Document Text Contents
Page 1
KINGDOMS OF LIGHT
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
Page 2
KINGDOMS OF LIGHT
ALAN DEAN FOSTER
Page 130
woods behind them. At such moments they would draw their weapons and
assume defensive postures and positions. Each time, it turned out to be nothing
more than some eccentric forest dweller, chuckling and chortling its way through
the weald. Catching sight of the travelers, it would invariably emit a burst of
startled laughter before whirling and sprinting off in the opposite direction.
Even the food here was happy. Prey perished beneath their weapons with
nary a scream, inevitably expiring with a smile on its face and a last, gasping
giggle. Fruit coughed amusedly when plucked from vines or branches, and
berries tittered in squeaky, high-pitched tones when popped between hungry
teeth.
Making a face, Cocoa flung one snickering pit from her lips and chewed
reluctantly on the sweet pulp that filled her mouth. "The sooner we're out of
these woods, the better I'll like it. I prefer my food dead silent, not mocking me
as I eat."
"Could be worse." Oskar glanced back over a shoulder. "It could fight
back."
"Let it fight," she snapped at him. "I my food to resist a little. What
good is a mouse that won't try to escape? Where's the fun in that?" Her
expression crinkled. "I don't think I could kill a mouse that giggled at me."
"Hush." Mamakitty raised a hand, and those behind her slowed. "I think the
forest is opening up. The light is growing brighter, too."
Conversation ceased as they made their way forward at a more cautious
pace. Not knowing what to expect, they had learned in the course of crossing
between two kingdoms to be ready for anything. Or so they thought. They were
not prepared for the sight that greeted them as they stepped out of the thick
foliage.
The daylight had certainly changed. Not only had it grown brighter, but
their surroundings were now tinged with an intense lemony yellow. It was
almost normal, and would have been more so had not the tawny tint
overwhelmed all else: the brush and high grass that had replaced the forest, the
lazy yellowish stream that flowed from north to south in front of them, the
translucent flying creatures that soared high overhead in the depths of a saffron
sky.
And the gigantic wall of massive cut limestone that paralleled the stream
and completely blocked their way eastward.
Oskar had to tilt his head back to squint all the way to the top of the
Brobdingnagian barrier. At first glance, it looked as solid as it was high. Closer
inspection revealed that it was indeed constructed of impenetrable, immovable,
yellowish rock. No facade raised by desperate magic, it had been piled up block
KINGDOMS OF LIGHT
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
Page 2
KINGDOMS OF LIGHT
ALAN DEAN FOSTER
Page 130
woods behind them. At such moments they would draw their weapons and
assume defensive postures and positions. Each time, it turned out to be nothing
more than some eccentric forest dweller, chuckling and chortling its way through
the weald. Catching sight of the travelers, it would invariably emit a burst of
startled laughter before whirling and sprinting off in the opposite direction.
Even the food here was happy. Prey perished beneath their weapons with
nary a scream, inevitably expiring with a smile on its face and a last, gasping
giggle. Fruit coughed amusedly when plucked from vines or branches, and
berries tittered in squeaky, high-pitched tones when popped between hungry
teeth.
Making a face, Cocoa flung one snickering pit from her lips and chewed
reluctantly on the sweet pulp that filled her mouth. "The sooner we're out of
these woods, the better I'll like it. I prefer my food dead silent, not mocking me
as I eat."
"Could be worse." Oskar glanced back over a shoulder. "It could fight
back."
"Let it fight," she snapped at him. "I my food to resist a little. What
good is a mouse that won't try to escape? Where's the fun in that?" Her
expression crinkled. "I don't think I could kill a mouse that giggled at me."
"Hush." Mamakitty raised a hand, and those behind her slowed. "I think the
forest is opening up. The light is growing brighter, too."
Conversation ceased as they made their way forward at a more cautious
pace. Not knowing what to expect, they had learned in the course of crossing
between two kingdoms to be ready for anything. Or so they thought. They were
not prepared for the sight that greeted them as they stepped out of the thick
foliage.
The daylight had certainly changed. Not only had it grown brighter, but
their surroundings were now tinged with an intense lemony yellow. It was
almost normal, and would have been more so had not the tawny tint
overwhelmed all else: the brush and high grass that had replaced the forest, the
lazy yellowish stream that flowed from north to south in front of them, the
translucent flying creatures that soared high overhead in the depths of a saffron
sky.
And the gigantic wall of massive cut limestone that paralleled the stream
and completely blocked their way eastward.
Oskar had to tilt his head back to squint all the way to the top of the
Brobdingnagian barrier. At first glance, it looked as solid as it was high. Closer
inspection revealed that it was indeed constructed of impenetrable, immovable,
yellowish rock. No facade raised by desperate magic, it had been piled up block
