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Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Once again, she stood before the Guardian of the Gates. She looked down at her body. She could still see it, though it was hazy, indistinct, more like the memory of a body than the real thing. She turned her pale, transparent hands this way and that. She clenched them, but felt nothing. She concentrated, trying to feel the familiar, steady thump of her heartbeat, but it was gone. She no longer had a heart. For the first time, the full impact of what she had done slammed into her, and she sank to her knees. The Guardian stared at her, silent, his face lost in shadows. I never even said goodbye, she whispered. There were so many people I should have said goodbye to. So many things I should have done first. If you had done that, said the Guardian, you would have changed your mind. Once you really stopped to think about what you would be losing, you wouldn t have had the courage. Linda pressed a hand to her mouth, and it was like touching smoke to smoke. She wanted to cry, to sob in despair for her loss, but no tears came. Of course. Only living bodies could produce tears. She couldn t even cry. Her heart ached. She thought of the look of horror in Gregory s eyes when he saw her fading. He had known she would feel like this. He hadn t wanted to subject her to this pain. She wailed aloud, but even that tortured cry sounded thin and insubstantial. Do you regret your choice? said the Guardian. No, Linda whispered. I wanted to help him. But it hurts so much, knowing I can never go back to my life. She stared at the misty ground. She felt a soul-deep weariness, an exhaustion that was more than physical& and it occurred to her that she could nevertruly rest, never sleep again. There would be no relief from the endless emptiness of her existence. It s been a long time since a mortal has managed to surprise me, said the Guardian. I didn t think you would really do it. And even if you did, I thought, surely you would realize at once the terrible choice you d made and beg me to reverse it. I could never ask you to reverse it, even if it were within your power. I made my choice. But& I already feel so lonely. So empty. To think that it will be like this forever& Her voice quivered. The Guardian was silent for a long moment. Then he approached. One thin, withered hand lightly touched her shoulder. Linda looked up, shocked at the tenderness of the gesture. I was a man once, he said. Like your Gregory, I sought too much power, and was punished for my arrogance -- sentenced to remain here for all time, neither alive nor dead. I watch the spirits of mortals pass through the gates to their rest, but I can never join them. He raised a hand and stared at it. The hand was little more than a collection of bones covered by a paper-thin layer of withered, brown skin. For me, there is no hope of becoming human again. Too many thousands of years have gone by. I can only hope that one day, I will atone for my crimes, and the heavens will allow my spirit to go to its rest. Linda could only stare, caught between compassion and bewilderment. The Guardian seemed suddenly very old, and very sad. I m sorry, she said. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html You shame me with your kindness, he said, and the cold rasp of his voice was gentle. You remind me that humanity is more than greed and power-hunger. You are not like me, or him. You do not deserve this fate. An innocent like you should not be condemned to an eternity in exile. Thank you, she whispered. She forced a slight smile. I guess it s too late though, isn t it? Not quite. There is one way for you to return to life. Linda s breath caught in her throat. What is it? Another must trade places with you. I won t ask Gregory. He d do it -- I know he would. But I won t ask him. Not Gregory, said the Guardian. I m speaking of myself. It will be a relief to shed this ancient body, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |