The Curse of Hera by Jeffrey MacLeod

Author:Jeffrey MacLeod [MacLeod, Jeffrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-24T22:00:00+00:00

Bang! It is instantaneous, much faster than any previous images, and they are far more substantial. It is right in front of her. She is in the same place, but it is bright light. The trees are gone. She is vaguely aware of tall coloured walls and a doorway rising on her left, but no more. Two men in armour and trappings of Roman soldiers are struggling with another man who is in a simple tunic; it is like she is on a film set. The soldiers are forcing the man towards the cliff. The cliff has no rail. An aging man in a toga stands almost beside her; she could reach out and touch him.

But she does not. She watches what is going on. The struggling man is screaming. The two soldiers are grunting, their leather is squeaking and various bits of metal in their garb are clashing and clinking, and their sandaled feet are slipping on the tiled terrace.

It does not take them long though. They are irresistible. Within a few moments, with a few shoves and twists and heaves, they suddenly launch the contorting figure off the edge. He twists as he topples, turning around and desperately trying to grab someone or something, but it is too late. One moment he is horizontal in a backwards freefall with hands clutching air and wide eyes and open mouth, then he is gone. Over the edge. Beyond the edge. Out of sight. The man beside Danae rushes forward to peer over. A leering grin disfigures his face as he watches. There is a long retreating wail that is ended by a sickening thump. Then silence. The man continues to watch for a few moments more.

The two soldiers are dusting their hands off as they turn around, laughing among themselves. The man in the toga turns to them, grinning also, clapping his hands with joy.

She lets go…

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