"Heart of the Crown" Chapter 36

[seymoure]

Chapter 36

Listen

Sandor was truly sad about the blandness of the life that was passing before his eyes as he fell. No monumental discoveries, no glorious victories, no mad passionate love affairs.

Then he realized that his descent was slowing. Just before he entered the cloud band a gust of updraft slowed his fall to that of a feather in the wind.

When the clouds were around him, it was as though he were not falling at all, but being gently lowered by the caressing arms of the wind.

As he passed thought the last of the wispy white coverlet, he could see those who had jumped before him. Smiga was standing on the ground looking up, while the others were at various levels of descent.

Sandor started to laugh, just about the time the laughter of the others reached him.

The sound changed as the group got closer to the ground. Suddenly everyone noticed something unsettling.

There was no color anywhere in sight. The landscape was varying shades of grey, with the occasional outcropping of pure black or total white.

The sound of sound was also ebbing away. The closer the land they got, the less there was anything to hear.

While regrouping upon landing, the use of hand signals was only slightly successful.

Smiga drew attention to himself by coming into their eyeshot and then jumping up and down.

Once he was sure everyone was watching him, the small creature waved his hand for them to follow.

They looked at him with querying eyes, and he pointed to the horizon.

There, in the far distance, was a dot. What made it noticeable was that the dot was brilliant red. It was the only thing of color to be seen.

Hawk looked at Cela. Cela looked back at him and then shrugged her shoulders.

With that, the party started to walk towards the color on the horizon.

By the time they got there they would know why this area was called the Plains of Nightmare.

© 2008 C. Wayne Owens
Chapter 37 is here.