Gather Darkness - Illustrated by Fritz Leiber

Author:Fritz Leiber [Leiber, Fritz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
Publisher: Astounding Science Fiction
Published: 1943-05-18T00:00:00+00:00

XII.

It had been market day in Megatheopolis. and usually on market day the Great Square did not empty until almost curfew. But now the Commoners were packing up and hurrying home although the sun had not yet set. Business had gone half-heartedly. Thought of the coming night had taken the zest out of trading.

There had been an invisible merchant moving among them, who gave away his wares free. His name was Terror.

Who dared go home by twilight and risk meeting one of those great, gray, red-eyed beasts who last night had prowled and snuffed through all the alleyways ? Or chance having your way home cut off by such a creeping darkness as last night had driven a patrol of deacons to seek refuge in the dwelling of a Commoner? Hamser Cholm the Smith, at whose home it had happened, said the deacons had been more frightened than himself.

Everyone had some horror or wonder to tell, and whispers had passed more swiftly than trade goods. Several swore they had seen angels—“great winged ones with glowing faces”—indicating that the Great God was at last taking some interest in the trials and tribulations of bis creatures. But the reassurance that this gave was more than counterbalanced by a set of ugly and disturbing rumors which seemed to indicate that die priests themselves were not immune to the general terror.

These latter rumors penetrated everywhere, though whispered in very low tones and with sidewise glances to make sure no priest or deacon was in earshot. How a priest had fled screaming from a service in one of the lesser chapels because something invisible had clutched his throat as he preached. How a group of Commoners, returning at night from their work in the fields, had been deserted by the priest who was supposed to escort them nd protect them from the forces of evil. He had seen something and run away, leaving them to get home as best they could. How a child had died of the Choking Sickness last night, because no Third Circle priest would come from the Sanctuary.

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