Angel Fall (28 page)

And then—

It was over.

His mouth snapped shut and he dropped to the floor as though dead. In the chamber there was silence. Finally the old man spoke. “Rise, my son.”

Weak and dizzy, Alex struggled to his feet. Turning toward the vast crowd, the ancient voice trembled with emotion. “Brothers, tell me what you heard.”

And all the kings whispered, “The song of Lammortan.”

With great sorrow the old man looked at Alex. “The prophets wrote of one who would come from another world. They said his soul would be filled with evil and the end of all life would be in his hand. They told us that we would know him by his song. You are that one.”

Alex stared in horror. But before he could say a word, he felt an awful surge within his belly, a crawling rush writhing upward into his chest and throat. He knew what it was and now there was nothing to stop it. He screamed as it wrapped around his soul.

Lost!

Lost forever!

They were the last words that were his own. His mind was alive, but no longer could he control it. From his mouth came a guttural laugh. And out of him roared the voice of his god. “Blood for blood! The creature that does evil belongs to me. The Judgment has been rendered. Your work is finished. Slaves of the Mountain, go back to your tombs.”

Instantly all the kings who had stood on the coffins disappeared and the old man with them. The Thing that was now Alex turned toward the great angel in the air. But the ceiling was empty. The Worwil was gone. Out of Alex’s throat came another laugh. “So you run, my brother? Where is the courage of Heaven? Don’t you know that I will find you wherever you are?” Then he cried out, “Come!”

The call was answered with thunder, ten thousand iron hooves crashing over stone. In a swirl of black mist the phantoms entered the chamber, horses and riders streaking through the air. And leading them was a giant stallion with no one on it. It stopped in front of Alex. Smoke swirled from its body, enveloping him in a shroud.

Leaping onto the creature’s back, Alex lifted his fist and cried out, “Die until death is all that remains!” There was a great cheer.

Then, with Alex in the lead, the horses and riders streamed into the air. With a pounding roar, they surged forward. And when they reached the wall of the chamber…they disappeared.

T
ori! Tori of Lancaster,
wake up! Open your eyes!
Tori, we’ve got to get out of here.”

Tori’s eyes popped open. Mirick was fluttering two inches from her face, and the air sang with whining screeches like a million chainsaws slashing through a steel forest.

“What’s wrong? What’s happening?”

“War! That’s what’s happening. We are at war. The island is under attack! You must do
exactly
what I say.”

She sat up. There was a deep rumble and the door burst open. Into the room flew four insects the size of German shepherds. Their bulbous eyes stared at her, and from their heads hung jaws with jagged teeth that looked like ripsaw blades. As they hovered at the end of the bed, the wind from their wings almost blew her covers off. Tori was terrified.

“Lie on your stomach and stick out your arms and legs!”

“What?”

“Do it! They have to carry you, and there’s no time for squeamishness. These are the greatest warriors of the Larggen, and they’re here to save your life.
Lie down and turn over!
”

Shivering with fear, Tori obeyed. Instantly wind plastered her clothes as powerful talons slipped around her arms and legs. Then she rose into the air.

“Ooo, I don’t like this.”

As they hovered toward the open door, Mirick fluttered into her hair. “Terrible things are happening outside. Close your eyes.” Then he yelled, “Go!”

The Larggen took off. Out of the room they flew and beyond the pier. Then came a blistering right turn, and they streaked down the canal a foot above the water. Suddenly a huge mass of Larggen swooped around them like an escort of fighter jets. Though the wind blasted her face, Tori didn’t close her eyes. She had to see what was happening, what was causing the terrible, buzzing screeches. She looked up.

The air above Mirick’s island roared with green fire. In mighty waves it surged through the canyons between the giant pipes. And from the fire came the awful sounds. All the trillions of insects that had covered the island were swarming, raging, attacking something that she couldn’t see. Then for a moment the waves parted and she did see.

High up, horses and riders flying through the air, half ghosts of flesh and darkness, streaming smoke, racing back and forth, roaring, thundering. And the insects were attacking them. By the billions they poured down from the sky, blanketing, stinging, blinding, burning. As they struck the horsemen, their tiny bodies flared, then dropped in avalanches of fiery death. Into the water, onto the pipes, glistening, dazzling, then gone.

“Do you see?” Mirick’s voice was filled with emotion. “My people are giving their lives. Look at them! Such bravery! The battle is hopeless, but they do not stop. On and on they die, the glorious legions. Their greatness will be remembered forever.” Then his voice broke. “And my place is with them…”

Suddenly, from high above, two of the horsemen plunged straight toward Tori. Instantly twenty of the Larggen veered to intercept. With a roar their bodies clashed. The horses and riders screamed. Then twisting and thrashing and covered with huge burning insects, they plunged into the canal, disappearing in an explosion of green flame.

Chaos!

The whole island was ablaze. Tori could hardly breathe. On and on she hurdled down the twisting canal. The breakneck speed and hairpin turns made her so dizzy that finally she did close her eyes.

Because of this she didn’t see what happened. But suddenly the sounds of war vanished.

Tori opened her eyes. They were flying down a black tunnel and the escort was gone. Only a single Larggen remained in front, lighting the way with the glow from his body.

“Where are we?”

“In a secret passage.”

“Where’d the other bugs go?”

“It’s safer now if our group is small. They went back to fight and die.”

“What were those flying horse-things?”

“The Army of Shadows. The hour of evil is upon us.”

Suddenly Tori yelled, “Wait a minute, what about Alex? Where’s my brother?”

With sadness Mirick replied, “He is among our enemies.”

“What? Stop, stop! We’ve gotta go back and help him!”

“I’m afraid that isn’t possible.”

“Why not?”

“He has chosen darkness and with darkness he must remain.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your brother is one of them now.”

“Those horse-things?”

“Yes.”

“We’ve got to save him.”

“That power is not in our hands.”

“But you told me I’d see him again.”

“And I fear you will.”

“We can’t leave him like this.” She was sobbing now.

“We must. There’s nothing we can do.”

“You told me the bugs were going to help him.”

“I said we would do everything we could, and we did.”

“I’m never going to see him again.”

“You don’t know that. Your brother’s life is in the hands of One Who Is Greater Than All…”

“You promised me, you promised…”

“I’m sorry.”

For a long time Tori cried. Finally she quieted. “Where are we going?”

“There’s only one safe place for you now: the Great Mountain.”

“Is it far?”

“A long way. First we must get to the surface, and after that there are still many miles to travel. It’s night outside, which makes the journey much more dangerous. The riders are creatures of the dark, and they’ll be searching for you.”

“Why?”

“You escaped from Lammortan and he wants you back.”

They flew on in silence. Finally Tori said, “You want to know something? I’m not afraid of bugs anymore.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Could you tell your friends ‘thank you’ for saving me?”

“They heard and it fills them with pride. To them you’re a queen.”

“I am? You mean, like a bug queen?”

“No, just a queen.”

More silence. Then she whispered, “You know what I’m doing right now?”

“No.”

“I’m praying for my brother.”

“That’s the very best thing you could do for him.”

They had been flying for almost an hour when Mirick said, “There’s something that I must teach you, something very important. You must learn to talk without using your mouth.”

“What?”

“Soon we will enter a strange and frightening place, and the sound of your voice could make it dangerous.”

“What kind of place?”

“I’ll tell you more about it in a minute, but right now we have to learn a new way to speak. Start by thinking of me. Then think the words in your mind that you want to tell me, and I’ll hear them.”

“How can you do that?”

“It’s a unique attribute found in highly advanced moths. We call it attenuated cranial fibrillation, and it’s used only in times of great danger. Let’s try it. First, think of me, then talk to me without using your lips.”

“Okay, here goes.” She squinted into the darkness and concentrated hard.
Calling Mirick, calling Mirick, hello Mirick, come in Mirick
…“All right, what did I say?”

“You said, ‘Calling Mirick, calling Mirick, come in Mirick.”

“And I said, ‘hello, Mirick.’ Did you hear that?”

“Yes, I heard it.”

“This is fun. Is it like reading my mind?”

“No, I can’t hear you unless you think of me first.”

“Let’s try it again.”

“All right.”

“Here goes.”

“You don’t need to say, ‘Here goes.’ Just start.”

“Okay…”
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

“Would you stop that?”

“You said to say anything.”

“Anything but buzzing.”

“I thought you’d like to hear some buzzing.”

“Would you like it if I started babbling stupid, meaningless words straight into your brain?”

“I don’t know, maybe.”

“Well, I don’t. To insects, buzzing is a very sophisticated language filled with an endless array of subtle nuances. When people buzz it sounds like very loud drooling.”

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
…Tori laughed uproariously. “Okay, okay, I won’t do it anymore. I just couldn’t help it.”

“You are an amazing creature. In the direst of circumstances you maintain the ability to be monumentally irritating.”

Suddenly the Larggen slowed.

“What’s happening?” She tried to peer ahead.

“We’re almost there. It’s time to take a rest.”

The insects settled to the floor. After releasing Tori, they hovered a distance away, forming a protective circle. Mirick fluttered out of her hair. “Are you all right?”

“Just a little sore where they were holding me. But I’m fine.” She rubbed her arms and legs. As the whirring of the Larggen’s wings quieted, she began to hear something odd. From far away came an echo. And though it was very faint, it sounded like screaming and crying. “What is that? I hear something.”

The moth spoke gravely. “I told you that we would be entering a strange and frightening place. The island on the lake is miles underground. The normal passage that my people use to reach the surface is long and blocked with enemy riders. But there’s a shorter way. Do you know what a volcano is?”

“Sure, a mountain full of lava.”

“Well, there’s one up ahead, but it isn’t full of lava anymore. The fire went out a long time ago. Now it’s a giant shaft that goes down into the heart of the planet. To reach the surface we’re going to fly straight up through it. No matter what you see there, do not be afraid. Nothing can hurt you.”

“Nothing can hurt me?” Tori was struggling hard not to be afraid.

“That’s right. Now it’s time to go. Lie down.” Mirick nestled in her hair.

Stretching out on the floor, she extended her arms and legs and the insects lifted her.

“Remember, when we reach the shaft, talk to me only with your mind.” Once more they began flying through the tunnel, and as the minutes passed, the screaming grew louder. Suddenly the walls disappeared and they were in dizzying emptiness. Heavy mist billowed around the Larggen’s wings as they started flying straight up. The shaft was feverishly hot as though they had entered a boiling wound in the flesh of the planet. And the heat reeked with a cloying stench.

It’s so hot and it smells in here
. The words almost came out of Tori’s mouth, but at the last moment she remembered to say them with her mind.

“Yes, it’s quite unpleasant. I suggest that you think nice thoughts, maybe something about sunshine and flowers. That sort of thing.”

I can’t think about sunshine and flowers when it smells like I’m in a toilet.

“We’ll be out soon.”

The Larggen were flying hard, but the moisture dragged at their wings. And as the mist saturated Tori’s clothes, she grew heavier, which slowed them even more. They were pounding upward, but it didn’t feel like they were moving at all, just hovering in the stink.

The longer they flew, the more Tori became aware of the awful sound echoing far beneath them. It was like the thunder of a mighty ocean, millions of screams and wails and curses, rising, falling, surging with grief and rage. And it never stopped, never lessened. Every few seconds, a single shriek would climb into a pinnacle of despair and then vanish in the roaring. What are those horrible noises? Nothing that you want to know about. Try not to listen. But she couldn’t stop listening. And as she listened, a strange terror gripped her. It felt like the ocean was sweeping upward, like she was about to drown in a sea of tears.

Suddenly she knew something. Knew it with an awful certainty. Her family was dead! Her mother. Her father. Amanda. Alex. Everyone! Dead and gone forever. She was alone! In her mind, she gasped to Mirick,
We’re never gonna make it. I’m gonna die here. I’m never going to see my family again.

“No! Stop thinking that way! It’s the air. It’s polluted with desolation.”

How much longer are we gonna be in here?

“Just a few more minutes. Make your mind think about other things. Fun things. Happy things. Think about those vile chicken streaks.”

Strips! Chicken strips! It makes me very sad that you can’t ever get that right. It’s such a small thing, and it would make me so happy.

“Okay, okay! Chicken strips! I’ll never say chicken streaks again, I promise. Just don’t cry!”

Tori looked up. She sniffled, but she didn’t cry. Instead, she began thinking about the huge insects, how brave and good they were, how they were trying so hard to save her. Suddenly she felt thankful. And the more thankful she felt, the more the sad thoughts began to drift away. Soon the screaming dimmed, and the air wasn’t quite as heavy, which allowed the Larggen to fly faster.

I’m feeling better now.

“Good, we’ll be out of here soon. Can you see the moonlight?”

She craned her neck. High above was a sliver of crimson.
I think so
.

“That’s the top of the shaft.”

Suddenly, from far away, there came a low mournful sound. It started like a moan, then grew louder and louder, until the darkness echoed with a bloodcurdling scream. Then it fell back into silence. Instantly the voices below grew silent too.

What was that?

“This volcano is called the Well of the Lost Ones, and it’s like a prison. Deep down, no one knows how far, are kept the spirits of people who did terrible things a long time ago.”

Do you mean ghosts?

“You can think of them that way.”

What did they do?

“Do you remember the dead children in the cavern when you awoke?”

Yes.

“These are the spirits of the people who sacrificed them to Lammortan. They’re kept in darkness until the day when their lives will be judged. But each night, one of the Worwil calls them out of their prison to make them remember what they have done. He sends them to the cathedral of Lammortan to worship the god they have chosen. I hoped we’d get out before the Call, but we didn’t, so we’ll just have to make the best of it. They’re very frightening to see, but they can’t do any harm. In fact, they won’t even know we’re here because they’re blind. But they have excellent hearing. And if they hear a child’s voice, it will drive them mad. That’s why I taught you how to speak without using your lips.”