landed   in   front   of   Roger,   and   he   saw   with   mounting   horror   it   was   part   of   one   of   his   own   checks.

<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;">             Abruptly   the   strange   man   leaned   forward. “I   know   what   you’ve   been   doing. You   planned   to   keep   the   lease   money   and   collect   rent   as   well. I   have   copies   of   Ronnie’s   receipts.”   He   held   several   Western   Union   money   order   receipts   under   Roger’s   nose. The   amount   was   the   same   as   the   rent.

<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;">             Roger   snatched   at   the   receipts.

<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   stranger   caught   his   chain   in   one   hand. “Dragon-spell.”   he   said   softly. “I   thought   I   smelled   her   on   that   chair. This   explains   it   all. Listen   to   me,   Harding. Burrville   must   be   held. Ronmond   stays   here. This   I   command   you,   in   the   name   of   the   Road:   count   out   in   cash   the   rent   Ronnie   gave   you,   all   of   it. Collect   no   rent   off   him. Do   not   refund   the   lease. Forget   the   dragon.”

<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;">             Roger   nodded   like   a   zombie.

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