Heights of the Depths by Peter David Read Free Book Online Page A

‘Paris.’”
    “Pah-ris,” Nicrominus said carefully.
    “Incredible. Earth was crawling with idiots, and then the idiots are damned near wiped from existence, and who replaces them? More idiots.” The Overseer was now walking back and forth, pacing, moving a few feet and then pivoting and walking back the other way in agitation. “They say that hydrogen is the most common element in the universe. But I disagree. I think it’s stupidity. I think that if the entirety of creation were left to fester and drown in the filth of its own ignorance, then that would be a good thing. Instead you’re telling me that I’m supposed to find the remaining humans and encourage them to breed so that we can make more and repopulate the Earth in order to save the whole of creation? And that’s supposed to be my job, is it? Well…what if it’s not? What if my job is to make sure that creation succumbs to the entropy it so richly deserves, and the first step along that path is to watch all life on Earth vanish?”
    “With all respect, Overseer…I might better be able to answer that question—presuming it actually requires an answer—if I knew what ‘Urth’ was?”
    “You know of the Bible, you know of Jesus, but you don’t know ‘Earth’?”
    “If it relates to Mort history or mythology, my readings and understandings are limited due to language barriers.”
    “It’s the name of the planet you’re standing on, Nicrominus. It’s the name of the planet that fell to the Twelve Races.”
    “Is it?” Nicrominus found that extremely surprising. “I had repeatedly come across what I thought was an old Mort name for it: Ee Arth. But nothing called ‘Urth.’”
    “Ee Arth is Earth. It’s pronounced Urth. Ee Arth would be how you said it if you didn’t know how to read it properly.”
    “I see.” Nicrominus shrugged. “Truthfully, Overseer, I—as do most of my people—have always simply referred to it as the Damned World.”
    “Yes. I know. Are you aware of why that is?”
    “Well, the story may be apocryphal, but it is said that the last of the human defenders of the planet, when confronted by those who were about to destroy him, took a final stand and shouted something to the effect of ‘Get off the damned world.’ And that was taken by those present to be the name of this sphere.”
    Again the Overseer made that same strange noise that almost sounded like a laugh. “It is not apocryphal.”
    “With all respect, Overseer, how do you know? Were you there?”
    At first the Overseer didn’t respond. Then, slowly, he reached up to the wide collar that encircled his head and touched either side. There was a hissing sound, and white mist floated up from the connection point. He reached up and twisted the domed helmet. There was a loud “clack” as something disengaged and then he removed the helmet, lifting it off slowly.
    Nicrominus trembled, so much so that he was almost unable to stand. He would have indeed fallen had his tail not managed to balance him and keep him upright. This is it. I am going to die. To look upon the face of the Overseer is to die instantly. He had no idea exactly how that death was going to occur. Some said that beholding the face of the Overseer would result in bursting into flames. Others claimed your head would melt. Some even contended that not only did you yourself die, but any and all of your descendants would likewise be struck down instantly, prompting a brief surge of regret for the catastrophe he might inadvertently have visited upon his daughter, Evanna. Look away! Look away! It still is not too late! But he could not look away. His curiosity got the better of him.
    He could not quite fathom what it was that he was looking at.
    The face that stared back at him was lined and wrinkled and haggard and looked for all the world as if it would be perfectly happy to just shut its eyes in final repose but never, ever could. Those eyes were a dark green, and only one of them appeared