Download Sleeping Beauty - Harper Voyager Books

How about that? We’ll go around.’ I drew my sword and waved himon with it. ‘Does she have some demonic sewing kit in there?Will the thread assault us? The thimbles hurl themselves upon me?Bobbins-’‘She said-’‘We’ll die. I know. And what will we do out here?’ Somethingtugged at my foot as I made to take another step. I crouched andbrushed at the snow and my hand came away dark with blood thoughI’d felt no bite. A gleaming coil of wire lay exposed, emerging fromthe stony ground, covered in thin blades sharp as razors. Hakoncrouched beside me to look.The wire was a thing of the Builders. None today could makesuch steel and have it sitting out in the wilds, still sharp, untouchedby rust. I looked at the blood blotting into my wrappings then eyedthe uneven terrain with new suspicion. The Builders made their ownghosts too – not echoes of emotion or shadows of despair such asmen of our time might leave behind, but constructs built of data andlight, powered by dry machinery where cogs turned and numbersdanced. I mistrusted such monstrosities more than mere phantoms.‘Perhaps we should build a windbreak among the trees,’ I said.‘Try the tinderbox again and, if we can get a flame, build a fire bigenough to put a boat-burning to shame.’As I spoke the snow where the ghost had fallen apart began toglow and a second spirit rose through it, taking all the light forherself. There could be no confusing this one with the departedcurse-maker. Mouldering bones and a death’s head grin had beenreplaced with alabaster limbs spun about with gossamer, her faceivory perfection, all compassion and kind eyes.