Chapter 20

Roon's land was spread over a mesa, at the end of a winding canyon road. A giant oak forest covered the surrounding hills, its twisted oaken forms mysteriously shadowing the ground beneath them. A cobblestone trail, lighted by burning torches, led the way to the huge wooden door of their host's sprawling dwelling. Bracken enjoyed the sense of his new surroundings. The forest gave off a deep, earthly feeling. Roon led them into his spacious gathering room that dominated the floor plan of the house. His attractive mate, who he introduced as Duvalla, greeted them with a cordial Smile and a tray full of food. She wore a long caftan tied at the Waist with a silver cord. Munching on the tasty snack, they followed her as she showed them their room for the night.

When they returned to the gathering area, the front door burst open. Chepa's group, their girlfriends and helpers, came streaming in asking for food, drink and comfort. Soon they were all sitting in a circle near the huge, circular fireplace. Ley produced another glowing stone from his bag, and they passed it among themselves. A mellow atmosphere of elation followed as the group mingled, eating and embracing their intimate companions. Bracken felt at home. He could tell that his new friends admired him. It would be a good evening. Soon the stams came out of their cases and music enveloped the room. Swaying with the tempo, the friends rode the increasing cadence to its peak.

Then slowly Bracken felt a strange force beginning to flow through his body as he played his instrument. It added a gracious ease to his playing, but also seemed to be gradually overpowering him. He was about to Yield to it, when Roon rose to his feet and began dancing around the room. His tall body swayed and jerked, casting multiple shadows on the walls from the flickering firelight. His features were dark and chiseled. His eyes were fixed intently on the fire. In his hand he held a pole with what appeared to be a skull Stuck on top. A deep wailing chant came from his lips as he rocked back and forth from foot to foot. He began to laugh. A deep, evil laugh that seemed to chill the air. His smiling face was frozen in a terrifying gaze.

Suddenly, Bracken felt an overwhelming sense of confusion. It was so strong that he had to stop playing. Hidden fingers of energy stroked him, tempting him to Play again. To play and never stop, to lose himself. He resisted and shook away the feeling. Glancing across at Silas, he saw terror in his friend's eyes. What's going on? Bracken thought to himself. Abruptly, Silas stood up and ran from the room out the front door. Laying aside his stam, Bracken jumped up, and followed him. He was worried about his friend. Something strange was happening in there. From the look on Silas' face, he wasn't sure what he might do.

The night chilled Bracken as he stepped outside. In the distance, he could see Silas standing alone, staring at the darkened sky. Bracken moved cautiously toward his friend. The stars glistened and mockingly winked down at them. The universe seemed to be bending and twisting around them. When he reached Silas, he was standing at the rocky edge of the cliff seemingly at peace. "I don't know what it was," said Silas, "but I just saw evil in Roon's eyes. It was pulling at me, smothering me." Silas stared down over the edge into the canyon. The drop to the bottom was long. Spike-like rocks poked up at them. "I'm sorry Bracken, I just had to get out of there. Do you understand?" Silas was trembling, he sounded desperate.

"It's all right," Bracken reassured the other. He wished Silas would back away from the edge, he was so close, and things felt so strange. "It was probably something out of your sleep memory. It will go away."

"Yes, I'm sure it will," acknowledged Silas, comforted by his friend's words. Behind them the pleasant, melodious sounds continued. Whirling tones and hypnotic rhythms stirred themselves together. Bubbling, bouncing, rumbling sounds churned in their ears. As they did, a stream of ethereal fog began to drift from the house. Pushed by the rhythm, it billowed toward them, around them and then cascaded over the edge of the canyon, forming a large pool of glistening light. A shimmering white carpet spread before them. Bracken wondered if it was real. It couldn't be, he told himself.

Then he thought of Lisha. Was she still inside? He turned, looking back toward the house to see if she had followed them out. He didn't see her. When he turned back, Silas was standing up and stripping off his clothes. "What are you doing?" demanded Bracken Staring at his companion in disbelief.

"Don't you see him, Bracken? Look, he's calling me to join him," explained Bracken's excited, and seemingly entranced friend. Suddenly a glowing face appeared, calling out of the Swirling fog below them. What? he thought. Who is it? He wanted to question, to find out who this was. Yet other voices told him to rest, to be at peace, to trust. He felt almost magnetically drawn to look at the face. It was so beautiful . . . fascinating.

"I am comfort, I am home. Come I'll help you. You have no need to fear." Bracken felt drawn again toward the face. He felt its warmth and love. His whole being wanted to surrender to its power. It pulled at him, pulling him closer to its peace, closer to its rest, closer to the edge of the cliff."The pool of light," said Silas, "it's beautiful, don't you see it, Bracken? So sparkling . . . I've got to dive in." Bracken shook himself, trying to break free of the strange spell. What is Silas doing? He thought, shuddering. I’ve got to stop him before its too late! Bracken was frozen, weak, unable to move. He struggled, finally reaching out toward his friend. But Silas had stepped forward, reaching out toward the glowing face, stepping forward into nothingness, the cliff was behind him now. For a brief second he hung in the air Suspended like a bird. But then, it was too late. In a perfect swan dive, he plunged into the pool . . . the pool of light.For a moment all was quiet as Bracken stared in disbelief. The fantasized bubble of beauty popped, the swirling mesmerization in his mind vanished · · · The dream was over. Silas screamed, his body crashing into the rocks below. The glistening Cloud faded and all was silent again.