Page 100 (2/2)

She spread her hands and focused but focus on what? Where was the ground? Stars and pale mountains and black sea all spun wildly The container flashed by again and again, as if it was an hourshapes, ar

She had to save Saulps Her eyes were strea tears, blurred to uselessness How could she stop the spinning?

Dekka pulled her ars Less wind resistance Sheheadfirst She was still spinning, but slower, and she was definitely falling headfirst like an arrow falling to earth Suddenly, far too clear, she could see a line of surf directly below

She had to get lower than Sa crazily But Dekka, with less wind resistance, fell just a little faster

Suddenly, though, the ground was co up to smash her to jelly

She was below Saravity below

And continued to fall She had canceled gravity She had not canceled round Either would smash them to jelly

• • •

Caine raised the debris off hione He saw the tail of one as it raced away

If he went after theet killed

But stay here and do what? Be safe? He’d have been safe on the island He hadn’t cos killed everyone and then ould Caine rule over? Or the bugs were defeated by soet control? Poould go to whoever won this fight

Still Caine hesitated A big, warirl to share it with Food Water Everything he needed, just a few ical, rational ansas obvious

"Which is why the world stays messed up," Caine said under his breath "People aren’t rational"

He took a few deep, steadying breaths, and prepared to die for power

Orc had not ain

He wept a bit when he realized that he was going to live He was doing his best, but throwing up and passing out were getting in the way of death-by-drink

He stood up, needing to pee, but he was already peeing as he stood So no need

So his head ponderously to look Ato the wall

Orc stared at his reflection Six feet, ravel He threw back his head, arms wide, and howled

"Why? Why?"

He burst into tears and pounded his fists against his face Then with stone fingers he ripped the last of the living flesh from his face Blood ran red

And now he howled at his own reflection "Why?"

He lurched away He ran in bounding, wild leaps toward the stairs

Astrid

He had no clear thought for what he would do when he found her She was just the only one who had ever helped him She was the only one who had ever seen him as Charles Merriman and not just Orc