It wasn't that much of a problem; it was, after all, just a staircase.It wasn't that much of a problem; it was, after all, just a staircase. But it was a long drop, two and half kilometers. Like all things on Pendor, the forest was on a grand scale, disappearing at the limit of vision in a haze of green foresttop and white clouds or mist. But a steady stream of wood smoke issued from down at the floor of the staircase, and I was somewhat grateful that Rael hadn't built too far from the stairs. The idea of walking any distance through what Uncia use as a hunting ground didn't appeal to me. I figured though that the lands immediately about the stairwell had been cleared of anything dangerous. When we reached the bottom, we did indeed find Rael's house. It had all the modern conveniences, as far as I could see. It looked like a two-floor building of wooden construction, but to one side was the ubiquitous wooden hut with rad symbol, a Rigg's fusion reactor. Also apparent above the hut was a tall fresh-water condenser, and next to that a radio antenna. I wondered where the gravity antenna was; probably in the hut with the riggatron. "Do we knock?" I asked. "Guess so," P'nyssa responded. She walked through the front gate to the door. I followed. She did indeed find a large brass knocker on the door, and knocked three times. There was sound of scrambling inside, and a feminine voice saying something in Quen I couldn't quite make out. The door was thrown open. There, standing in the door, was the oldest-looking tindal I'd ever seen. His apparent age must be a cosmetic decision, I thought. Nobody had to look that old if they didn't want to; being unaging, apparent age was always a cosmetic decision. |