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.Created by the Sartan to oversee themensch (and possibly for some other purpose having to do with the light) theyuse a crude form of Sartan magic.These creatures very nearly destroyed me.They came close to destroying myship.They are powerful, and I see no way of controlling them."You saw no way of controlling them," Xar remarked."But then, Haplo, my son,you are not me."Nothing could withstand a fighting force of these creatures!" he added withsatisfaction to Sang-drax."They don't look all that dangerous.They'recertainly not bothering us."The dragon-snake appeared nervous, however."True, Lord Xar.I think it likelythat they are under some type of spell.If you are going to the citadel, youshould go now.Before whatever spell they are under wears off.""Nonsense, I can deal with them," Xar replied with scorn."What is the matterwith you?""I sense a presence of great evil," Sang-drax said in a low voice."Amalevolent force ""Not these mindless entities, surely," Xar interrupted with a glance at thetytans."No.It is intelligent, cunning." Sang-drax was silent a moment, then saidsoftly, "I think we may have fallen into a trap, Lord of the Nexus.""You were the one who advised me to come," Xar reminded the dragon-snake."But it was not I who put the idea into your head, Lord," Sang-drax returned,his single red eye hooded.Xar was displeased."First you badger me to come here, now you're warning meto leave.If you continue talking out of both sides of your mouth, my friend,you'll choke!""I am only concerned about my lord's safety " "And not your own precious skin,eh? Well, come on, if you're going with me.Or will you stay here, hiding fromthe 'evil' force?"Sang-drax made no response, but he also made no move to leave the ship.Xar opened the hatch, descended the ship's gangplank to the floor of thejungle.He cast a swift glance around, eyed the tytans warily.The monsters paid him no attention.He might have been a bug at their feet.Their heads were turned in the direction of the citadel.The rainbow lightbathed the creatures in radiance.And it was then he heard the humming sound."Who is making that irritatingnoise?" the lord demanded.He motioned to a Patryn who stood on the ship's upper deck, ready to run and do whatever his lord might require of him."Find out where that strangehumming sound is coming from and put a stop to it."The Patryn left swiftly."My Lord," he reported on his return, "everyone inthe ship can hear it, but no one has any idea what is causing it.The sounddoes not appear to be coming from the ship itself.If you notice, Lord, itseems to be louder out here than inside."True, Xar admitted.The sound was louder out here.He cocked his head.Itappeared to be coming from the direction of the citadel."There are words in that sound," said Xar, listening intently."It's as if it were speaking to someone, Lord," the Patryn offered."Speaking!" Xar repeated to himself."Yes, but what is it saying? And towhom?"He listened closely and carefully; he could distinguish alterations of pitchand tone that might indicate words being formed.He could almost make out whatthey were, but never quite.And that, he concluded, was what was so irritatingabout the sound.All the more reason, then, to reach the citadel.He stepped onto the moss, started walking in the direction of the citadel.Hewas not worried about finding a clear path.His magic would cut a swaththrough the thickest tangle of undergrowth.He kept his eyes on the tytans,however, moving cautiously, prepared to defend himself.The tytans paid no attention to him.Their sightless heads faced in onedirection the citadel.Xar had ventured only a short distance away from his ship when Sang-draxsuddenly appeared at his side."If the citadel is now working, it could mean that Sartan are inside,operating it," Sang-drax warned."Haplo reported the citadel uninhabited ""Haplo is a traitor and liar!" the dragon-snake hissed.Xar saw no reason to respond to that.Keeping his attention fixed on thetytans, he ventured farther and farther away from his ship.None of themonsters appeared to take the slightest interest in him."More likely, the light has something to do with the starting up of theKicksey-winsey," Xar returned coldly."Or both," Sang-drax rejoined."Or worse," he added beneath his breath.Xar flicked him a glance."Then I will find out.Thank you for your concern.You may now return to the ship.""I have decided to go with you, Lord.""Indeed? And what of this 'evil force' that so terrified you before?""I wasn't terrified," Sang-drax replied sullenly."I respect it, as you wouldbe wise to do, Lord of the Nexus, for it is your enemy as much as mine.I havebeen asked to investigate it." "By whom? I did not give any such command.""My brethren, Lord.If that meets with your approval?"Xar detected a note of sarcasm in the snaky voice, disliked the implication."There is no greater enemy than the Sartan, no more powerful force thantheirs and ours in the universe.You will do well to remember that.You andyour brethren.""Yes, Lord," Sang-drax said humbly enough, apparently chastened."I meant noinsult.I have found out that the Kicksey-winsey has been started on Arianus.My brethren have asked me to see if there might be some connection."Xar didn't see how there could be or why there should be.He gave the matterno more thought, left the clearing, and entered the jungle.His magic causedthe tree branches to lift to allow him passage.The tangled vines slitheredapart to give him clearance.He looked back at his people, lined up on thedeck, ready to come to his defense if necessary.He indicated with a wave ofhis hand that he was going on.They were to remain with the ship, guard it,keep it safe.Xar rounded the bole of a tree and suddenly came face to shinbone with one ofthe tytans.The creature gave a grunt, began to move.The Lord of the Nexusinstantly prepared to defend himself.But the tytan had not sensed him,apparently.It was taking a slow and halting step forward.Xar, staring up at the creature, saw on its sightless face an expression ofhappiness.And then he could distinguish the words of the humming.Return.return to.And just when he thought he was going to be able to sort out the rest, thehumming stopped.The rainbow light went out.And although Pryan's four sunscontinued to shine in the sky, the jungle seemed vastly darker by contrast.The tytan shifted its head.The eyeless face turned toward Xar.The tytan nolonger looked happy.CHAPTER 24THE CITADELPRYAN"SHUT THE MACHINE OFF!" ROLAND YELLED."I can't!" Paithan shouted."It's calling the tytans!""Maybe it is and maybe it isn't.Who knows? Besides, look at the tytans.Theyact like they're drunk.""Drunk, my ass! You just don't want to turn off your precious machine.Youthink more of that damn thing than you do of us!""Oh, Roland, that's not true " Rega began. "Don't you 'Oh, Roland' me!" he snapped at his sister."It was you who saidthat very thing last night!""But I didn't mean it," she said hastily, with an apologetic smile forPaithan."You try to shut it down.Go ahead!" Paithan yelled, waving a hand at thedoor."Maybe I will!" Roland said loftily, somewhat daunted but unable to refuse thechallenge.He took a step toward the door.The light went out; the humming stopped.Roland stopped, too."What did you do?" Paithan demanded, pouncing on him angrily [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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