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onward. Above them, the Mountains of Mourne rose ominously under the drifting oval of a nearly full moon. Its light glazed the mountain tops and open surfaces of the slopes with a white glow. In contrast, the bewildering series of canyons they made their way along were often plunged into a profound darkness that found the trio linking hands for safety. The farther they climbed, the greater Lugh's sense of i 148 THE RIDERS OF THE SIDHE THE SILVER HAND 149 discomfort grew. He became more and more certain that something was indeed haunting this place. He couldn't find a clear reason for his concern. He felt that something was around them, something strange and hostile. He searched the moonlit hillsides, the shadowed rocks, the path behind and ahead continuously and saw no signs of life, no shadows moving save their own. He began to wonder if his imagination was creating the impression in his mind. Until Aine moved close to him and murmured: "I have the oddest feeling about this place. It's so empty! I've no sense of any animals around us. It's as if something had chased them all away." "I've no unhappiness about that!" Lugh replied. "My worry was more that something was stalking us." "But that's just it. Don't you see? There's nothing at all out there. Didn't you notice how silent it was?" He understood then that this was exactly the thing that had been disturbing him. There was a heavy silence around them, as if they'd been sealed inside a jar. No night birds called. No insects played a a T T n n s s F F f f o o D D r r P P m m Y Y e e Y Y r r B B 2 2 . . B B A A Click here to buy Click here to buy w w m m w w o o w w c c . . . . A A Y Y B B Y Y B B r r their songs. No wind whistled in the rocks. The only sounds were their own, and even these were curiously muffled. "It's nothing to be concernin' yourselves about," Gilla told them in an airy tone. "Just keep on climbin'. I think the slope is opening out ahead." It was. The moonlight now began to fall upon the ground around them, and they could see that they had left the canyons to mount a smooth hillside. It swept up in an easy grade before them toward a rounded top that showed grey against the darkly brooding backdrop of the higher mountains. Gilla stopped abruptly, staring ahead. "What is it?" Lugh asked. "Look there," Gilla said, pointing ahead. Lugh saw it too. A cone of yellow light thrust skyward from the crest of the hill. "There's a fire up there," said Gilla. His words were immediately followed by a dreadful clamor. It was a ragged tear of sound, a wailing cry from many voices, blending into one pain-filled noise. It came from above, hanging and then echoing away. "A fire.. . and something else," Gilla amended. He looked to the others, beaming. "Well, shall we go see?" "Gilla, do we have to?" Lugh asked his friend with immense fatigue. "So much has happened to us these past days. I'm not certain I can deal with anything more. And what about Aine?" "Nonsense, lad. Your. adventures have only made you the stronger. Just assert that will of yours. And Aine can surely deal with anything. She's a god's sister, isn't she?" He slapped her playfully across the back at this. She cast him a nasty look in reply. "Look, you want to find shelter and aide for your Taillta," Gilla went on. "So you'll have to trust me now, that you will. You'll have to stay by me and follow me without questions." Aine shrugged. "If it's some magic, I don't think any of the powers I have will help us, Lugh. It looks as if we'll have to trust the clown." "Thank you for your confidence!" said Gilla with mock graciousness. The foolish smile beamed again in the darkness. "So, then let's be on, shall we?" He started off with the cart, but as if an afterthought, he threw back over his shoulder to them; "Oh, and remember, whatever happens, show no fear. No fear at all! It could be your end, that it could!" "He is doing very little to ease my worrying," Lugh remarked glumly to a a T T n n s s F F f f o o D D r r P P m m Y Y e e Y Y r r B B 2 2 . . B B A A Click here to buy Click here to buy w w m m w w o o w w c c . . . . A A Y Y B B Y Y B B r r Aine as they fell in behind the clown. They reached the crest of the hill and climbed above it very slowly, easing up into clear view of the light's source. Lugh was tense from anticipating what they would find now. But it didn't seem alarming. Only a bonfire in the center of a flat, circular hilltop, surrounded by small objects at least two score set at equal distances. The fire cast long shadows out from each object like spokes radiating from a wheel's hub. The three paused on the crest of the hill to survey this scene. "You've come at last, have you!" a cracked and dusty voice called from the direction of the fire. "I've been waiting long enough for you. Come closer." Gilla at once moved forward, leading the pony cart. The other two stayed close beside him. As they neared the circle of objects, Lugh began to see why Gi!la had told them to show no fear. For what surrounded the fire, set on short stakes, were human heads. 150 THE RIDERS OF THE SIDHE THE SILVER HAND 151 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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