Leaving - Part 1 |
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Chapter 5 |
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| The world gradually stabilizes around me and I see that I am in the high mountains. A plateau stretches away on all sides, sunlight reflecting blindingly off the untouched snow. I turn, shading my eyes and stumble, almost falling. Far from being in the middle of the plateau, I am on the edge, only meters from where it ends in shear cliffs. Stepping carefully, I inch closer and peer over. Below me, the lowering mountains march off to one side and a flat plain stretches to the horizon. Strips of snow remain on the upper reaches of the mountains but all else is a dead glassy black, the dark barren waste of the poisoned blacklands. Movement catches my eye and I notice that one landmark has survived. Stretching across the plain, straight as an arrow, is a black Beforetime road. The movement comes again and I gasp in shock, for someone is walking along the road, deep into the blacklands. I look closer and almost fall, swept by a wave of dizziness. It is Elspeth, clear as though standing before me, walking unheedingly, eyes fixed ahead. Tears fill my eyes as I see that with every step the taint from the road climbs higher, poisoning her blood, rotting her flesh. “Elspeth, come back!†My cry sounds thin in the cold air, and impossibly small. She stops and turns, as though hearing my faint call. Her eyes meet mine and the distance collapses, her words reaching me painfully strong and clear. “I can’t, Rushton. This is too important.†I reach towards her, straining to bridge the empty space. “Then let me come with you.†“No!†A note of fear enters her voice. “I can’t loose you and if you come, you will die. This is my fate, alone.†She turns away, breaking into a stumbling run; away from me, towards her death. I look around frantically, desperately searching for a way down to the plain so I can follow. I see a place where the edge of the cliff dips into a rough trail and, ploughing towards it through the snow, step off the edge. |
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