| Meanwhile . . . |
Always in shadow. The air was alive with darkness down here. But that had more to do with the "guest" than the weight of stone overhead, surely.
From out of the black, You were successful?
Yes.
A smug, satisfied grunt?
Good. Your first steps toward righting that wrong have been taken. I trust your day of reckoning will approach swiftly.
Despite no light with which to see, a nod.
It will. The finishing touches are being put in place.
A hesitant pause.
But we may have . . . an issue.
Another hesitation.
One got out.
WHAT??!! The air vibrated, pummeling the ears.
The apparatus . . . snagged, somehow. It closed too late. "It" lost part of an arm, I think.
You. FOOL!! The voice assaulted once more.
A contemplative growl.
It will go back. And it will leave a trail behind it. One such as the Gladden has not seen in generations unknown. . . . . A weakness. For each of us. . . . . And yet, . . . it ought not disrupt our efforts overmuch. How do your people say it? "Collateral damage"?
Mmmmm. An assent.
I trust, in future, that you will be more vigilant with what I have provided you. Further clumsiness will not be tolerated. Your desires aligned with mine, and as a matter of convenience I gave you the means to see it through. No. More. Errors.
A retort.
I would have found a way with or without you, you know.
A bone-grinding laugh.
Perhaps. But without me, your aims would have taken decades more to accomplish. And you have fewer years ahead than behind. This was your best chance. Your only chance.
An unsettled silence.
In the sable solace, the quiet tolled its empty echoes.