Stealing Sacred Fire Read Online Free PDF

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the UK would be The Lizard, so it seemed that every New Ager and
astronomy buff in the country had gathered there, as well as hordes
of ordinary people who just wanted to see an unusual astronomical
event. Throughout the county, hotels and guest-houses were charging
up to five times the normal rates for the week and some roads had
been closed off. Anticipation buzzed in the air. Sad that the sky
was so overcast. It was doubtful there’d be much to see.
    Daniel had had to negotiate the
buzzing crowds to find an empty path. So far, among the ordinary
people, he had identified gatherings of UFO enthusiasts, Japanese
Shinto devotees, Wiccans and Christians, as well as more obscure
groups he could not name. Mixed in with the colourful clothes of
casual sight-seers were the saffron robes of the followers of
Krishna, who were handing out leaflets. Evangelist types in
semi-military uniforms sang bright, marching songs, eyeing the
other groups present with jittery distaste. It seemed every belief
system, religious and otherwise, was represented, all convinced the
eclipse was some kind of significant, if not spiritual, event. It
was a build up to the New Year. Some people believed that whatever
circumstances you were in this day would be fixed until 1999 rolled
over into 2000. For that reason, perhaps, the crowds were
determined to have a good time, whatever the weather. Daniel knew
this was an important event, but was cynically amused by the
millennium madness he sensed around him. This would be but a feeble
foretaste for the hysteria that would erupt on New Year’s Eve.
    In a field, some yards back
from the cliff edge, a group of eminent astronomers had set up
complex equipment amid a sea of tents. The large outside broadcast
vans of TV companies clustered like beetles around them. Anchor men
and women were thrusting themselves upon anyone who was prepared to
talk about what the coming event meant to them, but not one of them
had approached Daniel. He had made sure he projected an aura that
would discourage forced introductions. A faint skirl of music
shivered through the air — violins and hand-drums — as New Agers
danced to greet the darkening of the sun. Daniel felt remote from
it all.
    When Shem had awoken the
serpent, Daniel had been convinced the world as he knew it would
change. He’d expected new levels of tolerance and compassion, some
kind of human epiphany. Where was it? The news was still full of
the abominations of juvenile crime, international corruption,
senseless massacres and rising despair. Had Shem’s spiritual
journey been for nothing? Daniel felt depressed by the scene around
him. Who were these people kidding? Just themselves.
    The Prussoes, and probably his
old friend, Emma Manden’s coven of Pelleth witches, would
undoubtedly already be gathering on the cliff above Mermaid’s Cove,
which was the private beach to High Crag, Enniel’s home. Daniel
knew he should try and muster some energy, plaster a smile across
his face and go back to the house. He should make an effort to
greet his friends and join in with the party spirit, but his mood
was too melancholy for festivities. Shem should be here. Things
should be different.
    Daniel sat down on the grass
and closed his eyes. Do I really want him to come back? He shivered
in the humid air. Life was quiet now. Perhaps it would be better to
keep it that way.
    A noise behind him made him
open his eyes and glance round in irritation. A new crowd of
sight-seers was strolling towards him, and he could see many more
approaching. Clearly, they’d spotted the unpopulated area of cliff
top and aimed to change the situation. The slam of car doors and
the shriek of children offended Daniel’s ears. Before anyone could
touch the periphery of his aura, he was on his feet and heading
back to High Crag.
    The Prussoes, an extended
family in the literal sense of the word, were still wandering out
from the house to gather at the cliff edge, above their private
cove.