The Dark Crystal by A. C. H. Smith; David Odell

Author:A. C. H. Smith; David Odell
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780030624360
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Published: 1982-10-15T03:07:22+00:00

Far away from the river, the urRu had closed up their caves. The time had come, at last, to leave the valley. In a long, plodding procession headed by urZah, one following another in their dusty garments, leaning on their sticks, they ascended the spiral path and started to cross the plain.

Fizzgig was the first to sense that the boat was nearing the village. He became restless and started to make a little whining noise. Jen stared downstream. Soon he could see lights and hear the sound of busy voices. Then Kira used the pole to maneuver the beetle shell into the bank. Fizzgig jumped out and the two Gelfling followed, beaching the boat.

It was too dark for them to see that the Crystal Bat was hovering just a little way upriver, reflecting in its spy crystal every step they took.

They were making their way through the underbrush of the wilderness when two Pod People jumped up in front of them, holding out long staffs in a challenging gesture.

“It’s all right,” Kira cried out quickly in Pod speech. “It’s me, Kira. I have a friend with me.”

At once the Pod guards lowered their staffs and joyfully ran up to greet Kira. Jen clearly puzzled them but they were willing to take Kira’s word that he was a friend.

Preceded by the guards, Jen and Kira emerged from the bushes into a clearing. In the center of it were several long houses. The convex outer shell of each house was formed from the seed pod of some gigantic plant, split down the middle and laid flat to the ground, thus raising a striated dome. Doorways, windows, and chimneys had been neatly carved out and framed in wood. Through these apertures a cheerful firelight shone from each house. Everywhere, people could be seen bustling around, within and between their houses.

Notwithstanding the disguise of dusk, Jen recognized the place from Kira’s description of it in dreamfasting. It was her home, and these were Pod People. As she took his hand to introduce him into the village, he knew that the largest of the long houses was the one where she dwelt.

Fizzgig bounced on ahead of them, barking enthusiastically. The peasants looked up, peering into the dusk. When they saw Kira, they ran up to greet her, whooping with delight in their babbling, lilting speech:. Then they stopped short, hesitating, crowding together in confusion.

“They can’t believe their eyes,” Kira said, “seeing you.”

“Will they welcome me?” Jen asked.

“Oh, yes. When they see that I am happy with you.”

From the largest house an old woman came running out past the others, who were still hesitating. She threw out her arms and embraced Kira.

Again, Jen knew at once who it was: Ydra, Kira’s foster mother. But he felt he ought to wait to be introduced, nevertheless. It was going to raise a few ticklish questions, this dreamfasting.

Ydra greeted Jen with a warm smile when Kira introduced them, but the old woman was clearly as confused to see two Gelfling as they themselves had been on meeting each other in the swamp.

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