Descending Road - ALLASHANI'S VOICES by Dana W. Paxson

ALLASHANI’S VOICES

1529 4D

Allashani raised her head from the empty husk that had once been a man. She felt better. The liver had carried some excellent enzymes, despite its load of cancer, drugs, and toxins. Now that Jeddin had been safely stowed and his body rebuilding, and with her belly absorbing her new meal, she could rest for a while, and prepare for the next onslaught of suffering around her.

She stood, smoothed her bodysuit, licked away the last flecks of her meal from her face, and picked up the remains. The older, smaller airshafts of the City made excellent burial-places; she found the entrance to one of them and fed the body down into its vertical descent, to wedge at some angle deep in the bedrock.

As she descended the spiral stairway again, her mind began its usual multivoiced conversation.

“The Hounds didn’t kill Jeddin,” said Fantow. “He was pursued. The fateline took him to death at their hands.”

Surhish answered, “No, the Zashinhalh killed him. Why would they do this?”

“Because he’s andro. They kill andros and eat them.” Fantow seemed impatient.

“Not Jeddin. They know we protect Jeddin. He is the thread of this place.” Surhish paused.

“No longer.” Now Tiashar spoke. “The child is now the thread. He took the anth, and the anth infected him.” (Unfinished)

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’S VOICES 1529 4D Allashani raised her head from the empty husk that had once been a man. She felt better. The liver had carried some excellent enzymes, despite its load of cancer, drugs, and toxins. Now that Jeddin had been safely stowed and his body rebuilding, and with her belly absorbing her new meal, she could rest for a while, and prepare for the next onslaught of suffering around her. She stood, smoothed her bodysuit, licked away the last flecks of her meal from her face, and picked up the remains. The older, smaller airshafts of the City made excellent burial-places; she found the entrance to one of them and fed the body down into its vertical descent, to wedge at some angle deep in the bedrock. As she descended the spiral stairway again, her mind began its usual multivoiced conversation. “The Hounds didn’t kill Jeddin,” said Fantow. “He was pursued. The fateline took him to death at their hands.” Surhish answered, “No, the Zashinhalh killed him. Why would they do this?” “Because he’s andro. They kill andros and eat them.” Fantow seemed impatient. “Not Jeddin. They know we protect Jeddin. He is the thread of this place.” Surhish paused. “No longer.” Now Tiashar spoke. “The child is now the thread. He took the anth, and the anth infected him.” (Unfinished)