Shadowrun - Novel - 18 - Worlds Without End.pdf

Recommendations

Info

Shadowrun Caroline Spector - Worlds Without End dow. There was nothing but thick gray and white clouds like the smoke of burning leaves. I struggled against the effects of the Veil. The clouds tried to form themselves into shapes. What part of my sub- 60 WORLDS WITHOUT END conscious was being dredged up? I didn't want to know and pulled the shade down with a snap. We'd be on the ground in half an hour. I could hold out against the effects until then. "Pretty potent stuff," said Caimbeul. "The Veil. It makes me wish they would use some other sort of protection." I shoved a hand through my hair. It was virtually gone now. After centuries of having it long, I'd finally cut it all off. All that was left were spiky white sprouts about an inch and a half long. My head felt smooth and cool under my fingers. "Too potent," I said. "They're only aggravating things." "You've said that every time anyone's used magic on any scale." I didn't answer him, knowing that we'd just run over the same ground again. The engines whined and I felt the thump as the landing gear lowered. Then I shoved the shade up again. We broke through the clouds and I could see buildings below us. From here everything looked small and not at all real. Up here we were still safe. I closed my eyes then, breathing slowly and deeply to relax myself. I had my usual landing death-grip on the chair arms. Blowing up in a ball of fire was not the'way I wanted to end my unnatural life. My ears popped several times and I opened and closed my mouth to help. Then I felt it. The smooth calluses and the suede glide of Caimbeul's hand closing over mine. I didn't pull away. It was too comforting and familiar. I kept my 61 Caroline Spector eyes closed, not wanting to see when we burst into a huge ball of fire. There was a sudden bounce and we were on the ground. Caimbeul's hand disappeared and I was left with only the memory of his warm touch. Once, years ago, I lived in the United States. I'd come to America during the eighteen-hundreds when news that the Sioux were using ritual magic drifted across the Atlantic to the fashionable parlors I frequented then. It was a topic of much conversation for a few months, until other, more interesting scandals pushed their way into idle gossip. But I knew the Sioux were playing with danger- Página 32
ous mojo. Shadowrun Caroline Spector - Worlds Without End The reports told of self-mutilation to help the magic. Blood magic. It was too early for that sort of thing—unless they'd found a place of power. They were playing with forces they couldn't understand and wouldn't be able to control, even if by some freak chance they did work. I booked passage on the next available steamer and was making my way west in a matter of weeks. There was no time for me to admire the rawness of the country. Everything was new here. Fresh starts for anyone willing to take it. The weight of history had barely settled onto the land. But that is another part of the story. The time I am thinking of came later, in the late nineteen-thirties and early forties. I was living in Texas then. The war known as the War to End All Wars was barely cold. The embers of it still smoldered in the battlefields of 62 WORLDS WITHOUT END Europe. But apparently they weren't ready for them to be out yet. That little Austrian man stirred it all up again and the depths of his hateful vision wouldn't be known for another six years. But by then, it would be too late for us all. But in Austin we didn't know about any of that. The world came to us through newspapers, magazines, radio—and through the movies. It was a blistering hot summer. But that was nothing unusual. Most people left the city for cooler parts of the Hill Country. The ones who remained made do with fans, ice blocks, and shade. In the evening the temperature would drop into the high seventies. It was almost bearable. Once the initial shock of the war wore off, life went on as usual. For the most part. Most Americans thought they would be exempt from the conflict. After all, what did it have to do with them, this bloody war in Europe? And so, on this summer night with the heavy scent of lantana and moonflowers in the air, I went to the movies. Some people were afraid of being in closed places because of the polio, but that was never a concern of mine. The theater was dimly lit and I used a fan given away at the local Herbert E. Butts grocery store to push the sweltering air about. The lights went down and the newsreel began. Of course, the war in Europe was the first item. I watched as scene after scene of destruction flashed across the screen. Many things were being blown up in Poland and France and England. 63 Caroline Spector Then we were looking at images of happily wav- Página 33
Page 1 and 2: Foreword Shadowrun Caroline Spector
Page 3 and 4: Shadowrun Caroline Spector - Worlds
Page 13 and 14: "Not often." Shadowrun Caroline Spe
Page 19 and 20: 38 WORLDS WITHOUT END Shadowrun Car
Page 27 and 28: as patient as time itself? Shadowru
Page 31: Shadowrun Caroline Spector - Worlds
Page 43 and 44: WORLDS WITHOUT END Shadowrun Caroli
Page 61 and 62: 108 WORLDS WITHOUT END Shadowrun Ca
Page 69 and 70: say. Shadowrun Caroline Spector - W
Page 83 and 84:
Shadowrun Caroline Spector - Worlds
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
plied. Shadowrun Caroline Spector -
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
181 Caroline Spector "I hope you're
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
he said. Shadowrun Caroline Spector
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
"Aithne," I said. "Yes." Shadowrun
Page 123 and 124:
ed. Shadowrun Caroline Spector - Wo
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
able." "One can only hope." Shadowr
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145:
show all

Shadowrun - Novel - 18 - Worlds Without End.pdf

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?