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such price； that thousands perished and counties were devastated。 But they planted their captive god over the grave of their great enemy； where it would keep him enchained。 This tree…god would live a million years。〃
〃You mean？ 。 。 。 Old Father is sitting on something like the Great Barrow？〃
〃I did not connect the legends and the Plain till I saw that tree。 Yes。 This earth constrains something as virulent as my husband。 So much suddenly makes sense。 It all fits。 The beasts。 The impossible talking rocks。 Coral reefs a thousand miles from the sea。 It all leaked through from that other world。 The change storms are the tree's dreams。〃
She rattled on； not so much explaining as putting things together for herself。 I gaped and remembered the change storm that caught me on the way west。 Was I accursed； to be caught in a god's nightmare？
〃This is crazy；〃 I said； and at the same instant decrypted the shape I had been trying to pry from the shadows； bushes； and coral。
Silent。 Squatting on his hams； motionless as a snake awaiting prey。 Silent； who had been everywhere I went the last three days； like an extra shadow； seldom noticed because he was Silent。 Well。 So much for my confidence that my return with a panion had tickled no suspicions。
〃This is a bad place to be； Croaker。 Very bad。 Tell that deaf peasant wench to move。〃
〃If I did that； I would have to explain why and reveal who gave me the advice。 I doubt she would be impressed。〃
〃I suppose you're right。 Well； it won't matter much longer。 Let's eat。〃
She opened a packet and set out what looked like fried rabbit。 But there are no rabbits on the Plain。 〃For all they got kicked around； their adventure toward Horse improved the larder。〃 I dug in。
Silent remained motionless in the corner of my eye。 You bastard； I thought。 I hope you're drooling。
Three pieces of rabbit later I slowed enough to ask； 〃That about the old…timer is interesting； but does it have any relevance？〃
Father Tree was raising a ruckus。 I wondered why。 〃Are you afraid of him？〃
She did not answer。 I chucked bones down the creek bank； rose。 〃Back in a minute。〃 I stomped over to Father Tree。 〃Old…Timer； you got any seeds？ Any sprouts？ A little something we could take to the Barrowland to plant on top of our own villain？〃
Talking to that tree； all those times heading past； was a game。 I was possessed of an almost religious awe of its age； but of no conscious belief in it as anything like either the nomads or the Lady claimed。 Just a gnarly old tree with weird leaves and a bad temper。
Temper？
When I touched it； to lean against it while looking up among its bizarre leaves for nuts or seeds； it bit me。 Well； not with teeth。 But sparks flew。 The tips of my fingers stung。 When I took them out of my mouth they looked burned。 〃Damn；〃 I muttered； and backed off a few steps。 〃Nothing personal； tree。 Thought you might want to help out。〃
Vaguely； I was aware that a menhir now stood near Silent's lurking place。 More appeared around the barren area。
Something hit me with the force of windwhale ballast dumped from a hundred feet up。 I went down。 Waves of power； of thought； beat upon me。 I whimpered； tried to crawl toward the Lady。 She extended a hand； but would not cross that boundary 。 。 。
Some of that power began to hint at prehensibility。 But it was like being inside fifty minds at once； with them scattered across the world。 No。 The Plain。 And more than fifty minds。 As it became more melded； more meshed 。 。 。 I was touching the menhir minds。
That all faded。 The sledge of power ceased hammering the anvil that was me。 I scrambled for the edge of the barren； though I knew that line demarked no true safety。 I reached the blanket； caught my breath； finally turned to face the tree。 Its leaves tinkled in exasperation。
〃What happened？〃
〃Basically； he told me he's doing what he can； not for our sake but for that of his creatures。 That I should go to Hell； leave him alone； quit aggravating him or find my ass in deep shit。 Oh； my。〃
I had looked back to see how Silent had taken my encounter。
〃I warned 。 。 。 〃 She glanced back； too。
〃I think we maybe got trouble。 Maybe they recognized you。〃
Almost everyone from the Hole had appeared。 They were lining up across the trail。 The menhirs were more numerous。 Walking trees were forming a circle with us at its center。
And we were unarmed； for Darling was there。 We were inside the null again。
She had on her white linen。 She stepped past Elmo and the Lieutenant and came toward me。 Silent joined her。 Behind her came One…Eye； Goblin； Tracker； and Toadkiller Dog。 Those four still had the dust of the trail upon them。
They had been on the Plain for days。 And I had been given no word 。 。 。
You talk about your trapdoor on your gallows dropping unexpectedly。 For fifteen seconds I stood there with my mouth open。 Then I asked； 〃What do we do？〃 in a soft squeak。
She startled me by taking my hand。 〃I bet and lost。 I don't know。 They're your people。 Bluff。 Oh！〃 Her eyes narrowed。 Her stare fixed； became intense。 Then a thin smile stretched her lips。 〃I see。〃
〃What？〃
〃Some answers。 The shadow of what my husband is about。 You have been manipulated more than you know。 He anticipated being found out with his weather。 Once he had your Raven； he decided to bring your peasant girl to him 。 。 。 Yes。 I think 。 。 。 e。〃
My old rades did not appear hostile； only puzzled。
The circle continued to close。
The Lady caught my hand again； led me to the base of Old Father Tree。 She whispered； 〃Let there be peace between us while you observe； Ancient One。 One es whom you will remember of old。〃 And to me： 〃There are many old shadows in the world。 Some reach back to the dawn。 Not big enough； they seldom draw attention like my husband or the Taken。 Soulcatcher had minions who antedated the tree。 They were interred with her。 I told you I recognized the way those bodies were torn。〃
I stood there in the bloody light of the fading sun； baffled all to hell。 She might as well have been speaking UchiTelle。
Darling； Silent； One…Eye； and Goblin came right to us。 Elmo and the Lieutenant halted within a rock's throw。 But Tracker and Toadkiller Dog sort of melted into the crowd。
〃What is going on？〃 I signed at Darling； obviously frightened。
〃That is what we want to find out。 We have been getting disjointed； nonsensical reports from the menhirs since Goblin； One…Eye； and Tracker reached the Plain。 On one hand； Goblin and One…Eye confirm everything you told me…till you parted ways。〃
I glanced at my two friends…and saw no friendship there。 Their eyes were cold and glassy。 Like somebody else had moved in behind them。
〃pany；〃 Elmo called； without shouting。
A pair of Taken； aboard boat…carpets； cruised some distance away。 They came no closer。 The Lady's hand twitched。 She controlled herself otherwise。 They remained far enough out not to be recognizable。
〃More than one pair of hands is stirring this stew；〃 I said。 〃Silent； get to the point。 Right now you're scaring the crap out of me。〃
He signed； 〃The rumor is strong in the empire that you have sold out。 That you have brought someone high…up