27.12.2012 Views

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

"Cham<strong>be</strong>rs, vaults, corri<strong>do</strong>rs... filled with the dead, all a-sleep in their<br />

c<strong>of</strong>fins. Somewhere in those halls, somewhere there, lies something<br />

miss-placed. Something mine."<br />

"What is it?"<br />

"A small thing, a trinket, such a trifle..." As Pharod spoke, his words started<br />

echoing, as if two people were speaking... I knew I'd heard them <strong>be</strong>fore...<br />

from my own lips. Gently, I <strong>to</strong>uched the memory, and it was enough for me<br />

<strong>to</strong> recall...<br />

"...it's a sphere. Made <strong>of</strong> bronze. Ugly. Feels like an egg <strong>to</strong> the <strong>to</strong>uch, and it<br />

smells <strong>of</strong> rotten custard. Am I right?"<br />

Pharod fell <strong>death</strong>ly silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yes... how much <strong>do</strong><br />

you hide from me, corpse?" He chuckled. "Did you return <strong>to</strong> see if I<br />

remem<strong>be</strong>r what it is I want?"<br />

"Why <strong>do</strong>n't you get one <strong>of</strong> your Collec<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> search for it?" I asked<br />

suspiciously.<br />

"Be<strong>cause</strong> the corri<strong>do</strong>rs need no more dead from this village." Pharod tsks.<br />

"Strong, fast, clever... these are qualities my villagers <strong>do</strong> <strong>not</strong> have. They go<br />

<strong>be</strong>low -- they <strong>do</strong> <strong>not</strong> return." Pharod glanced at me. "Perhaps the dead will<br />

welcome their own, hmmm? That is what I think, corpse."<br />

"Do you know where this sphere is?"<br />

"Ah..." Pharod's sigh was like shifting sand. "And why <strong>do</strong> you suppose I ask<br />

you <strong>to</strong> look for it, corpse? I <strong>do</strong> <strong>not</strong> know where it is. I know it is buried deep,<br />

far deeper than any villager has ever gone." Pharod tsked. "It may <strong>be</strong> in the<br />

catacombs where the waters run deep, deep..."<br />

"Very well... I'll <strong>do</strong> it. But I want <strong>to</strong> know what I'm buying with this trinket."<br />

"There's a lot <strong>of</strong> knowing rattlin' around in my brain-box, corpse." He held<br />

up a withered finger. "One <strong>of</strong> them is this bit <strong>of</strong> wis<strong>do</strong>m: everyone wants<br />

something, whether they know it or <strong>not</strong>. There is much I know about you...<br />

much that you would want <strong>to</strong> know..."<br />

I sc<strong>of</strong>fed. "I <strong>do</strong>ubt you can tell me anything <strong>of</strong> value, Pharod." The bluff<br />

242

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!