Read Online King of the Dark Mountain by Galili Black - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Galili Black
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to many of our fellow humans, who now literally sit in darkness. In a hundred years, we still haven’t managed to illuminate the entire globe. Today’s activities could change all that, lead to truly affordable clean energy for everyone.”
“Ted, I want so much to believe what you’re saying, but it’s hard to believe that bureaucrats from some dubious multinational organization are going to provide that. I’d say the odds are they’ll provide more for a few and continuing enslavement for the masses.”
“The old ways can be mended, my dear.”
She smiled at the expression; it reminded her of some quote from a book whose name she couldn’t recall right at the moment. How strange that I can’t remember the name of a book that I’ve read a half dozen times, she thought with some consternation. The scent of rosemary again. “Rosemary is for remembrance,” she said out loud. Ted didn’t hear her because he was speaking to Ian about some question regarding their location.
“We should be coming up on some signs that say the road is closed. Those were arranged some time ago. According to my calculations, we ought to be close to them by now. Oh look, there is something.” Ahead there was a big blocky sign stating that the road was closed for repairs. “I guess we can park over there,” he said to Aleister.
Ellie got out of the car, glad for a chance to stretch her legs. The mountain lay in front of them, reclining away to the north, touched at the summit by a few wispy clouds. She took a deep breath and stretched her arms over her head, first to one side then the other. Ted and the two other men were conversing near the front of the truck. She walked around to see if she noticed any significant markers. There was the gravelly road winding off behind them. Around them were beautiful pine trees, but her eyes were drawn back to the vision of the mountain in front of her.
It reminded her of a time when she had been climbing a mountain in Mokpo, a Korean port city. During that climb she had passed men wearing traditional costumes who had set off a cannon, midway up the mountain. Afterwards, as she got higher up, the climb got easier and it felt almost like she was flying for the last stretch of the trail near the top. It was as though the noise of the cannon had diminished gravity somehow.
She had never experienced anything quite like it again on any of her other mountain jaunts. Maybe it had less to do with the cannon and more to do with the proximity of the ocean. Now even though the ocean was a fair distance away, she felt that this mountain had some kind of relationship with the sea as well. Something about it reminded her of billowing waves and blue water. Perhaps it was the color of the granite summit, rising over the tree line, shading off in graduated hues of blues and greys until it was nearly white at the top. Was that the source of the name of the chain?
“The spot we’re heading for is a good two hour hike up the western slope,” Aleister said and handed her a backpack. “There’s water and some other supplies inside,” he added. Ted gave her a grey hoodie. She put the backpack down and slipped it over her head. She was glad she was wearing her good walking boots Hez had given her for Christmas. He ordered them special for her because he knew she had trouble finding shoes that fit her wide feet.
“Did I tell you Irena is back from Spain?” Ted asked.
“That’s sudden, isn’t it?”
“She is unpredictable in her comings and goings.” Ted said looking at the two men in front of them.
“I guess she can afford to be,” Ellie said wistfully
He turned to her, “Money doesn’t nearly solve all the problems people imagine that it does.”
Ellie shrugged. If Hez did end up coming up, she would be there to fill him in, she thought. “Does she know much about the project?”
“Enough, but she thinks it’s chasing the chimera, same as you perhaps.”
“Ted, if it was anybody but
“Ted, I want so much to believe what you’re saying, but it’s hard to believe that bureaucrats from some dubious multinational organization are going to provide that. I’d say the odds are they’ll provide more for a few and continuing enslavement for the masses.”
“The old ways can be mended, my dear.”
She smiled at the expression; it reminded her of some quote from a book whose name she couldn’t recall right at the moment. How strange that I can’t remember the name of a book that I’ve read a half dozen times, she thought with some consternation. The scent of rosemary again. “Rosemary is for remembrance,” she said out loud. Ted didn’t hear her because he was speaking to Ian about some question regarding their location.
“We should be coming up on some signs that say the road is closed. Those were arranged some time ago. According to my calculations, we ought to be close to them by now. Oh look, there is something.” Ahead there was a big blocky sign stating that the road was closed for repairs. “I guess we can park over there,” he said to Aleister.
Ellie got out of the car, glad for a chance to stretch her legs. The mountain lay in front of them, reclining away to the north, touched at the summit by a few wispy clouds. She took a deep breath and stretched her arms over her head, first to one side then the other. Ted and the two other men were conversing near the front of the truck. She walked around to see if she noticed any significant markers. There was the gravelly road winding off behind them. Around them were beautiful pine trees, but her eyes were drawn back to the vision of the mountain in front of her.
It reminded her of a time when she had been climbing a mountain in Mokpo, a Korean port city. During that climb she had passed men wearing traditional costumes who had set off a cannon, midway up the mountain. Afterwards, as she got higher up, the climb got easier and it felt almost like she was flying for the last stretch of the trail near the top. It was as though the noise of the cannon had diminished gravity somehow.
She had never experienced anything quite like it again on any of her other mountain jaunts. Maybe it had less to do with the cannon and more to do with the proximity of the ocean. Now even though the ocean was a fair distance away, she felt that this mountain had some kind of relationship with the sea as well. Something about it reminded her of billowing waves and blue water. Perhaps it was the color of the granite summit, rising over the tree line, shading off in graduated hues of blues and greys until it was nearly white at the top. Was that the source of the name of the chain?
“The spot we’re heading for is a good two hour hike up the western slope,” Aleister said and handed her a backpack. “There’s water and some other supplies inside,” he added. Ted gave her a grey hoodie. She put the backpack down and slipped it over her head. She was glad she was wearing her good walking boots Hez had given her for Christmas. He ordered them special for her because he knew she had trouble finding shoes that fit her wide feet.
“Did I tell you Irena is back from Spain?” Ted asked.
“That’s sudden, isn’t it?”
“She is unpredictable in her comings and goings.” Ted said looking at the two men in front of them.
“I guess she can afford to be,” Ellie said wistfully
He turned to her, “Money doesn’t nearly solve all the problems people imagine that it does.”
Ellie shrugged. If Hez did end up coming up, she would be there to fill him in, she thought. “Does she know much about the project?”
“Enough, but she thinks it’s chasing the chimera, same as you perhaps.”
“Ted, if it was anybody but
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