Phthor Read Online Free PDF

Probably the myxo—a thick enough coating of that gummy stuff... ugh! Arlo knew that, and had sympathy for their plight—but he did not like being touched by those wrinkled, grasping hands.
    “Then talk to your hvee,” Verthandi said, turning her back.
    She really did know! And so she must know the answer. He would have to submit. He knew they would not hurt him, in fact he could probably pitch all three over the cliff if he had to. Except that that would anger Chthon. By the same token, they would be careful of him, for they were more dependent on Chthon than he was.
    He stood, and the three came to him. Urder reached out a thin hand and laid it on his chest. From her mouth poured a dribble of gibberish as her fingers slid across the muscles of his chest.
    “Child of malice,” Verthandi. translated. “Incestuous issue, but very strong.”
    “I’m the child of Coquina, “Arlo said, irritatedly. “She was never malefic.”
    Urdur poked her jagged fingernail at his masculine nipples and emitted shrill laughter. Arlo realized he had been duped by some sort of pun or joke whose meaning only the Norns comprehended.
    Skuld now put her cold hands on his right leg. She burst into her own gibberish. Again Verthandi translated: “How soon this flesh carries us all to Ragnarok!”
    This time Arlo kept his mouth shut. The prophecy made no sense, but he didn’t want to provoke more insane mirth.
    Now Verthandi herself touched him. Her hands were smooth and strong, and they took hold of his genital, kneading, stretching, forcing a reaction that was not unpleasant. “This hardening rod transfixes your sister,” she said.
    “I have no sister!’’ Arlo cried, jerking away. “Why don’t you answer my questions? Why does Chthon hide from me? Why does my own hvee turn against me? Who is this child Ex?”
    Verthandi looked calmly at him.   She was breathing with greater volume now, and had the shape of a remarkably fair woman. But her words remained zombie. “We have answered; past, future, and present. Your angry incest destroys life and death.”
    Arlo backed away. “This is crazy! What is your price for a fair answer?” For he knew they could tell him, if they only would.
    Verthandi squinted at him a long moment. “You are sixteen, very nearly,” she said.
    Arlo started to correct her, then realized that he could not be really sure of his age. It had been a couple of years since he had asked Coquina about it, and perhaps he was older now.
    “That may be considered an age of consent,” the Norn continued.
    Now he understood her well enough to become uneasy. She had massaged his body, arousing a certain urgency in him, a certain mystery. Surely she knew more about this matter than he did, and wanted more of his body than a mere touch. And because there was a strong, confusing element of desire in him, his repulsion was greater. “Not that!” He did not know what or why not; perhaps it was a fear of being initiated into mysteries that could make him part zombie himself. “What other price?”
    She gestured. “Stand in the water.”
    He looked at the falls. It would be suicide to attempt to stand in that downrushing wall! But she extended her gesture to the side, and he saw that further along there was a smaller shoot that splashed off the ledge, forming an arcing spray over the chasm. There was a footing there—barely.
    “I would be swept off,” he demurred.
    She held her open hand toward him, offering to steady him. Arlo did not feel at ease, but decided this was the best compromise he could make. He walked toward the lesser falls.
    From up close, the situation seemed more precarious. He felt an apprehension verging on terror. Therefore he proceeded, knowing the Norm were testing him. They expected him to fail, to back off—and then to have no pretext not to obtain his answers their way. Or give up the quest. As he would not.
    He inserted the toes of one foot into the water. It was icy cold, and the force was