THE ANCIENT by Muriel Gray

Author:Muriel Gray [Gray, Muriel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The engine room of the Lysicrates was never silent. Even at its most idle, as now, with the great turbines at rest, the ambient noise filled the senses with a low thrumming and a subtle, soft rushing.

Sohn Haro’s senses, however, were only just beginning to return from the journey of pain they had been on for the last twenty-five minutes. His eyes were filled with tears, and his face was still contorted by the effort of remaining sane under such duress. But even though the pain was subsiding, he was far from sane. How could he be? His fourth engineer had just performed a conjuring trick, a mind-reading illusion of impossible accuracy that had left him reeling in a state of confusion and terror. Until this moment, Sohn’s fears had been very simple.

He knew he was going to die, and only two things worried him. The first was what was to become of his family. He’d sorted that. Illegally, yes, just as the boy had so chillingly pointed out. But it was sorted. The other worry had been how bad the pain was going to get at the end. It was only because of his unique position on board, the fact that he could hide away in the depths of this huge steel cathedral, that he had been able to hide the attacks from the rest of the crew. But the agonies were becoming more frequent, and almost intolerable. He blinked away the tears and tried the first tentative movements of straightening up. It was getting better.

He blew sharply out between his teeth, and raised himself from the doubled crouch to a sitting position against the bulkhead.

Now, at least, he could think. Chelito would be back at his duties checking the oil, and in a minute Sohn would be forced to go and face him again. What could he say? He needed to know where the boy got his information, but it had been so personal and impossible for anyone else to know, that Sohn already knew he didn’t want the answer.

He tried standing. It was possible.

Sohn Haro would never have classed himself as a brave man, but any independent observer would have certainly awarded him the title. He treated the management of his impending death as a duty, and likewise, he was about to go in search of the boy, to confront his worst fears and dark unspoken horrors, merely because he felt he had no choice.

The chief engineer wiped his damp face with the back of his sleeve and, stepping out into the cavernous room, cast his gaze around the hanging walkways and main deck. Chelito was not in sight. He walked down the central aisle, his footsteps clanking on the metal grid, to where he could see behind the turbines, then stopped, took a breath, and called out.

“Chelito!”

There was no answer above the familiar mechanical heart beat that filled the room. Sohn walked on, more cautiously now, unsure as to why his apprentice wouldn’t answer when called.

“Hey! Chelito!”

There was a small noise, a scuffling and the clang of metal.

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