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louder. It hung in the air between the trees, hypnotic and insistent.
A petite form appeared in the moonlight, standing by the water where the creek
slowed and broadened to create a small pond. Silken tresses and folds of silk
fluttered auralike around it, despite the absence of a breeze.
As he drew close, a gentle wind sprang from the earth itself, curling about
him. It was as if he were undergoing inspection by a ghost.
Head tilted back, the figure was singing to the sky. Stars of especial
brightness twinkled through the atmosphere as though responding to that song,
as if replying with light via some mysterious stellar Morse code.
She sensed his approach, or heard his footsteps compressing the forest
detritus, because she stopped and turned to look straight at him. The silenced
song hung in the night air like a physical presence.
"Be careful here, Frank Sonderberg."
"Mouse, what are you doing out here? I mean, you're singing: I can see that.
But I thought you needed to save your voice for the Spinner?"
She smiled understandingly. "Sometimes I simply have to sing, regardless of
other considerations. It's like breathing to me. It relaxes me and keeps me
whole." As he continued toward her she put up a warning hand.
"Truly be careful, Frank, or you will fall."
A yard away from her he halted, grinning in the weak light. "Where? The
creek?" He gestured to his right. "Not much of a tumble."
"Not into the creek." Her head cocked sideways and those enormous violet eyes
shone like amethysts. "Are you a brave man, Frank Sonderberg? Do you have real
courage?"
After all they'd been through recently he thought it was an unnecessary
question, but he answered anyway. "Depends how you define 'brave,' I guess.
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I've made it this far. I built up a nearly nationwide business on guts and
determination, and I've never avoided a challenge. Never had to shoot anybody
or anything, but I think I could if I had to."
"Weapons do not make a man brave. True bravery is here" -- she touched a
finger to her head -- "and here." She repeated the same gesture, this time
touching her hand to her chest above her heart. "Are you afraid of heights?"
"No more or less so than the average guy, I guess. Why?" Off to his right the
creek rang like water from a dripping faucet. He doubted it was more than six
feet deep.
"Not there," she told him. She appeared to hesitate for a moment, then turned
and gestured. "Here. But watch your footing. If you slip I'm not strong enough
to catch you."
"I'll be careful." He tried to stand a little taller and keep his gut sucked
in, always a strain and one that grew worse each year. In a moment he was
standing alongside her. Though only of average height he towered above her
slight form.
The wind was much stronger now. He turned away from her and looked toward his
feet.
Six inches in front of his toes the earth vanished, along with the trees,
mountains, and moonlight. A few incredibly distant objects fought vainly
against the void, though what those minuscule pinpricks of light might be he
could not tell. It was emptier than the night through which they'd driven to
reach this place, an unholy abyss hard by his left foot.
He inhaled sharply. His brain screamed at him to step back from that awful
infinity, but mindful of Mouse's words he was determined to hold his ground.
As he felt her left hand on his arm he knew what she'd said was true:
if he fell she wouldn't be able to drag him back. In spite of that her touch
was immeasurably reassuring, the fingers warm on his bare skin.
"There are a few places where reality simply ends. Not just in this world but
in every world. Places where nothing is, not even Chaos. The congruent void.
This is one of those places. A dangerous place to stand, but an exhilarating
spot to sing."
Frank wasn't afraid of falling anymore, perhaps because he was frozen to the
spot. Astonishing how the utter and complete absence of anything could be so
fascinating.
"When I was a kid we used to dare each other to walk to the edge of a roof at
school and step off." He slipped another inch forward and felt her fingers
tighten on his arm.
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