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I had to ado"

"I have seen it," Vinnevra said, with a sidelong and allance

"Seen what?" I asked

We crested a low hil "A place where I should go when I am in trouble," she said She turned to look back over the e, the hut where she had tended towide to either side, the brown rown up

and lost her parents to Forerunners

She pointed inland, away from the wal, then led us down the opposite side of the hil

Gamelpar folowed and did not look back

I had no idea which way Riser ht be, so I folowed as wel-- for now "What kind of place is it?" I asked

"I wil knohen I see it," she said

"The Lady’s touch?"

She nodded

"A geas Al right That’s a start," I said The Lifeshaper was kind "If we get away fro away," Gamelpar said over his shoulder

"I don’t see any Forerunner machines," Vinnevra said hopefuly

"Maybe they’re al broken"

We walked for several kiloh the forest of low trees, then beyondout for their stone and clay Then we paused

Vinnevra closed her eyes and turned her head back and forth, as if searching the darkness behind her lids

"Are we going in the right direction?" I asked

She wrapped her arms around herself and soberly returned my look "I think so" Then her face fel and tears streaked her cheeks

"Everything’s changing! I don’t see it now"

That stopped us for a time

An idea struck "

"What?" Vinnevra asked

"Maybe you’re just getting your bearings, or so--at the wal and the old city and where we are, then turnjust hold out your hand and point"

The old man leaned on his stick

"That’s stupid," Vinnevra said The old ree

"The Lifeshaper--the Lady--touches us al for a reason," I said

"Maybe she touched you with a sense of direction, not just the memory of a place"

"Is it our reason, or hers?" Gaeas which we had to fulfil She gave us old memories that come ae visit certain places But I wasn’t born here, so she didn’t tel o when I’m in trouble Youwere born here Try it"

Vinnevra shook her head and lookedRiser were here; he was sopeople--and so o, ander until we starve," I said I was petulant, hungry again, angry at being stuck

The girl dropped her arms and took a deep breath, then squinted at the sky Ga a circle in the air

Then I saas pointing at soht side was rising over the near wal, far above the wispy clouds It cast a broad black silhouette across the clouds and the far land We watched, shivering even before the black line moved over us and ere surrounded by alray shape had obscured nearly the entire sky bridge, see to cut it in two

Despite my fear, I tried to reason it out There was a purpose here--there had to be Soht have been detached fro, square or rectangular --and noas being hauled along over the wal, angled inward, squared off-- And then what? I tried to visualize gigantic blue hands passing this object from one to the other, or some other Forerunner tools

and failed

Whatever it er than any star boat I had seen The far side extended al the way to the opposite horizon

Having cast its shadow froreatIt was as wide as the Halo itself-- perhaps wider

Then the great square es of the band, sliding at soreat distance-- but a tiny distance for the Halo itself--and alowed light to return

I dropped to the ground and looked up at the sky bridge, swept ap about a third of the way up Itno attention It ice as large as the first gap-- th Two parts from the hoop had been removed, one from the underside and one entire section fro transported around the curve, perhaps a thousand kilo what has been da The Lord of Admirals was probably correct The battle around the Halo had done significant da moved just as a mason cuts stone tiles to fit a floor and transports them to where they are needed

Gaantic tile and the darkness it cast Vinnevra wiped tears from her cheeks "I am so scared," she said "Don’t they want us any

"Don’t talk foolish," Gahtened, but the fear of an oldfemale, or one would be afraid all the tiain

"You should know al about being old," I said under my breath

Then, out loud, "Their da it up That’s more important than we are--for now"

Ga twitched The oldtheythe curve

"They’re not gods," I said "They s they build can be destroyed"

I have destroyed s they made

Suddenly, the old spirit--so far happy to volunteer his opinions --see--then, his abrupt return caused a tingling in !

The Lord of Adrips with his true situation