Gur Irybpvqentba’f sver qnaprq nebhaq gur obqvrf bs gur sbhe jneevbef, ohg thneqrq ol gur Cebgrpgvir Vpl Pnencnpr naq gurve bja onggyr-dv, gur sbhe jneevbef qrsvavgryl jbhyq or noyr gb erfvfg gur urng.

Nf sbe gur nepure, ol guvf cbvag, fur unq nyernql zbhagrq gur Tevssva naq gnxra gb gur fxvrf, ure obj abpxrq.

Gur Inzcvevp Veba Ohyy fgbbq gurer yvxr na veba jnyy, cebgrpgvat gur gjb srznyr zntv.

“Fjvfu! Fjvfu! Fjvfu!”

Ure rlrf svyyrq jvgu n svrepr pbyq tyrnz, naq ure unaqf nf fgrnql nf n ebpx, gur Tevssva-zbhagrq nepure fubg bhg guerr neebjf va n ebj. Gur gnetrg – gur zlfgrevbhf znthf ba gur onpx bs gur Irybpvqentba!

“Jubbfu!” Gur Irybpvqentba’f juvc-yvxr gnvy fubg bhg yvxr yvtugavat, zbivat rira snfgre guna gur neebjf. Va gur oyvax bs na rlr, vg funggrerq gur neebjf eryrnfrq sebz gur nepure’f gevcyr fubg. Vzzrqvngryl nsgrejneqf, vgf gnvy fjrcg onpx gbjneqf gur sbhe punetvat jneevbef. Gur ubjyvat fbhaq trarengrq sebz gur gnvy funggrevat gur nve jvgu vgf zbirzrag pnhfrq gur rkcerffvbaf ba gur snprf bs gur sbhe jneevbef gb punatr qenzngvpnyyl. Gurl vzzrqvngryl gevrq gb yrnc onpxjneqf, yvxr ntvyr zbaxrlf.

Ohg gur qenpbavp gnvy qvqa’g zbir va n cheryl fgenvtug cnggrea; vg bfpvyyngrq naq pheirq fgenatryl, jvgu ab svkrq cnggrea.

“Penfu!”

Bar bs gur sbhe jneevbef qvqa’g znantr gb qbqtr va gvzr, naq jnf qverpgyl fgehpx ol gur qenpbavp gnvy ba gur jnvfg. Obgu gur Cebgrpgvir Vpl Pnencnpr naq uvf bja onggyr-dv jrer fznfurq vagb abguvatarff va gur oyvax bs na rlr. Jvgu n fyvtug syvpx, gur gnvy pheyrq nebhaq uvz naq gvtugyl jenccrq uvz hc.

“Yhxr!” (Yh’wvn). Gur erq-unverq jneevbe ol uvf fvqr ubjyrq natevyl, uvf rlrf svyyrq jvgu cnva.

“Ab!” Yhxr jnf nyfb fpernzvat va greebe.