The Star Seekers by Lesser Milton

Author:Lesser, Milton [Lesser, Milton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Goodreads: 7617141
Publisher: John C. Winston Co.
Published: 1953-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10 Dream World

The trap door swung above Mikal’s head, out of reach. Mikal was swinging too, holding to the spire of Needle Mountain with one hand, his legs dangling helplessly in air. At first his fingers hurt terribly, and then, not gradually but all at once, they became numb. They simply lost all sense of feeling and that was better, for the straining in his arm he could stand. He knew he still held on only because the sheer face of Needle Mountain swung gently back and forth relative to his own motion. He also knew he could not hold on much longer.

Something tugged at his right shoulder. Something else tugged at the left.

From somewhere so distant that he hardly could hear it a voice was saying:

“What, by the name of all the Corridors is he doing way up here?”

Then another voice, softer, it was either a boy or a woman: “Lucky for him the names of two Activists came up on the duty roster for this post today. Can you imagine it otherwise? They’d probably sit watching Kardy or someone else and let this boy drop… Here, careful now.”

Mikal felt himself hauled upward. There was a roaring in his ears. His eyes clouded over. “There. He’s safe now. Well, I believe he’s fainted.”

“I’ll get some water.”

The voice receded, faded away, and Mikal felt for one brief moment he still clung helplessly to the spire.

His fingers were slipping, slipping, and he had started to fall… The blackness which enveloped him was warm and snug and he slept deeply. Later: “Here, drink this.”

Someone propped up his head, held a water glass to his lips. He drank gratefully. “You’re a very lucky young man.”

“What-”

“Don’t try to talk. Rest.”

Then they were talking among themselves again, and Mikal leaned back and listened, resting comfortably, it seemed, for the first time in years.

“Why should a lone Noah want to climb Needle Mountain?”

“I don’t know. Looking for a friend who was taken?”

“Possibly. I’ll get some salve for his hands.”

Something cool and wet touched the skin of Mikal’s hands, burned for a moment and then soothed.

“Should we notify Jebstakion?”

“Why? What for? And have him subjected to that indoctrination and orientation? To make another useless Reveler out of him? I have a better idea.”

“What’s that?”

“Why don’t we notify Rolf? Rolf always said if he could find one Noah and keep him out of Jebstakion’s hands it might help tremendously, although we still haven’t found a Noah who even heard of Far Labry, let alone knows where it is.”

Mikal tried to sit up, found he was too weak. He said, “I have heard of Far Labry. I have a key which can open the way…”

“Delirious?”

“No, by the Corridors, I don’t think so! Send a message to Rolf, quickly. Just ‘Needle Mountain’ and ‘urgent.’ He’ll know.”

Mikal heard footsteps recede. He fell asleep.

There was a third voice when he awoke, a deep, clear voice. He opened his eyes and could see clearly for the first time since before they took him off Needle Mountain.

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