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Chapter 11 — The Mooncalf Pastures

           “Cover,”whisperedCavor,andIturnedtowardsthebushes.

           Atthatinstantcameathudlikethethudofagun,andthenathinghappened—itstillhauntsmeinmydreams.IhadturnedmyheadtolookatCavor’sface,andthrustoutmyhandinfrontofmeasIdidso.Andmyhandmetnothing!Iplungedsuddenlyintoabottomlesshole!

           Mychesthitsomethinghard,andIfoundmyselfwithmychinontheedgeofanunfathomableabyssthathadsuddenlyopenedbeneathme,myhandextendedstifflyintothevoid.Thewholeofthatflatcircularareawasnomorethanagiganticlid,thatwasnowslidingsidewaysfromoffthepitithadcoveredintoaslotpreparedforit.

           HaditnotbeenforCavorIthinkIshouldhaveremainedrigid,hangingoverthismarginandstaringintotheenormousgulfbelow,untilatlasttheedgesoftheslotscrapedmeoffandhurledmeintoitsdepths.ButCavorhadnotreceivedtheshockthathadparalysedme.Hehadbeenalittledistancefromtheedgewhenthelidhadfirstopened,andperceivingtheperilthatheldmehelpless,grippedmylegsandpulledmebackward.Icameintoasittingposition,crawledawayfromtheedgeforaspaceonallfours,thenstaggeredupandranafterhimacrossthethundering,quiveringsheetofmetal.Itseemedtobeswingingopenwithasteadilyacceleratedvelocity,andthebushesinfrontofmeshiftedsidewaysasIran.

           Iwasnonetoosoon.Cavor’sbackvanishedamidstthebristlingthicket,andasIscrambledupafterhim,themonstrousvalvecameintoitspositionwithaclang.Foralongtimewelaypanting,notdaringtoapproachthepit.

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