The Crystal Sorcerers Read Online Free PDF Page B

treasured as such. From what you have told me of the war on Earth, millions upon millions like you have died tragically without such a chance to live as you now have. You have also had the additional gift of finding former enemies, the Japanese, to be friends as well."
    "I should add that your arrival here has been a gift to us. I fear to think what might have happened in the war between my son and Sarnak without you offworlders. Without all of you I probably would have lost him, and thousands more might have died as well. Know that I shall be forever grateful."
    Kochanski looked into Jartan's eyes. The gaze held his, filling him with a sense of peace. Then, embarrassed, he chuckled softly.
    "Ah, what the hell am I bitching about?"
    Jartan patted Kochanski on the shoulder, then threw back his head and laughed, delighted with the pleasure of friendship with this mortal who did not grovel in the presence of a god.
    "Good, very good. Anyhow, there's some business we need to discuss, so why don't you call it a day as far as the practice goes? How about a drink first?"
    Kochanski nodded, considering what kind of drink he felt like having today. Something stronger than beer... Rum and coke? No, too sweet. How about bourbon on the rocks? They hadn't tried that yet. And he concentrated on remembering the smell and taste of a tumbler of bourbon and ice as he sat with his dad on the back porch on a summer evening, listening to the radio broadcast a Phillies game. It had been the week before he was shipping out to Europe, his last night at home. The memory was sharp and poignant, standing out with crystal clarity: the taste of the bourbon, the clinking of the ice, and the warmth of that shared moment. He could sense Jartan's mind meshing with his, savoring the moment as well, feeling the warmth of the evening air, the sweet sadness of a time now lost to all but memory.
    He could feel Jartan drifting out and away, and their eyes held again for a moment in understanding. A moment later, the god offered him an icy tumbler, the cubes clinking, the scent of fine aged bourbon tantalizing him.
    Smiling, Kochanski took the tumbler and held it up.
    "Your health, sire," he said formally before taking a sip. It was as good as the memory. Smiling, Jartan kept his hand extended. There was a flash of light and a second tumbler appeared. Jartan brought the drink to his lips and a smile crossed his features.
    "Excellent. Now hold out your free hand."
    Kochanski complied and there was another flash of light. A cry of delight escaped him: Between his fingers was a glowing cigarette. Taking a deep puff he exhaled luxuriantly.
    "A Lucky Strike, no less!"
    "Let's keep this one a secret," Jartan said in a conspiratorial whisper. "I don't approve of the habit--not good for your health and I dislike any addictions. But as you would say, 'what the hell.' I figured you'd enjoy it, but don't let the others know or they might start pestering me about it."
    Kochanski smiled and nodded.
    "Now to business," Jartan said smoothly, a smile still lighting his features.
    "First, your progress with the Godchair has been remarkable. This search for your home world has served as excellent training for the development of your talents. However, you need to develop the skills of symbolic matching to a greater degree. I want you to try using actual models of landmarks or artifacts from your world, as opposed to just the world itself, and allow the Godchair to follow a solid image when you hunt."
    "You mean like..." and Kochanski floundered for a moment as he tried to bring images into focus . " Let's see... the Rocky Mountains, or the Empire State Building ... or the Atlantic Ocean..."
    "Your best image was of that building: Something that your people actually built and that you have seen yourself. And then, following that picture, create a model of it here for you to focus on."
    "Uh, Jartan, I'm still pretty weak on creating things. Can't I just draw it or something?"
    "No. It