An Abyss of Light (The Light Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

suppressing a laugh. “Samual is ill. Someone must take his place.”
    “You have a lovely voice.”
    “You told me my voice sounded like cats screeching.”
    “And the last time you talked me into singing, half the congregation mysteriously went home early. I’m not going to embarrass myself—”
    “I think I was at that ceremony,” Shoshi sighed grimly. “Don’t make him sing.”
    “I’m not going to sing!” he declared defensively. “Where’s Hector?”
    “His voice isn’t as rich as yours.”
    “Ah, so he’s here. He’ll sing for Samual,” Zadok declared and perfunctorily straightened the lapels of his black suit, ignoring her as though the discussion were closed.
    Ezarin crossed her arms and squinted at him. “You’re as hardheaded as a—”
    “A rock,” Shoshi said helpfully. “He has the brains of a rock.”
    “And you’re a dictator just like your mother,” Zadok spoke to Ezarin, ignoring his cousin. But at the mention of his beloved Nelda, his wrath and discomfort faded. Nelda. He squeezed his eyes closed, heart thudding dully in his chest. A brave and high-spirited woman, she’d been captured by galactic marines in the last Gamant Revolt, then raped and tortured for days before being thrown unceremoniously on his doorstep, her abdomen torn to reveal gangrenous intestines. He’d held her in his arms for four hours before she died.
    “Papa,” Ezarin comforted softly, seeing the path of his thoughts. “Mama wouldn’t want you to—”
    “Oh, I’m … I’m not, really.”
    They stood in awkward silence a moment, then Mikael wrapped an arm around Zadok’s leg. “Let’s go see Rev Bahir, Grandfather. I want to hear about Jekutiel.”
    “Yes, it’s time, isn’t it?”
    Mikael nodded.
    Turning back to Ezarin, he clarified, “You find Hector and tell him I said he’s to sing for Samual.”
    “All right, Papa,” Ezarin said and laughed. Her long hair danced in the cool wind sweeping down the canyon. “I’ll find him. Go on, I’ll meet you inside.”
    “I’m relieved,” Shoshi exclaimed.
    Zadok scowled at her, then winked warmly at Ezarin before leading his grandson through the rounded cave entrance. A hundred and forty-four candles glowed in the candelabras dotting the cinnamon walls of the temple. They cast flickering shadows over the fifty-foot-high ceiling. Lines of stone benches filled the huge room, creating a center aisle which led to a raised triangular altar two hundred feet ahead. The stone floors were strewn haphazardly with dozens of ancient rugs. Worn now with age, the brilliant colors had faded. People filed endlessly into the temple to take seats, their hushed conversations creating a pleasant hum.
    Zadok guided Mikael to an aisle seat in the back. “Can you see?”
    The boy leaned sideways to gaze up the aisle, then nodded vigorously. “Yes, this is a good seat.”
    “Wonderful. I want you to remember this day. This is the thousand year celebration of the freeing of our people.” Mikael nodded and Zadok wrapped an arm lovingly over the boy’s tiny shoulders and hugged him.
    Ezarin entered and sat snugly beside them, face glowing.
    A hush fell over the temple as Rev Bahir walked to take his place at the altar. Dressed in a long black robe Adorned with silver fringes, he looked regal. A bowlegged, grizzled little man with a long kinky beard and raven hair, Bahir had a broad toothy smile. A huge golden triangle hung suspended from the chain around his neck. After clearing his throat several times to gain silence, he extended a hand to the worshipers.
    “Good people, we come together this Shabbat night to celebrate the freeing of our People from the terrible tyranny of Edom Middoth who stole our forebears from their homes on distant Earth and carried them off to be slaves.”
    The crowd responded, “Let the name of the Lord be blessed this time forth and forever more.”
    “We come to praise the name of Jekutiel, the Cassopian queen who liberated our