Part 13 (2/2)

Now invaded by that witch .

Ishbel took a deep breath, feeling herself merge with both stone and gla.s.s, and then she was in the Infinity Chamber.

She blinked. It was lit, but not from any internal light. Instead, she found herself looking at a large rat, holding up a candle.

It was sitting on a very large book that looked as though it had recently been scorched with fire.

h.e.l.lo, the rat said.

Ishbel considered that. She had not heard the rat, either with her ears or her mind voice. The greeting simply ”was”.

”h.e.l.lo,” she said. ”Who are you?”

I am your courage.

Ishbel frowned a little.

When Josia died, it took many hours for him to pa.s.s. It took enormous courage for him to endure. Magnificent courage. Too good to be wasted. I was the one who took his life and with it I took his courage. Now it is yours.

That was something Ishbel knew she'd need to spend a little time thinking about later, if she were fortunate enough to enjoy a ”later”. But for now she let it go. ”Is that the Book of the Soulenai?”

Yes. It has been waiting for you as well. Would you like to read it?

”I think I should.”

Ishbel moved toward the rat and the book, glancing about her as she went. The candlelight glimmered off the golden gla.s.s and Ishbel thought the gla.s.s was moving, almost as water, but she was not sure.

For now, the book.

Ishbel knelt down, and the rat moved to one side, helpfully holding up the candle.

Ishbel turned the cover, then the first few blank, creamy pages until she came to an index page.

It contained a list of stories.

The tale of the Magus Ta'uz and his lover Raguel.

The tale of Druse and of how he was turned to stone and then crumbled into the river.

The tale of the little girl, Ishbel, and how she was burned alive in her family house when it was overcome by pestilence.

Ishbel drew in a sharp breath, and her fingers trembled where they rested on the page. Then she read on.

The tale of all those murdered by the pyramid's malice.

The tale of how they shall all aid you, Tirzah's child, to murder Threshold.

The rat used its spare forepaw to touch Ishbel's arm gently.

The One comes, he said.

Maximilian stood on the river bank, staring at DarkGla.s.s Mountain. It still throbbed and sparked with light.

What was happening to Ishbel inside?

He was undecided whether to go to her or not. Surely he could help her . . . surely he could provide some a.s.sistance, surely . . .

His head jerked to the north. The ground beneath him had started to shake, as if by the footfalls of a giant's feet.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

”Oh merciful G.o.ds!” Maximilian said, looking on with absolute horror as the enormous form of the One appeared, quite suddenly, out of the darkness.

He was flailing his arms in a windmill motion, as if to propel himself forward, and he was running straight for DarkGla.s.s Mountain.

Without any hesitation, and before Maximilian could even think about what action to take, let alone enact, the One ran straight into the side of DarkGla.s.s Mountain and vanished without trace.

Chapter 21.

Darkgla.s.s Mountain.

Ishbel rose to her feet, turning in alarm.

The One!

She could feel him cras.h.i.+ng through the pyramid toward her, feel his anger, feel his murderous need to wrap his gigantic hands about her throat and -- Ishbel, the rat said. He raised up the candle, and Ishbel turned to him . . . and cried out in horror.

Just as the rat pulled the candle close to blow it out, Ishbel saw hundreds of black hands rise up behind the golden gla.s.s of the Infinity Chamber and then reach through it, reaching for her.

Before she could react, even move a muscle, she was caught fast and dragged into the pyramid.

Ishbel found herself in a strange place that she could only comprehend as thick light. She could breathe, if she concentrated on it, but movement was difficult.

She could sense many, many others close, pressing in so that they almost touched her.

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