Angel Stations Read Online Free PDF Page B

something he could only dimly, distantly comprehend. Yet it seemed to be his own life, evolving along in a seemingly endless multiplicity of paths.
    But there was one strand that still shone as brightly as a path of stars through an endless sea of night. That enduring image of Ursu the acolyte, now a Master-in-Waiting, stealing away with the figure of the god, and carrying it – somehow – through the walls of the city, and beyond.
    Sam Roy
    ‘Where’s your father?’
    ‘In the Citadel. I don’t think he has any idea what’s happening here while he’s been in there. You know how it is.’
    Sam did. Time and space ceased to operate as they should, once you were deep inside the Citadel. There were ways to navigate it, to find your way into its hidden depths and uncover the treasures that lay there, but it wasn’t without risk. Matthew was older now, side-parted blond hair flopping across his forehead in an unruly wave. The sun was high overhead.
    Sam gently rubbed his arms where they had chafed under the chains that secured him to the great round boulder. He already knew how much time they’d have. All the time in the world , he thought. Matthew’s father was discovering what Sam already knew, that the Citadel was a patient mistress, a place where something was always waiting to be discovered.
    ‘How old are you now, Matthew?’
    ‘Fifteen.’
    ‘Remind me why you hate your father so much.’
    Matthew stared at him. ‘Why I—? You hate him too. Look what he’s done to you. You couldn’t help but hate him!’
    ‘He’s your father. He’s done nothing to you .’
    Matthew stared out across the wide mountain plain. Sam followed his gaze, taking in distant peaks wreathed in cloud and, nearer at hand, a village almost like a resort in its picturesqueness, like someplace you might find far up in the Rocky Mountains, with a hotel and a bed for the night. But of course, they were a very long way from the Rockies.
    ‘My father is insane,’ Matthew explained at last. ‘A girl in my class went crazy, started shouting that my father was evil, that we shouldn’t be here.’ Matthew licked his lips, then turned hollow eyes to Sam. ‘They took her away, and a couple of days later he had her body left in the square so we could all see.’ The boy was trembling now. ‘He wants me to be like him. I could never . . .’ He shook his head, the words trailing off.
    ‘When we talk, Matthew, I don’t necessarily get any sense of what you want to do, if and when you find a way to defeat him. Remember, I tried,’ Sam raised shackled hands, ‘and look what happened to me.’
    ‘I don’t understand.’
    ‘Say you’re left in charge of all this,’ Sam said, nodding at the village, ‘what are you going to do?’
    Matthew looked defiant. ‘Go home. Leave this place.’
    ‘This is your home. It’s where you were born.’
    Conflicting emotions crossed the boy’s face. ‘There – there’s so much else out there. We shouldn’t even be here!’ The boy actually stamped his foot. Sam raised one eyebrow and waited. ‘We belong out there with the rest of the human race. You knew that, didn’t you? That’s why you did what you did!’
    ‘I did what I did because your father wants to destroy a world, and I couldn’t permit him to do that. No one sane could allow that.’
    ‘That’s what I want, too. And the others.’
    Sam nodded. It was strange that Matthew’s father had made the decision to have a family and raise a son after so long. He suspected Matthew’s father intended to begin a dynasty.
    ‘Very well, then. We should make plans. As long as you understand you might die.’
    Matthew swallowed. ‘I know that.’ Sam studied the boy carefully until his eyes widened and the blood drained from his face. ‘I will die, won’t I?’ said Matthew, taking a step back.
    Sam said nothing, his expression remaining calm.
    ‘Tell me,’ said Matthew. ‘I have to know. He’ll find us out, won’t he? We should