Perry Rhodan NEO: Volume 14 [Complete] by Michelle Stern Christian Humberg

Author:Michelle Stern, Christian Humberg
Language: eng
Format: epub

Escape into Darkness

By Christian Humberg

“I cast my eye to the stranded vessel, when, the breach and froth of the sea being so big, I could hardly see it, it lay so far off; and considered, Lord! how was it possible I could get on shore?”

Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

Prologue

The Hunter’s Night

Kerh-Onf was burning.

Every few blocks, new flames blazed up from the streets at the city’s heart, casting flickering shadows on the buildings’ facades. The air smelled of smoke and the ashes of the ephemeral.

The hunter stood on the balcony and let his gaze sweep across the fire, bridges, swamp parks, shadows, and the rest of the odd scenery. He listened to the goings-on in the streets below.

They were bonfires, he knew. Right now, countless Topsidans had gathered around the mighty fires to celebrate the reason they had come together: the Festival of the Three Moons. The moons’ light reflected off the roofs of the sprawling metropolis on the Groogwain plain’s southern edge as Topsidans moved through the streets in droves, waited at food and market stalls, and watched the artistic performances on almost every corner.

Everyone seemed to be astir tonight, all the millions and millions of inhabitants of the Despotate of Topsid’s capital city. They were celebrating life, which (according to popular belief) the moons symbolized when they hung above Topsid in this rare constellation, “The Heavenly Nest.” On no other night were so many offspring conceived, so many couples formed. Everyone, from stall operator to street performer to preacher, burned with the inner flame of ardor on this special night.

But the hunter was not in the mood to celebrate.

You’ll never really feel at home here, will you? said a voice inside him. It existed only in his imagination, but nevertheless sounded like a sad sigh.

The hunter lifted his gaze from the colorful hubbub far below and looked reproachfully at the bulky armband on his right wrist. Then he paused.

I thought so.

The whole evening, he’d had the feeling that something was about to happen. He couldn’t give any reason for it, couldn’t support it with facts—but he’d learned to trust his gut. In his line of work, that paid off. And now...

With an inquisitive and slightly cautious air, he looked down at the roofs and alleys again. The celebratory atmosphere had changed. Not for those celebrating, not yet, but for him, their silent observer. Something was happening out there. Now, at this very moment. Something that—

A loud bang pulled him out of his reverie and confirmed his apprehensions. Had it come from Khir-Teyal? The hunter turned his head to look left, toward the ghetto. Yes, black smoke was rising from some of the buildings there.

That’s no bonfire.

Nor did it remain an isolated incident. A second blast followed, somewhere close to the government district this time. Then a third, and a fourth. The explosions shook the metropolis in quick succession. The hunter heard alarm sirens blaring, saw the revelers turning their heads, baffled. Is this part of the festival? their questioning expressions seemed to say.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.