THIRTY-TWO

 

 

Soldiers will sit apart from one another after tragedy has touched them. Stunned and silent, they do not speak to their companions or look them in the eyes—for that would make the thing that has happened to them real again.

We had left level ten behind, but we could not as easily shake the feel of it. It was much like a dream that won’t give up its hold, but clings long after sleep is done.

“Whatever all that was done there,” said Signar, “I don’t much care ‘bout seein’ it twice.” He downed a mug of wine and made a face. “Once was more’n I like to remember.”

“Yes,” said Corysia, “more than enough for us all.” I held her close against me, but this did not stop her trembling.

Thareesh shook his head and frowned thoughtfully. “They were—much like the golden craft by the river—weren’t they? Did you notice that? Like it—but not the same.”

“No,” I said, “not the same at all. The craft by the river is real. I’ve touched it, and I know it’s there. I am not at all certain what is there and not there down, below.”

“When I think back upon it,” said the Niciean, “I cannot easily remember even being there. That is most peculiar, Aldair. It is like nothing I have ever experienced.”

I caught his gaze and held it. “It is, Thareesh. Very much like something you’ve experienced. Have you forgotten the Eye of Man—the terrible device that brought madness to Rhemia’s capital? It is not the same as that, or the machines we’re certain chart the course of history. But it is not all that different, either.”

One look at my companions told me they knew exactly what I was saying. “The devices of Man seem much alike in one respect—they do little to improve the reason, which is no doubt what he had in mind. Clearly, we have not discovered a better, more rational breed of that race—only more of the same!”

“I am not at all sure that’s true,” said Corysia.

“And I’m not at all sure it’s not!” I said, though my anger was not meant for her. “Rhalgorn—that door must not remain open. We ran from that place like frightened hares. Now, it is time we got our wits about us. Wall-drop opened the damn thing—now he can close it again.”

Rhalgorn nodded, and pulled himself erect, “Wait,” I told him. “When the place is closed, make certain the Metal-Man is not available to practice his art. I do not want that chamber opened. By anyone. And Signar—put guards at the tenth level, Even if the place is shut tight, I want no one near it.”

“Who d’you suggest?” asked Signar. “I think I know who we can trust, but they’re all of ‘em acting peculiar these days.”

I shook my head and sat down. “Creator’s Breath, it makes no difference one way or the other, does it? They’ll all know soon enough. They always do. Barthius will simply have a few more demons to howl at!”

With Signar and Rhalgorn gone, I sat in silence, studying the dregs of my wine. Like myself, neither Corysia nor Thareesh had much to say. What was there to say, that had much meaning?

“Forgive my anger,” I told her, “it was not for you.”

“I’m not concerned with your anger,” she said. “I still question your logic, Aldair. I will probably dream about that place the rest of my days, but my fears or yours do not prove the Men of Amazon Keep were like the rest—only that we didn’t understand what we saw down there.”

“Corysia--” I tried hard to hold my patience. “What do you think that was down there?”

“I have no idea. And neither do you. But I cannot forget what you were told by the Por’ai, We were supposed to find Amazon Keep—remember? If the sea-folk are what you say they are, would they send us into danger?”

“The Por’ai don’t know everything, Corysia. And you’ll recall we’ve been a great many places we were supposed to be, if you can believe there’s some guidance to this venture. Most of them were quite unpleasant, and deadly to boot.”

“I know,” she sighed, “still—”

“I simply can’t forget how I felt down there, Can you? I didn’t know where I was or what I was seeing. More than that, I was not even certain of the when of it all, for time has a season of its own down there. To me, that was the most frightening thing of all. What in the Creator’s name have we unearthed here? If time itself bows to the rule of Man, who can stand against him?”

No one moved to answer that question, which did not surprise me. Moreover, at that moment Rhalgorn appeared again, back from his mission. Without a word, he sat himself down and emptied the largest mug of wine he could find.

“I regret to tell you Wall-drop is not as good at closing doors as he is at opening them,” he said wearily. “Or if he is, he is clearly not in the mood for it. I suppose I will get the blame for all this—that is ever the lot of those who point the way for others….”