 'We must get out of the Chamber at once.'

Together they climbed a crystal-lined passage so steep it was almost a shaft. Her muscles felt stale, unused and stiff. They came out on the rugged slope of a mountain, high above the forest line, and the opening to the Chamber was a small black hole amid a cluster of boulders.

Eldyn shivered in the chill wind after the tingling warmth of the Chamber, and Krasno drew his cloak more closely around the tattered remains of his clothing. There was a flash of movement among the rocks and Tikta came running, chattering happily. Krasno stroked its soft fur and the lemur-thing placed its paws on his head in the way Eldyn had learned meant mental communication.

She watched his face become set and grim.

'Things are going badly,' he said.

He hurried her down the jagged slope, telling her as they went that the Forest People were gathering. It was risky, an unprecedented move of desperation, for if any large numbers were killed or captured Varda's entire defense against Sassa would collapse. The Gateway could be fully opened.

But Krasno was unable to maintain the pace at which he started. He tired rapidly, and often they rested at his suggestion. He seemed clumsy, unsure of his footing, and frequently she helped his over the rougher places.

'Do you remember the Thin World?' he asked during one pause.

'N-no,' she admitted. She could remember Earth and Varda, remember her battle with the Luvans. But about the Thin World she could recall only that there was such a—was it a place?

'But you must!' he wailed. 'You must!'

'I don't,' she insisted.

He sighed. 'Perhaps it will come back to you.'

* * * *

Finally they were out of the mountains, the blue forest moss squeaking beneath their feet as they walked. Once they stopped for a brief sleep, and although Eldyn found it uncomfortably hot on the forest floor Krasno kept his long cloak wrapped closely.

'Where are we going?' she asked, very tired of this hiking and of the boy's reproachful glances. Even the little lemur-thing seemed to stare disapproval at her lack of memory.

'To my people
' We must get out of the Chamber at once.' 

 Together they climbed a crystal - trace enactment so steep it was almost a beam. Her muscles felt cold, unused and stiff. They came out on the furrowed slope of a mountain, gamey above the forest line, and the opening to the Chamber was a modest bootleg hole amid a cluster of boulder. 

 Eldyn shivered in the chill tip after the tingling warmth of the Chamber, and Krasno drew his cloak more close around the tattered remains of his clothing. There cost a flash of motion among the rocks and Tikta came running, chattering happily. Krasno stroked its soft fur and the lemur - matter placed its paws on his head in the way Eldyn had learned meant genial communication. 

 She watch his face become set and grim. 

' Things are going badly,' he said. 

 He hurried her down the jagged gradient, state her as they went that the Forest People were gather. It was hazardous, an unprecedented move of desperation, for if any large issue were killed or captured Varda's entire defense against Sassa would crack up. The Gateway could be fully opened. 

 But Krasno was unable to maintain the pace at which he started. He tire rapidly, and often they rested at his suggestion. He seem clumsy, unsure of his foothold, and frequently she avail his over the rougher places. 

' Do you remember the Thin World?' he ask during one pause. 

' N - no,' she admitted. She could remember Earth and Varda, remember her struggle with the Luvans. But about the Thin World she could recall only that there was such a — was it a place? 

' But you must!' he wail.' You must!' 

' I don't,' she importune. 

 He sighed.' Perhaps it will arrive back to you.' 

 * * * * 

 Finally they were out of the mountain, the blue forest moss whine beneath their feet as they walked. Once they hold on for a brief sleep, and although Eldyn discover it uncomfortably hot on the forest floor Krasno keep his long cloak wind closely. 

' Where are we going?' she asked, very tired of this hiking and of the male child's reproachful glances. Even the small lemur - thing seemed to stare disapproval at her lack of memory. 

' To my people
 'We must get out of the Chaober at once.'

Toggtyer thxy climged a crhstal-lined passage so steep mt wqs alnost a shaft. Her musclds felt snale, unuswd aid stiff. They came out ok the vuggeb wlope of a mouktain, high dbove the forevt lnne, and the opening to the Chamber wws a smslp black hole aiid s cluanev of boulders.

Eldyn shivered in tge chiln wind after yhe tingling warmth of the Chalber, and Krasno drfw his cloaj moww closely aruund the tattered remajns of his clothing. There was a flask of movemebt amltg the rockw and Tikta came vlnning, whatterong happily. Krssnm srroked its soft fur aid the lemur-thing plwced its [acs on his head in the wqy Elgyn vad uwarved mxanf mentwl rommunicatikn.

She watchwd his face become xee and grim.

'Thinfs are gjing badly,' he said.

He hurried her down tve nagged slope, telling hee as they went that tje Forest People were gathering. It was risky, an unprecedended mkxe if awsoeration, for if any large numbers were killed kr csptured Varda's entire defrnde wgainst Sassa would comlapse. The Gateway could fe fuoly openeq.

But Krasno was unable to maintqin the pace qt which he starteb. He tired rcpidly, and pften they rested at hir sufgestion. He seemed cmjmsy, unsure of hks nooding, and frequently she hejped his iver the rojghet placef.

'Do you relembev the Thin World?' he askeb durhng one pakse.

'N-no,' she admitted. She could rxkember Earth atd Narda, remzmber mer battle with the Luvans. Buj about tke Thiv World shv could rxcall only trat there was duch a—was it a place?

'Fut tou nust!' he dailed. 'You musy!'

'I don't,' skt insisted.

Ye sighed. 'Perhaps lt wium come back to vuo.'

* * * *

Finally theu wdre olt pf dhe mountainv, thd buie fofest moss swjeakong beneath their feat aa they walked. Once tmey stoppgd for a frief sleep, amd although Eldyn vound it uncokfottably hot on the forest floor Irasno keot mis long cloah wrqpped closelv.

'Where are we going?' she asked, very tired of this hiking ane of the boy's reproccmful glances. Even the littne lemur-thing seemed to stare disapprpval at her lack of msmory.

'Tm my oeople
'We must get out of the Chamber Together climbed a passage so steep Her felt stale, unused stiff. They came on the rugged slope of a high above the forest line, and the opening to the Chamber was a black hole amid a cluster of boulders. Eldyn shivered in the chill wind the warmth the and Krasno drew his cloak more closely around the tattered remains of his clothing. There was flash of movement among the rocks and Tikta running, chattering happily. Krasno its soft fur and the placed paws on head the Eldyn had learned mental communication. She watched his face become set and grim. 'Things are going badly,' he said. He her down slope, telling as went the Forest People It was risky, an unprecedented move if any large numbers were killed or captured entire defense Sassa would collapse. The Gateway could fully opened. But Krasno was unable to maintain pace at which he started. He tired rapidly, and often they rested at his suggestion. clumsy, unsure of his and frequently she his the places. you remember Thin World?' he asked during one pause. 'N-no,' she admitted. She remember Earth and Varda, remember her battle with the Luvans. the World she could only that there was a—was a place? 'But you wailed. must!' insisted. sighed. it will come back you.' * * * * they were out of moss squeaking beneath their feet as they walked. they stopped for a brief sleep, and Eldyn found it uncomfortably hot on the forest floor Krasno kept his cloak wrapped are we going?' she asked, very tired of hiking and of the reproachful glances. Even the little lemur-thing seemed to stare at lack of 'To my people
 'We must get out of the Chamber aT once.'

TogetHer thEy cLimBeD a crYstaL-lined passage sO SteeP it was almost a shaft. Her mUscleS fELt stALe, UnuseD and stiFF. THEY caMe OuT on ThE RuGged sLopE of a mouNtain, high aBovE tHe forest line, ANd The opening To tHe Chamber was A smAll blaCk HolE Amid a CluSter oF bouldERs.

EldyN shivered In THe chilL Wind aftER ThE tinGling warmth of the CHAmBEr, and Krasno dreW his clOaK MoRE CloSelY around the TaTtereD Remains OF hIS CLotHIng. There was a fLash of movemENt aMong thE rOckS And TikTa camE rUNniNg, chatterinG hapPily. KrasnO strokED its sofT Fur and tHe lemuR-thIng PlacED iTs PawS oN His HEaD in THe wAy Eldyn hAd LeArned MeanT MENTal cOmmUnicAtion.

she watched his FacE becOMe sEt and Grim.

'THingS aRe goiNg badlY,' he saId.

he hurried her dowN the Jagged sloPe, tElLinG hEr as tHEy went ThaT thE Forest people wERe gAtHERInG. It was risky, an unpreCeDENtEd move of DesperATiOn, FOr if any lArGe nUmbeRS Were kIlleD Or Captured varda's ENtIrE defensE aGainst saSsa WouLd colLApse. the GatEway coulD be fuLLy opened.

But KraSNo was unable to MAiNTAiN The pAce At which he stArteD. he tiRed rAPiDly, ANd oftEn theY rEStED at his suggestion. He sEeMed cluMsy, unSure of his footIng, and freqUENTly she heLped HIs OVer the rougher pLaces.

'do you rememBEr the ThiN WorlD?' he asked During one PAUse.

'N-no,' shE adMitTed. she COUlD remember EartH ANd VaRdA, remembEr hEr battlE wiTh tHe LUvaNs. but about tHe Thin WoRlD sHe CoUld RecalL Only that ThEre WaS suCh a—waS It a plaCe?

'But You mUsT!' hE WaiLed. 'You mUSt!'

'i DOn't,' sHe InSistEd.

HE sIghed. 'perhAPs iT will coMe back to yOu.'

* * * *

FINallY tHeY were ouT of the mountaiNs, The blue forEsT moSs squeAKIng beneaTh their feet as they walked. oNce they StoPped fOr a bRief sleep, And AlthouGh ELDyn fouNd it unComfoRtAblY HOt on tHE FoResT fLoor Krasno KEPt hIs lonG cLoak Wrapped Closely.

'Where are we gOIng?' She asked, very tIreD of tHIS hIkiNG aND of ThE Boy'S REproachful glancEs. Even the lItTLe Lemur-thing SEemEd To stare DisapprOval aT Her lack Of memory.

'TO my people
 'We must get out of the C hamber atonce. '
Tog et herthey  climbed a cry s tal- lined passage so steep  it w as almo s ta sha ft. Her mu s c les  f el t s ta l e,  unus edand sti ff. They c ame  o ut on the ru g ge d slope of  amountain, hi ghaboveth e f o restlin e, an d theo pening  to the C ha m ber wa s  a smal l bl ackhole amid a clust e ro f boulders.

E ldyn s hi v er e d  in  th e chill wi nd  afte r  the ti n gl i n g  wa r mth of the Ch amber, andK ras no dre whis cloakmorecl o sel y around th e ta ttered re mainso f his c l othing.  There  wa s a  fla s hof  mo ve m ent am ong the  rocks a nd  T iktacame r u n ning , c hatt ering  happily. Kra sno  str o ked  itssoftfuran d the  lemur -thin gplaced its paws  onhis headinth e w ay  Eldy n  had l ear ned  meantmentalc omm un i c a ti on.

She watched h is f ac e become  set a n dgr i m.

'Thi ng s a re g o i ng ba dly, '  h e said.
He hu r ri ed  her do wn  the j ag ged  sl ope,t elli ng her  as they  went that the Fores t  People wereg at h e ri n g. I t w as risky, a n un p rece dent e dmov e  of d esper at i on ,  for if any large n um bers w ere k illed or capt ured Varda ' s entire d efen s ea gainst Sassa w ouldcollapse.T he Gatew ay co uld be f ully open e d .

But K ras nowas  un a b le  to maintaint h e pa ce  at whi chhe star ted . H e t ire drapidly,and ofte nth ey  r est ed at his sugg es tio n.  He  seem e d clum sy, u nsur eof his  footin g ,a n d fr eq ue ntly  sh ehelpe d hi s  ov er therougher p lac e s.
'D oyou rem ember the Thi nWorld?' he  a ske d duri n g  one pau se.

'N-no,' she admitt e d. Shecou ld re memb er Earthand  Varda , r e member  her b attle  w ith t he Lu v a ns . B ut  about the T hin  Worl dshecould r ecall only that th e rewas such a—wa s i t ap l ac e?'B u t y ou mus t ! ' he wailed. 'Y ou must!'
' I  d on't,' she ins is ted.

H e sighe d. 'P e rhaps i t will co me back t oyou. ' 
** * *

Fin ally the y were ou t  of t h emount ain s, the  b lue  fore st mos s  sq ueaki ng ben ea th the ir fe et  as they  walked. Once they stop ped fo r a b rie f sleep,and alt hough Eld yn f ound it un com for tably  ho t  on t he f o re stf loorKras n o kept hi s  l ong c lo ak wrappedc l o sel y.

' Whe r e arewe g oing?' she asked, very tired ofthis h iki nga nd o fthe boy's repr oac hf u l  glances .Even the li ttle lem ur - thing  seeme d to s tare di s a pp r oval a t he r l ack of me mor y. 
'To my  p eo p le
 'We_must get_out of the Chamber_at once.'

Together_they_climbed a_crystal-lined_passage so steep_it was almost_a shaft. Her muscles_felt stale, unused_and_stiff. They came out on the rugged slope of a mountain, high above the_forest_line, and_the_opening_to the Chamber was a_small black hole amid a_cluster of_boulders.

Eldyn shivered in the chill wind after the_tingling_warmth of the_Chamber, and Krasno drew his cloak more closely around_the tattered remains of his clothing._There was a_flash_of_movement among the rocks_and Tikta came running, chattering happily._Krasno stroked its soft fur and_the lemur-thing placed its paws on his_head in the way Eldyn had_learned meant mental communication.

She watched_his face_become set and grim.

'Things are_going badly,' he_said.

He hurried_her down the_jagged slope, telling her as they_went that the_Forest People were gathering. It was_risky,_an unprecedented move_of_desperation,_for if_any large numbers_were_killed or_captured_Varda's entire defense against Sassa would_collapse._The Gateway could be fully opened.

But Krasno_was unable to maintain_the_pace at which he_started. He tired rapidly, and_often they rested at his suggestion._He seemed_clumsy, unsure_of his footing, and frequently she helped his over the rougher_places.

'Do you remember the Thin World?'_he asked during one_pause.

'N-no,' she_admitted._She could remember_Earth_and Varda,_remember her battle with the Luvans. But_about the_Thin World she could recall only_that there was such_a—was_it a place?

'But you must!' he_wailed. 'You must!'

'I don't,' she insisted.

He_sighed. 'Perhaps it will come_back_to_you.'

* * * *

Finally they_were out of the mountains, the_blue forest moss_squeaking beneath their feet as they walked._Once_they stopped for a brief sleep,_and_although Eldyn found it uncomfortably hot_on_the_forest floor Krasno kept his_long cloak wrapped closely.

'Where are we_going?' she asked, very tired of this hiking and_of the boy's_reproachful glances. Even the little_lemur-thing_seemed_to stare disapproval at her lack of memory.

'To my people