Cradle of the Sun (UC) by Brian M. Stableford

Author:Brian M. Stableford [Stableford, Brian M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780722181003
Publisher: Sphere
Published: 1969-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

VII

"Do you think it was wise to send Thor into the city with only Anselmas?" asked Angela.

Kavan stared moodily out over the lapping waters of the Swamp Sea. "Less conspicuous," he pointed out. "Besides, I hate cities. Only ever been in one once. That was a long time ago, and I decided I'd not do it again."

"Why?"

"I don't know. It made me feel small… lost." There was a long pause. "I thought you sent Thor and Anselmas away because you wanted to sleep with me."

"No."

"Do you mean no you didn't send them for that reason, or no you don't want to sleep with me?"

"Both."

Angela looked up into his face, which she steadfastly set on the distant horizon. She was obviously hurt, but he ignored her. She scrambled to a kneeling position in order to look straight into his eyes.

"What's the matter with you, Kavan?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not scared anymore—of you, of anything. I don't know what's happening."

"When did it start?"

"It didn't start, not just like that. It's just here now. I don't know why. It's just the way I feel. I'm sorry, Angela, but there's nothing I can do about it."

"Have you lost confidence in the expedition?"

"No, I don't think so. I still intend to go to Tierra Diablo and blow the Cradle of the Sun through the gates of hell. But why, I don't know. I think I'm losing my dream. I wish I could talk to the librarian."

"He must be dead, Kavan. It's been fifteen days." Kavan took the crystal from his belt and idly pressed the button. Nothing happened, and he put it down without closing the connection.

"Who killed him? And why?"

"He must have been right, Kavan. About the psychopara-site, about everything. He knew enough to be killed."

"Everything!" Kavan rose to his feet and began to pace back and forth. "He knew nothing. What he guessed was ludicrous. What we're doing is idiotic! That anyone should trouble to stop us seems absurd. What is this psychoparasite that it destroys mankind with an offhand gesture, yet uses crudities like murder to stop three humans, three rats and a senile librarian? And most of all, why? Why is it destroying mankind? And why is it so terribly vulnerable to us? Why would it even deign to observe our presence, if it's as powerful as Anselmas thinks? The rat's mad and so was the librarian. None of it makes sense."

"Yet you're going on. You're going to Tierra Diablo."

"I can't help myself. I don't think I have the willpower to stop what I'm doing. I don't have the guts to go back. The journey's become home to me. I'm too scared to get up and go… No, that's wrong, not scared, just—"

"Kavan." He looked around for the source of the interruption. Angela had not spoken.

"Kavan," repeated the box on the ground.

He snatched it up and held it before his face. The image in the crystal was not the librarian. It was Alizander Rahal.

"Where's the librarian? Who are you?" demanded Kavan.

"You must remember me," replied the man with the visor.

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