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.Walker appeared and stopped long enough to place a reassuring hand on the boy s shoulder beforemoving on.Anchor lines were cast off, sails were unfurled, and the Jerle Shannara rose from its berthingand flew north.The Wing Riders left at the same time, flying south.Bek watched them go from the aftrailing, solitary forms riding the air currents in a slow, steady glide, the Rocs great wings spread to thefaint winter light.In seconds they were gone, disappeared into the gloom, and Bek turned his attention towhat lay ahead.Perhaps a mile offshore, they sailed up the coast making for the opening in the cliffs thatled to the Squirm.Breakfast, a hearty mix of breads and cheeses washed down by cold ale, wasconsumed in shifts and mostly on deck.The day advanced in a slow passing of the hours and an evenslower brightening of the sky.The air warmed just enough to change snowflakes to rain, and the windpicked up and began to gust in fierce giant s breaths that knocked the airship about.Bek stood in the pilot box with Redden Alt Mer for a long time while Walker paced the decking like aghost at haunt.The Rover Captain said almost nothing to the boy, his concentration focused on thehandling of his vessel, his gaze directed ahead into the gloom.Once he caught Bek s eye and smiledbriefly. We ll be fine, Bek, he said quietly, and then looked away again.Bek Rowe, born Bek Ohmsford, wasn t at all sure that was so, but if hope and determination countedfor anything, maybe they had a chance.He was wrestling with doubts about his ability to control any sortof magic, even his mastery of the wishsong suspect.It was all too new and unfamiliar for him to havemuch confidence.He had experienced the magic of his voice, but in such a small way and with so littlesense of control that he barely felt he understood what it could do.As for the magic of the Sword ofShannara, he had no idea what he could do with that.He could repeat everything Walker had told himabout how it worked.He could intellectualize its behavior and function.He would apply all theappropriate and correct words to how it would affect him.But he could not picture it.He could notimagine how it would feel.He had no frame of reference and no sense of proportion with which toGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlmeasure its power.He did not try to deceive himself.The magic of the Sword of Shannara would be immense andoverwhelming.It would engulf him like a tidal wave, and he would be fortunate to survive its crushingimpact, let alone find a way to swim to its surface.All he could do was hope he would not be drownedstraightaway when it swept over him.Walker had not said so, but it was there in the gaps between hiswords.Bek was to be tested in a way he had never imagined.Walker did not seem to think he wouldfail, but Walker would not be there inside him when the magic took hold.Bek climbed down out of the pilot box after a while and went to stand at the ship s railing.Quentin cameup to him, and they talked in low voices about the day and the weather, avoiding any mention of theSquirm.The Highlander was relaxed and cheerful, in typical fashion, and he made Bek feel at ease evenwithout intending it.Wasn t this everything they had hoped for? he asked his cousin with a broad smile.Wasn t this the adventure they had come to find? What did Bek think lay on the other side of those icepillars? Somehow they must make certain they stayed together.Whatever happened, they mustremember their promise.It was nearing midmorning when they reached the gap in the cliffs and rode the edges of the air currentsthrough its opening and into the silence and calm beyond.The roar of the ocean and the whistle of thewind died away, and the bay with its cliff walls and cloud ceiling enfolded them like an anxious motherwould her offspring.The ship s company crowded to the railings and looked out over the gray expanseof water and ice.Floes passed beneath like massive ships launched off the glaciers, riding the currents outto sea.Ice cracked and chattered in the silence, filling hearts with sudden moments of apprehension andeyes with bright looks of concern.Bek stood in the cold and silence like a statue, wrapped in theformer s raw burn and layered in the latter s rough emptiness.The Jerk Shannara passed through the outer bay and rode down the narrowing channel inland, theceiling of mist lowering to scrape the airship s raked masts, the gloom a whisper of shadows that trickedthe eyes into seeing things that weren t there.No one spoke as the airship slid past icebergs and alongcliff walls, moving so slowly that it seemed almost at rest.Seabirds arced and soared about them,soundless and spectral.Bek watched them keep pace, following their progress, intrigued by their obviousinterest.Then his throat tightened and his breath exhaled in a sharp cloud as he realized they were waiting to seeif there would be bones to pick once the airship reached the Squirm.Moments later the haze cleared sufficiently that he could see the first of the ice pillars that barred theirpassage, towering spikes swaying hypnotically, seductively in the gloom. Come with me, Walker said softly, causing the boy to jump, to feel the tightening in his throat workswiftly to his chest and stomach.So it was time.He remembered his certainty months earlier when he had agreed to come on this voyagethat it would change him forever.It had done that, but not to the extent it was about to do now.Heclosed his eyes against a fresh wave of fear and doubt.He understood that the course of his life wasalready determined, but he could not quite accept it, even now.Still, he must do the best he could.Obediently, silently, willing himself to place one foot in front of the other, Bek followed after the Druid.TWENTYEIGHTGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlBek waited in the shadow of the chainwrapped casing that housed the Sword of Shannara while Walkermoved everyone back from the forward deck to take up positions along the aft and side railings.ReddenAlt Mer occupied the pilot box with Rue Meridian.Spanner Frew stood just below, ready to leap intoaction if his aid was required.Furl Hawken commanded the Rover crew from the rise of the aft deck,and the Elven Hunters under Ard Patrinell clustered on both sides, safety lines firmly attached.Panax,Quentin, and Ahren Elessedil were gathered on the starboard railing just to one side of the aft mast,whispering.About him, Bek thought uncomfortably, but that was nonsense.Their eyes were directedtoward the Squirm, and their concentration was on its movements within the icemelt bay.Only Walkerknew what he was there to do.Only Walker understood how much depended on him.The Druid reappeared at his side. Ready, Bek?Not trusting himself to speak, the boy nodded [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]