Wolfe, Gene - Solar Cycle 05 - The Urth of the New Sun by Wolfe Gene

Author:Wolfe, Gene [Wolfe, Gene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf
Published: 2010-11-02T23:00:00+00:00

"She's you," I gasped.

"Then let me have mine. I've seen what I'll be later. Is it still wrong, when you do that, to feel sorry for yourself?"

There were tears in her eyes.

I shook my head. "If you don't weep for her, who will?"

"You are."

"But not for that reason. She was a true friend, and I haven't had many."

Burgundofara said, "I see now why all the faces cry. This is a hall made for crying."

A new voice murmured, "For those who come and go."

I turned to see two masked Hierodules, and because I was not expecting them, it took me a moment to recognize Barbatus and Famulimus. It was Famulimus who had

spoken, and I shouted for joy. "My friends! Are you coming with us?"

Famulimus said, "We only came to bring you here.

Tzadkiel sent us for you, but you were gone, Severian. Tell me if you will see us more."

"Many times," I told her. "Good-bye, Famulimus."

"You know our nature, that is plain. We greet you then, and say farewell."

Barbatus added, "The hatches will open when Ossipago dogs down the door. You both have amulets of air?"

I took mine from my pocket and put it on. Burgundofara produced a similar necklace.

"Then, like Famulimus, I greet you," Barbatus said, and stepped backward through the doorway, which closed after him.

The paired doors at the end of the room opened almost at once; the tears of the masks vanished as they fell, then dried altogether. Beyond the open doors shone the black curtain of night, hung from star to star.

"We have to go," I said to Burgundofara, then realized she could not hear and moved near enough to take her hand, at which there was no longer any need for speech.

Together we left the ship, and it was only when I paused at the threshold and turned to look back that it struck me I had never known her true name, if she had one, and that three of the masks were the faces of Zak, Tzadkiel, and her captain.

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