Descending Road - ALLASHANI by Dana W. Paxson

ALLASHANI

1529 4D

The words electrified her, coming from the Aswal Guisanash conduit in a child’s soft terrified voice. "…an… andro down in… Grize Walk. He was partly eaten… his stomach. He’s in a… sleep cubby. He’s Jeddin. He wants the… lady to come help him.”

She leaped to her feet, burst from the utility closet she’d been using for a resting-place, and raced up the stairs to the aswal. A little boy was leaving the domed area for a stairway. She stepped across two sprawled bodies and caught up to him. “Show me, little one,” she said.

He gripped her hand with such force that she nearly pulled away in pain. Such desperation! He led her down four levels, never letting his nails stop digging in her hand, and they entered a cubby. The boy’s hand finally relaxed a little, trembling.

It was Jeddin. She knew immediately that he was dead, but she had to make certain. She searched for a wisp of breath, a bit of heat – nothing. “Jeddin,” she said. “Not again.”

This was not where she’d expected to find him at all. He wasn’t supposed to be here. The Hounds were hunting him, and Ferdinand always told her where to find Jeddin‘s body. Ferdinand was missing.

She turned her head to the boy to speak, but he had bent over something lying just beyond Jeddin‘s fingers. An anth! Before she could stop him, the child had picked it up.

“No!” she said, “Don’t touch that!” but time had flicked, and the child was staring into his empty hand. The anth had filled him, and his eyes widened, taking in this hideous place. This was not good.

What could she do now? The future would change from its path with this child’s simple act, and she was caught in its web as men were caught in hers: the justice of resonance.

She knelt and took the boy by the shoulders. “This is bad for you, child,” she said. “You see too much. Here is something to help you forget, and to help you sleep.” She kissed him, her fluids passing gentle drugs into him. At least this would grant him some peace, until the anth began its work on him.

“Go home now. You’re not one of the lost ones. Go to your bed and sleep, and forget all this. Don’t worry, now. When you need to, you will remember.”

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	ALLASHANI 1529 4D The words electrified her, coming from the Aswal Guisanash conduit in a child’s soft terrified voice. "…an… andro down in… Grize Walk. He was partly eaten… his stomach. He’s in a… sleep cubby. He’s Jeddin. He wants the… lady to come help him.” She leaped to her feet, burst from the utility closet she’d been using for a resting-place, and raced up the stairs to the aswal. A little boy was leaving the domed area for a stairway. She stepped across two sprawled bodies and caught up to him. “Show me, little one,” she said. He gripped her hand with such force that she nearly pulled away in pain. Such desperation! He led her down four levels, never letting his nails stop digging in her hand, and they entered a cubby. The boy’s hand finally relaxed a little, trembling. It was Jeddin. She knew immediately that he was dead, but she had to make certain. She searched for a wisp of breath, a bit of heat – nothing. “Jeddin,” she said. “Not again.” This was not where she’d expected to find him at all. He wasn’t supposed to be here. The Hounds were hunting him, and Ferdinand always told her where to find Jeddin‘s body. Ferdinand was missing. She turned her head to the boy to speak, but he had bent over something lying just beyond Jeddin‘s fingers. An anth! Before she could stop him, the child had picked it up. “No!” she said, “Don’t touch that!” but time had flicked, and the child was staring into his empty hand. The anth had filled him, and his eyes widened, taking in this hideous place. This was not good. What could she do now? The future would change from its path with this child’s simple act, and she was caught in its web as men were caught in hers: the justice of resonance. She knelt and took the boy by the shoulders. “This is bad for you, child,” she said. “You see too much. Here is something to help you forget, and to help you sleep.” She kissed him, her fluids passing gentle drugs into him. At least this would grant him some peace, until the anth began its work on him. “Go home now. You’re not one of the lost ones. Go to your bed and sleep, and forget all this. Don’t worry, now. When you need to, you will remember.”