Read Online The Chalice of Death by Robert Silverberg - Free Book Online Page A

background, intelligence, and adaptability to a varying environment.
    â€œâ€˜Earth’s empire has fallen, and within weeks Earth herself will go under. But, regardless of what fate befalls us, the ten thousand sealed in this crypt will slumber on into the years to come, until such time as it will be possible for them to be awakened.
    â€œâ€˜To the finder of this crypt: the chambers may be opened simply by pulling the lever at the left of each sleeper. None of the crypts will open before ten thousand years have elapsed. The sleepers will lie here in this tunnel until the time for their release, and then will come spilling out as wine from a chalice, to restore the ways of doomed Earth and bring glory to the sons of tomorrow.’”
    Navarre and Helna remained frozen for an instant after the final echoing words died away. In a hushed whisper he said, “Do you know what this is?”
    She nodded. “‘As wine from chalice …’”
    â€œBeneath all the legends, beneath the shroud of myth—there was a Chalice,” Navarre said fiercely. “A Chalice holding immortal life—sleepers who would sleep for all eternity if no one woke them. And when they were awakened—eternal life for doomed Earth.”
    â€œShall we wake them now?” Helna asked.
    â€œLet’s get Carso. Let him be with us.”
    The half-breed responded to Navarre’s call and appeared, dragging the protesting Llean with him.
    â€œLet the dwarf go,” Navarre said. “Then read this plaque.”
    Carso released the squealing Llean, who promptly dashed for freedom. When the half-breed had read the plaque, he turned gravely to Navarre.
    â€œIt seems we’ve found the Chalice after all!”
    â€œIt seems that way,” Navarre said.
    He led the way and they penetrated deeper into the crypt. After about a hundred yards he stopped.
    â€œLook.”
    A wall had been cut in one side of the cave and a sheet of some massively thick plastic inserted as a window. And behind the window, floating easily in a cloudy solution of some gray-blue liquid, was a sleeping woman. Her eyes were closed, but her breasts rose and fell in a slow, even rhythm. Her hair was long and flowing; otherwise, she was similar to any of the three watchers.
    A lever of some gleaming metal projected about half a foot from the wall near her head. Carso reached for it, fingering the smooth metal questioningly. “Should we wake her up?”
    â€œNot yet. There are more down this way.”
    The next chamber was that of a man, strong and powerful, his muscles swelling along his relaxed arms and his heavy thighs. Beyond him, another woman; then another man, stiff and determined-looking even in sleep.
    â€œIt goes on for miles,” Helna murmured. “Ten thousand of them.”
    â€œWhat an army!” Carso said. He seemed to be staring down the long bright corridor as if peering ahead into the years to come. “A legacy from our ancestors: the Chalice holds life indeed. Ten thousand Earthmen ready to spring to life.” His eyes brightened. “They could be the nucleus of the Second Galactic Empire.”
    â€œA bold idea,” Helna said. “I like it.”
    â€œWe could begin with Earth itself,” Carso went on. “With these couples we could repopulate the planet with warriors. Then, conquer Kariad, Jorus—and that would be just the beginning!”
    â€œ No ,” Navarre broke in, quietly but firmly. “We are forgetting the experience of the old days. We—you—talk of building a Second Empire in a riotous suicidal mushroom of expansion. It’s fool’s talk to think of an Empire.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Carso asked in surprise.
    â€œEarth carved out a galactic empire once,” Navarre said. “You see the result. No; no Empire-building for us. We should be content to rebuild Earth alone, to have her take her place as a free and