The Shadow and Night by Chris Walley Read Free Book Online Page A

have, well— contradicted —myself. It could, I suppose, seem like that. The fact is that . . . well . . . I did dream, it’s true. But I had—I suppose—pushed it out of my mind. When you spoke about having a dream, I began to remember it, but I was unsure about it.” Here he paused, as if uncertain what to say next. “I mean I was unsure about whether I had had a dream. If you follow my meaning.”
    Uncertain how to respond, Merral just nodded, and his uncle went on in an unsteady fashion. “So, anyway it was just later on in the day that it all came flooding back. And when I said in the morning that I hadn’t dreamed, it was, well . . . true then. But I mean, it wasn’t a major dream anyway. So the whole thing is nothing serious. I wouldn’t want you to get it all out of proportion.”
    I need to think about this, Merral thought, recognizing that his uncle seemed to be in serious difficulties.
    â€œI think I understand, Uncle. But actually, if you’ll excuse me, I’d better have breakfast and be off—if that’s all right with you. Graceful and I have a long way to go today.”
    A look of relief seemed to cross the gray-blue eyes. “Yes, yes. Now tell me your plans while I get some food out for you.”

    Fifteen minutes later as he came down the stairs with his pack, ready to leave, Zennia was waiting at the outer door. She smiled rather distantly at him. “Your uncle has explained everything, has he? A sort of delay in recognizing that he had had a dream. It all makes sense now. Something about nothing.”
    Merral hesitated. “Yes, I hope so. I’m glad you’ve got it all sorted out.” He kissed her on the cheek. “I must be away, Aunt. Give my love to the children. I’ll be back this way soon.”
    There was the clatter of feet on the stairs and a slender figure in a fluffy pink robe with a straw-colored mop of hair bounced lightly down the stairs, ran over, and clutched his hand.
    â€œBye, Cousin Merral. Don’t get talking to the trees now.”
    Merral gave Elana a hug, noticing as he did that she was already nearly up to his shoulder. “Bye, Elana.”
    There was a heavy thudding on the stairs and Thomas leapt down, slid across the wood floor like a skater, and wrapped his arms around Merral.
    â€œCousin! You nearly left without saying good-bye.”
    Laughing, Merral disentangled himself from Thomas’s clutches and lifted the boy high so that his head nearly touched the roof. “Owf! You are getting too heavy to do this.”
    â€œHave a safe trip, Cousin Merral. Look after Graceful.” Thomas giggled as, with a playful tickle, Merral put him down.
    â€œI will. And you look after the dogs!”
    Merral turned to his aunt. “I’d best be off before the rest of the family comes down.”
    He raised his hand. “A blessing on this house.” Then he pressed the door switch and, as it slid open, stepped out into the raw grayness of the dawn.
    It was still little more than half-light when, ten minutes later, Merral rode Graceful southwest from the hamlet. The route he had planned was a long one. He intended to travel first west over Brigila’s Wastes, keeping south of the still-barren lava seas, then south along the Long Marshes before swinging back through the eastern tip of the Great Northern Forest. From there, a track should allow him to make Wilamall’s Farm, the most northerly forestry base, by midafternoon at the latest. There he would leave Graceful in the stables while he took the daily overland transporter down to Ynysmant. There were more rapid routes home from Herrandown, but Merral wanted to see as much as he could. Sampling and observer machines made regular survey trips across these lands, and drones flew overhead to monitor for changes, but he knew that there was no substitute for walking or riding the ground.
    Fifteen