Read Online The Warlock Rock by Christopher Stasheff - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christopher Stasheff
Tags: Fiction, General, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction - General, Fiction - Science Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantastic fiction, Rock Music, Gallowglass; Rod (Fictitious character)
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the scarabs attentively.
"Cordelia," Gwen said, "leave off thy dancing, and follow."
"They have touched another rock!" Geoffrey cried.
Lilting music ascended.
"They toil onward!" Magnus kept pace, following the silver scarabs with avid interest. Behind them, the first rock split with a gunshot crack.
"Duck!" Rod shouted, and his offspring hit the ground. The stone sailed over their heads. Almost instantly, more of the lilting music rose.
"It hath conveyed its strains to other rocks," Magnus murmured. But Rod was rising, looking toward the northwest. "Its better half is making music, too." Cordelia said, incensed, "Why dost thou say 'better'? What music could be more melodious than this?"
"The stuff its brother is making." Rod went after the other rock. He stood a moment, listening, then said,
"Its music is richer, fuller."
"Let me see." Gwen came over, then lifted her head, amazed. "Why, it is—and there is summat of an under-song with it!"
"More and more!" Magnus called from farther across the meadow. "They leave a broadening swath of music behind them!"
"Leave them be, and come this way!" Rod called. "Whatever they're doing, it can't be as important as Page 44
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the progress this rock is making!"
Cordelia clouded up, chin firming. "Nay! I will not leave them! I will follow wheresoe'er they go!" Rod spun to her, taken aback by her sudden rebellion.
"There is much of interest in them, Papa," Magnus said, stepping into the breach. "Whatsoe'er hath seized this land, these scarabs may well spread to encompass all."
"They are important," Gregory asserted, staring intently up at his father. "We must follow them, Papa!" Geoffrey said nothing; he only had eyes for the silver scarabs.
Rod reddened, anger rising. He was alarmed at his own emotion and strove to hold it down; but he also felt righteous indignation at his children's refusal to obey.
Gwen touched his arm, murmuring, "It is time to let them go awhile." Rod stilled.
Fess said, "It is not as though they have never been apart from you." Rod found his voice—without shouting. "Yes, but they didn't exactly get high marks for obedience that time."
"Mayhap they did not," Gwen said, "but the Crown might have toppled without their meddling." Rod stood still.
"I kept them safe," Fess murmured, "though I will admit the margin of safety was narrow at times." Rod lifted his eyes, gazing at his eldest two over a widening gap. For a moment, he was afraid to let them drift away—but he knew Gwen was right. "Okay. You kids follow the scarabs, and we'll follow the rock's progress."
Cordelia relaxed, beaming. "Oh, Papa!"
"But you'll stay together!"
"Oh, aye!"
"I shall not let them stray from my sight," Magnus promised.
"I'll hold you to it." Rod looked up at Fess. "You'll make sure they stay safe?"
"Certainly, Rod."
Cordelia looked disappointed, but Gregory cried, "Oh, good! Fess will be by us!" and Geoffrey cheered.
"All right, then." Rod turned away. "You'll take the low road, and we'll take the high." He managed a Page 45
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smile as he turned back to wave. "Be careful, huh?"
"Oh, aye, Papa!"
"Godspeed, Mama!"
"God be with you!"
"God be," was all Geoffrey managed, before he was off trailing his quarry. Rod sighed and turned away. "Hope we're making the right decision."
"Be assured, husband." Gwen clasped his arm. "If aught miscarries, we can be with them right swiftly."
"Yes—and Fess can call even if they don't want to." Rod nodded. "Okay, darling. I'll try not to worry." At their feet, the stone cracked with the sound of a gunshot, and its pieces went flying.
"Follow the northern shard," Gwen suggested.
Rod nodded, and off they went after the progressive rock.
Chapter Seven
As they moved after the scarabs, Magnus asked his sister, "I ken how that music did fascinate those children—yet how can
"Cordelia," Gwen said, "leave off thy dancing, and follow."
"They have touched another rock!" Geoffrey cried.
Lilting music ascended.
"They toil onward!" Magnus kept pace, following the silver scarabs with avid interest. Behind them, the first rock split with a gunshot crack.
"Duck!" Rod shouted, and his offspring hit the ground. The stone sailed over their heads. Almost instantly, more of the lilting music rose.
"It hath conveyed its strains to other rocks," Magnus murmured. But Rod was rising, looking toward the northwest. "Its better half is making music, too." Cordelia said, incensed, "Why dost thou say 'better'? What music could be more melodious than this?"
"The stuff its brother is making." Rod went after the other rock. He stood a moment, listening, then said,
"Its music is richer, fuller."
"Let me see." Gwen came over, then lifted her head, amazed. "Why, it is—and there is summat of an under-song with it!"
"More and more!" Magnus called from farther across the meadow. "They leave a broadening swath of music behind them!"
"Leave them be, and come this way!" Rod called. "Whatever they're doing, it can't be as important as Page 44
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
the progress this rock is making!"
Cordelia clouded up, chin firming. "Nay! I will not leave them! I will follow wheresoe'er they go!" Rod spun to her, taken aback by her sudden rebellion.
"There is much of interest in them, Papa," Magnus said, stepping into the breach. "Whatsoe'er hath seized this land, these scarabs may well spread to encompass all."
"They are important," Gregory asserted, staring intently up at his father. "We must follow them, Papa!" Geoffrey said nothing; he only had eyes for the silver scarabs.
Rod reddened, anger rising. He was alarmed at his own emotion and strove to hold it down; but he also felt righteous indignation at his children's refusal to obey.
Gwen touched his arm, murmuring, "It is time to let them go awhile." Rod stilled.
Fess said, "It is not as though they have never been apart from you." Rod found his voice—without shouting. "Yes, but they didn't exactly get high marks for obedience that time."
"Mayhap they did not," Gwen said, "but the Crown might have toppled without their meddling." Rod stood still.
"I kept them safe," Fess murmured, "though I will admit the margin of safety was narrow at times." Rod lifted his eyes, gazing at his eldest two over a widening gap. For a moment, he was afraid to let them drift away—but he knew Gwen was right. "Okay. You kids follow the scarabs, and we'll follow the rock's progress."
Cordelia relaxed, beaming. "Oh, Papa!"
"But you'll stay together!"
"Oh, aye!"
"I shall not let them stray from my sight," Magnus promised.
"I'll hold you to it." Rod looked up at Fess. "You'll make sure they stay safe?"
"Certainly, Rod."
Cordelia looked disappointed, but Gregory cried, "Oh, good! Fess will be by us!" and Geoffrey cheered.
"All right, then." Rod turned away. "You'll take the low road, and we'll take the high." He managed a Page 45
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
smile as he turned back to wave. "Be careful, huh?"
"Oh, aye, Papa!"
"Godspeed, Mama!"
"God be with you!"
"God be," was all Geoffrey managed, before he was off trailing his quarry. Rod sighed and turned away. "Hope we're making the right decision."
"Be assured, husband." Gwen clasped his arm. "If aught miscarries, we can be with them right swiftly."
"Yes—and Fess can call even if they don't want to." Rod nodded. "Okay, darling. I'll try not to worry." At their feet, the stone cracked with the sound of a gunshot, and its pieces went flying.
"Follow the northern shard," Gwen suggested.
Rod nodded, and off they went after the progressive rock.
Chapter Seven
As they moved after the scarabs, Magnus asked his sister, "I ken how that music did fascinate those children—yet how can
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