Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 238
covered in sweat, but the Hooks hadn’t caught him yet. From
here on the countryside was open, which could pose a problem;
but he remembered the golden monster in the manse reaching
around him to pick up shattered wood after he had merely
raised the gauze in front of it. It had not seen him even though
he was right in front of it. By now he was fairly sure the
Hooks would not spot him even in open country, as long as he
had this protection.
He would make for the forest. It was a day or two’s
travel away, but he wouldn’t feel he could rest until he was
under the trees, gauze or no gauze. And then, if he survived,
he would try to find his way home.
Or would he? He had started walking, and paused now.
He might lose the Heaven hooks for a while, but something
else would come after him in time. The Winds were
everywhere. He had only delayed the inevitable--unless he
were to wear this accursed cloth for the rest of his life, and
shun any community that the Hooks might dismantle to reach
him.
Jordan realized that if he survived, it was going to be as
an outcast, unless he was willing to risk everyone around him.
Was that how he was going to end his days? Hiding from god
and man alike in the forest?
He lowered his head, and wept as he ran.
A few minutes later there was a brilliant flash of light in
the sky, like sheet lightning but as bright as the sun. A few
seconds later, a violent bang and grumble of thunder sounded.
The vagabond moon had lit up like a lantern in the flash.
In the aftermath of the thunder, Calandria and Axel stood from
their digging to watch as the moon dipped lower, until its base
disappeared behind the trees. Then it seemed to crumple like