[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
How big? It s huge! I can t see the bottom or the other side. It s gotta be over a hundred miles across and it s red-hot. But that s not all everything s on fire! The land . . . the whole damn sky. It s Hell. That s what it is Hell. Goddamn Joe! cursed Green. I ll kill him! I ll kill him! No need. He s dead, said Greighton. They re all dead. As Greighton spoke, the crater s sides collapsed inward, enlarging its diameter as the ocean, pushed aside by the impact s blast, flowed back to pour over the crater s lip. Huge jets of steam rose up, obscuring everything except the glow of flames. The cabin was hotter than a sauna, but something was working hard to cool it down. Greighton turned his blistered face toward a draft of cool air and saw movement. The strange, immaterial cylinder in the time machine s central column was beginning to change. Thin incorporeal tendrils shot beyond the column, altering everything they touched. Pete! shouted Greighton. The time machine! It s starting to work! Thank God! said Green. We made it! shouted Greighton joyously. We re saved! 20 JAMES STOOD ON the beach watching what seemed to be a second sunrise to the south. The illusion was spoiled when the rising sun began to flatten and spread. Racing across the sky, like a rapidly approaching storm, came a glowing wall of flame. Habit born from a lifetime of caring for others made James think of Sara and Pandit. Despite his intention to die alone, with that moment approaching, he found he could not forsake his guest and his staff. Racing back to the guest quarters, he found Sara and Pandit in the dining pavilion, drinking champagne. As strange as it seemed, Sara had changed her outfit and was wearing a flimsy pleated dress. Perhaps, thought James sadly, she dressed for Greighton s return . SARA DRANK CHAMPAGNE, trying to wash away her ever-growing despondency. She could not remember whether this was her second or third bottle, but it wasn t enough. The nagging, insistent voice within her would not be silenced, no matter how drunk she got. Page 98 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html John s not coming back , it said. You re not as desirable as you thought . Even her favorite dress John s favorite, too did not give her the assurance she craved. That assurance had dwindled with each anxious moment, until little was left. She felt emotionally drained and helpless. Beauty had been her greatest power and, put to the test, it had failed her. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Pandit sat by attentively, but had long ago ceased to tell her everything would be fine. She could see now he had never been sincere about that. Yet, as she realized his words were false, she perceived his deeper sincerity. He had not abandoned her. In his gaze she saw the devotion she had always hoped to see in John s. To him, she was desirable. It was a comfort. James raced to the table, then, in a voice that seemed unnaturally calm, said, I suggest we retire to the shelter of the guest quarters. A storm is approaching. Sara and Pandit walked from beneath the pavilion to gaze at the sky. To the south, it glowed ominously in swirling incandescent colors. The colors advanced toward them as they watched. Without further urging, they hurried to Green s former quarters. There, they discovered that the hole Joe had kicked through the plaster was sealed by a featureless silvery panel. A door! said James. Maybe there s refuge after all. He approached and looked for a means to gain entrance. Perhaps, said Pandit, it will respond to your commands. Open, said James. The doorway remained sealed. Let us in! Bloody Hell, open up! James tried other commands with rising urgency and eventually resorted to pounding the metal door with his fists, but it did not budge. It was a false hope, he said at last. The fiery clouds were nearly overhead, and the landscape outside assumed the color of blood. Sara ran into the bathroom and cowered in the corner, as far from the light as she could be. I can t stand it, she sobbed. Pandit followed after her. He uttered the only true words of comfort he could. I am here, Sara. As he spoke them, he realized it was the first time he had ever called her by that name. Even as Pandit spoke, a horrendous crash resounded through the chamber like millions of exploding bombs. It was more than a sound it was a physical presence. Even within the stone shelter, it hit them like a fist and smashed them against the wall. The noise became a pain that vibrated their very bones for agonizing seconds before it died away. Then there was silence, except for the ringing in their ears. Pandit ventured from the bathroom to find James sprawled insensate against the wall. Sara, come quickly, he called, James is hurt. Sara ran out and gasped at the sight of James s crumpled body. Is he dead? she asked. Pandit saw James s chest move. He is breathing, he stated. We should move him off the floor. Sara and Pandit carefully lifted James to the bed and stretched him out. Sara went to the bathroom and wet a washcloth to place on James s brow. When she did, she saw it was starting to swell. She got a second washcloth and gently washed the blood from his upper lip and the corners of his mouth. Caring for another calmed her own terror and distracted her from the nightmarish scene outside the colonnade. The force of the concussion had stripped the trees of their leaves. The few that still stood were silhouetted against a sea and sky that appeared merged into a restless inferno. Meteors slashed downward. Usually they burned out in a burst of brilliant light, but occasionally they crashed into the sea, sending up huge plumes of spray. In the unnatural light, the plumes looked Page 99 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html like spurting wounds. It became searingly hot. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Pandit, said Sara, what will we do? We will live, he replied, for as long as we can. CON, RICK, AND Joe watched the sky from inside the plane. The concussion had passed through the valley, briefly lifting the plane as it went. The aircraft now rested ten yards closer to the river, but still upright. The foothills that had partially sheltered them from the full force of the concussion also screened the sky to the south. An eerie glow presaged a change. Then, like burning oil spreading over the surface of a pond, fire spilled over the heavens. It rapidly advanced until it reached to both horizons. The sky painted the landscape with [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |