Precipice

Qui

The scientists observed the illuminated glyphs on the wall while they made adjustments on their console. They seemed to be working from a checklist. One of them would enter a command, and another would confirm which symbol responded with a momentary increase in brightness.

As they worked, the entity smothering the girl became pale and spectral. Its shape was monstrous: as large as a rhinoceros, it was part lizard and part bug; sinewy limbs ended in clawed extremities; its maw gaped open to reveal swordlike fangs; a stinger-tipped tail whipped hypnotically behind it.

Some kind of organ shot from the ghostly creature’s mouth and vanished into the girl’s chest. Her screaming ceased. She convulsed, and her eyes snapped open. Then she shriveled like a deflating balloon. Fissures formed in her desiccating skin as her dulled eyes sank into their sockets. Within moments all the color of her body faded to white.

A stentorian roar shook the temple. Qui

On every obsidian wall, glyphs blazed with crimson light—as did the twelve-sided artifact on the pedestal, from which Qui

Qui

Whatever it takes,he vowed, this ends tonight.

44

T’Pry

They were witnessing a gruesome spectacle.

Something either released or produced by a glowing object on a pedestal at the center of the Conduit consumed what T’Pry

More troubling to T’Pry

Marshalling her psionic defenses, T’Pry

“Jesus,” whispered Pe

“Yes,” T’Pry

He palmed sweat from his face and took a few deep breaths. “What the hell happened in there? What’d they do to that girl?”

“She appears to have been sacrificed to trigger some hidden function of the Shedai Conduit.”

Tucking his binoculars back into a belt pouch under his robe, Pe

“I am not certain,” T’Pry

Pe

“That is my current working hypothesis,” T’Pry

“Right,” Pe

He seemed relieved as he began backing down the dune.

“No,” T’Pry

Pe

“Whatever that object on the pedestal is,” T’Pry

Holding up his hands, Pe

“I said we would not take direct action unless it was absolutely necessary. In this case, I believe it is.”

Under his breath he said, “I bloody knew it.”

She continued, “We must acquire that crystal and bring it back to Starfleet.”

He shook his head. “There’s two of us and a hundred of them. How are we supposed to take it without getting shot?”

She arched one eyebrow. “Very carefully.”

“I meant, what’s our plan?”

She avoided Pe

45

Qui

That thing back in the temple must’ve spooked him as bad as it wigged me,Qui

Thanks to the creature’s unflagging speed, it was barely dusk by the time Qui

Now that his mellulhad slowed its pace, and the air was no longer breezing past him, he caught a whiff of the musky odor produced by the animal’s exertion. “I was wonderin’ what that stink was,” he said to the beast while tousling its mane. “Have to hose you down when we get back to the ship.”

He tugged the reins to guide the animal around a turn that would lead to a pass sheltered by the piled wreckage of several fallen buildings. Two sets of hands reached out from either side and grabbed his mellul’s bridle, halting the creature.

Qui

Naya replied in an agitated whisper, “He took her, Mister Qui

Dismounting in a hurry, Qui

“Your friend. The one you call Bridy Mac.”

The news filled Qui

“No,” said Naya, shaking her head frantically. “They helped him, but hetook her.”