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QUETZAL'S FLOCK<br />
called Sol. In some way, the old archaeologist had known of their existence. It was<br />
either that, or he had possessed one of the most amazing deductive minds of all time.<br />
He had mentioned four strains which he asserted, made up the physiology of Homo<br />
Sapiens. The Aquiline was the second and the Feline the first, whom Kane had found<br />
on Danyk's home world.<br />
He ate quickly, his instincts told him that the opportunity would soon pass.<br />
Nijah watched and waited for the honoured guest to falter in his intake.<br />
"If our Lord Quetzal would honour us by telling of his adventures during the<br />
long days of his absence."<br />
Kane rose to his feet and stared into the eager faces. He murmured inwardly<br />
and urgently.<br />
"Taxila - Quetzal, whatever you call yourself. If you want to retain credibility<br />
with these people, you'd better take over!"<br />
The response was a lazy, weary, bored movement. There was an exchange<br />
inwardly and Kane receded into the depths of his psyche. Quetzal surveyed his people<br />
and smiled in benevolence.<br />
CHAPTER 4<br />
"I am Quetzal, who serves those who have been and are, whose name may not<br />
be mentioned. I am one with them and they with me and our purpose is beyond your<br />
capacity to understand. I have been absent from you for two days and have wandered<br />
the scattered worlds. I am Quetzal, who serves the Unmentionable. I have seen<br />
beyond the edge of the worlds and know the utter blackness of nothingness. I have<br />
touched the hearts of suns and warmed my fingers in their fires. I have breathed the<br />
emptiness between the stars and have lived. I have known many men and have walked<br />
as a god on many worlds. I have been enslaved and suffered the lash of many tyrants.<br />
I have been exalted and debased.<br />
I am the Lord of the <strong>Flock</strong> and I have returned to them for one last time. I will<br />
send you forth from Jubal, before the time of the Dwarf is fulfilled. So it has been<br />
willed by those who are your Masters."<br />
He stopped talking and stared into the intent, silent faces. Kane began to<br />
struggle back into ascendancy and his dinner felt as if it too, wanted to see the outside<br />
world again. His heart started to thump but there lingered within him still, the surging<br />
power which had accompanied the presence of Quetzal, the hidden man.<br />
The profound silence was suddenly broken by a great shout of sound. It wasn't<br />
the start of a riot, people clutched each other, some wept, others danced. Then,<br />
abruptly, they stopped again and with one voice they roared repeatedly: Quetzal!<br />
Quetzal! Quetzal!<br />
Kane started to shake - only the god he carried within him knew what he had<br />
got himself into. He had the desire to crawl under the nearest rock. He tried to<br />
maintain a sober expression in the face of all the excitement. The commotion<br />
continued for quite a while. Further comment would not only have been superfluous,<br />
it would have been inaudible. Gradually, the noise decreased. Kane walked down into<br />
the crowd. No one tried to touch him as he passed, there was no reaching out. He<br />
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