Worlds Without End (s-1) by Caroline Spector

Author:Caroline Spector [Spector, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf

17

"How are you going to contact Thais?" Caimbeui asked.

"A summoning," I said. "His nature is such that he won't be able to resist. I wish it hadn't come to this, but we haven't spoken in so many years. Since that terrible time after Wounded Knee."

"Why didn't you just call him up while we were in Tfr na n6g?"

"Too many enemies there," I said. "And Ala- chia doesn't know about Thais. At least not as far as I know.'I would keep it that way. There are some things she should never know. And I want him to be on my ground. Not his; not someone else's."

A wave of exhaustion swept over me. Suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to go and sleep for the rest of my natural life. But I didn't have that choice. There was too much at stake. I got up and walked back into the house.

Caimbeui drew the drapes as I turned off all but one light. Though it made little difference to my casting, I preferred less light. That way I could con- centrate on what was happening with the spell rather than my surroundings.

"This would be a lot simpler if you let me help," said Caimbeui.

The edges of the room faded back into shadows. The few pieces of furniture still covered in sheets looked ghostly against the far walls. The night noises were muffled by the drapes. Occasionally, I could still hear the drone of a low-flying Lone Star Security chopper.

"Are you ready?" I asked. I wasn't sure which of us I was asking.

Caimbeui nodded and stepped back into the shad- ows. I knew if anything untoward happened, he would take care of me.

Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, I let myself relax and block everything out but the spell I was about to perform.

I saw Thais in my mind. As he was when he was born, then later when I finally met him again. Grown up and changed into something so like me, and so like his father, that I wept until he made me stop with his voice and eyes.

That was Thais's gift, after all.

As I pictured him in my mind, I let myself slip into astral space. There was the usual nauseating tug as 1 slipped between the veils. The ribbons flowed around me and into me until I couldn't tell the dif- ference between them and myself. I was filled with the power. Exhilarating and fierce. This was what I was bom to. I never doubted myself here. Here I knew who and what I was.

The veils parted as I remembered my task. I reached out my will, calling Thais to me. Command- ing him to come to my summons.

Time passed interminably slow. Then sped to light.

I float then fall.

The universe is around me. Inside me. I am the universe: waiting and watching.

Across worlds I come. Through the blazing heat of a thousand suns. From the Void. Into the dark- ness.

From the darkness, I pull light.

My child.

Some things you cannot resist.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.