David Gemmell - Echoes of the Great Song

And then again he heard the music, the drumbeat of the universe, the whispering of cosmic winds.

Once more he and Touchstone were as one, and together they called out for the One-Eyed-Fox, chanting his name in time to the drumbeat, creating a song that echoed out across the void.

Time had no meaning now, and the chant continued. The swirling colours brightened, merging into blue — the blue of a summer sky. Talaban gazed down and saw a forest below them. A swirl of grey smoke lifted from the forest, lazily drifting towards them. As it reached the floating figures it coalesced into the shape of a warrior.

'What is it that you need, my brothers?' asked the One-Eyed-Fox.

Talaban told him. Reaching out, the figure of smoke took hold of their hands, and again the colours blazed around them. This time when they faded the scene which sprang into life around them was night dark. They were within a small hut, where an old man was kneeling on a prayer mat.

He glanced up as they arrived. Talaban was shocked at his appearance. He was incredibly frail and his hands trembled. A blue aura shimmered around him and the spirit of Anu rose.

'I know what you need,' he said.

'Can you help us?' asked Talaban.

'I can, Talaban, but there is a high price to pay.'

'What price?'

Anu's spirit hand reached out, touching Talaban's brow. The words Anu then spoke were heard by him alone.

'The Music is incredibly powerful, and can be immensely destructive. I learned to control it during a five-hundred-year apprenticeship. I cannot leave here and create a second spell. I do not have the strength. You do and you can. I can implant the knowledge in you, and you can cast the Music into the Serpent. But the price will be your life. I cannot teach you in hours what took me five centuries. And so the Music will eat away at you like a cancer. Your life span will be measured in days. You understand?'

'I do.'

'Are you willing to die, Talaban?'

The warrior thought of the woman in pain on the Serpent, and of the terrible perils facing his people. 'I am,' he said, simply.

'Then let it be so.'

Heat flowed from Anu's spirit fingers, seeping into Talaban's mind. It was as if all the random, brilliant colours of the universe were exploding within his skull. He reeled back. Images flowered in his brain, then the Music began, a majestic symphony that flowed backwards, millions of strands joining together, becoming ever more simple, until, in the end, he could hear only twelve notes, then five, then three and finally one. Anu spoke again. 'When you return to the ship, find a flute. Almost every sailor will have one. Take it to the Heart Room.

And let the Music flow over the chest. You will see the crystals brighten, as if flames had burst into life within them. Then the Dance will begin.'

'How swiftly can we make the crossing?' asked Talaban.

'Two days.'

'And how long will I live after that?'

Anu was silent for a moment. 'Perhaps a week.'

'I thank you, Holy One.'

'We will meet again, Talaban. On the journey beyond life.'

He removed his hand. The world twisted, rainbows blazing in Talaban's mind. He awoke with a start.

Touchstone drew back from him. Questor Ro moved alongside. 'Did you find Anu? Did you bring him back?'

'We found him,' said Talaban, pushing himself to his feet. 'Now I must find a flute,' he said. Slowly he walked across the cabin, opened the door, and left.

Ro swung towards Touchstone. 'What happened?'

'Not know all. Holy One only spoke him.'

'So when will we reach the coast?'

'Two days,' said Touchstone.

'Yes!' shouted Ro, punching the air. Then he looked at Touchstone, and saw that the tribesman did not share his enthusiasm. 'What is wrong?' asked Ro, speaking now in Anajo. 'Is there something else?'

Touchstone shrugged. 'I do not know, but my heart is heavy, my soul burdened.'

Sofarita lay on the floor of her cabin, her knees drawn up, her arms hugging her body. She was trembling uncontrollably, her frame racked by a series of cramps that caused her to jerk spasmodically.

Never in her short life had she suffered such pain or felt such a terrible hunger. It was as if she stood starving at the centre of a feast, fine food all around her, exquisite delicacies to melt with flavour upon the tongue.

Sofarita groaned.

Another cramp struck her belly and she cried out. She felt suddenly cold and began to shiver. Struggling to her knees she crawled to the bed. The blankets were thick but they offered her no respite. Through her pain she recalled the attack by Almeia and how Ro had warmed her with his body.

This was different. Now she was under attack from her own starving system.

Ro had warned her of the dangers of such a journey, separated from the city's crystals, but she had not imagined the symptoms would be so severe. Her mind screamed at her to take just a little energy from the ship's chest. Just a tiny morsel…

She resisted the temptation, knowing that if she allowed herself to follow her desires she would drain the ship in an instant.

When the pain first started she had attempted to flee it by allowing her spirit to soar free. But she could not.

The cramps cut through her concentration, trapping her within this hurting cage of flesh and bone.

Talaban had come to her cabin twice that day but she had refused to open the door. Even through the wood she could feel the sweet pulsing of his life force. Her flaring hunger terrified her.

She found herself thinking about members of the crew and how some of them were unpleasant or dishonest.

As she had come aboard she had felt their thoughts. Base men, cruel to their families. No one would miss them, she thought.

No! Their lives are their own. I have no right!

You have every right. You are a goddess! You are needed. They are not. If their lives are lost so that the Crystal Queen can be destroyed, then they will have served a greater purpose.

The argument was compelling.

Sitting up she wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and began to plan how to reach the worst of the men. Another cramp struck her, this time with needles of fire that made her arch her back and cry out.

She was hot now, burning with fever. Throwing back the blanket she moved to the water jug and filled a goblet, draining it swiftly.

The door opened and Questor Ro stepped inside. 'Go away,' she said. 'I have… work to do.'

'What work, Sofarita?'

'Go away, I said!' Her hand shot up. Ro was lifted from his feet and slammed back into the cabin wall. He slid to the floor. Grabbing the door frame he hauled himself upright.

'I know you are suffering,' he said. 'But it will soon be over. Anu has shown Talaban how to speed the Dance of Time. We will cross the ocean in only two days.'

'I need… to feed!' Walking past him she pictured the faces of the men she would destroy.

'Like Almeia needs to feed,' said Ro. 'Perhaps we should bring a child to you and bury it for you, alive and screaming.'

Sofarita paused in the doorway. 'Do not make me angry, Ro.'

'Even if you drain Almeia and end her evil, it will be as nothing if you become like her,' he said. 'You are better than that, Sofarita. Stronger. But if you need a life, take mine. It is yours. I offer it freely.'

She swung towards him. 'Why? Why would you offer this?'

'To prevent you from murder.'

She looked at him then and, for a moment, the pain eased.

'Evil is like a poison,' he said. 'That is why we cannot use it. To defeat evil with its own weapons, only replaces one evil with another. I believe the Source has blessed you with power. It must not be stained or sullied.'

'What can I do? The yearning is tearing at me.'

'We will be there soon. You need to be strong.'