Chapter Two     

I jumped up from under the lamppost and gazed upon the black sky.   Cold and alone, I ran along a brick wall, my faint footsteps echoing through the valley. The Darkness was darker than the night, laid out like a blanket. The lights of the lampposts were extinguished, for dawn had come, though none was seen. Half blinded by the Darkness, I came down the Street named Erbor. From a dark corner, Blater and Bliter jumped out.  They yelped, and I leapt towards them.  I reached out my hands and grasped their leather collars. They bark and raved.   I strained my hands as I pulled at them.  Blater jumped again. I kicked him to the ground where he crouched down and whined. I released Bliter and stepped back. We all became silent.  I felt the air about me was tense.  I looked up.  If I could go to someone, tell someone. I crouched down. I shivered, but no cold seemed to lay hold of me.  The dogs came towards me, their fur warm about me. The sun above was me hidden, leaving the earth all cold.   

                                                              *****

I was cold and frozen that morning. But what morning was it? It seemed as if the sky was full of soot. The tile was freezing beneath me, and the fire had burnt out. I stood up, and my knees were stiff. I stepped over to the window, and looked down. It was dark, but I could still slightly see the paved street.  I flung myself over the window and slowly climbed down. I soon felt the ground beneath, and I was shaken. I ran frightened along the street, casting glances back as if a dark figure was pursuing me. I came to a door, and I slightly knew it. As I opened the door its rusty hinges creaked. I shoved it closed and ran to where I saw a hearth was lit with flames. My hands were warming quickly as I waited. My feet were also cold, and the stone floor beneath was chilled. I heard behind me the clock tic and bong. I then left the hearth and ran lightly down a flight of stone steps. I came down to the cold white cellar. I knelt down and my hands slowly traced the outlines of a clock which lay imbedded in the floor.

*****

I pattered swiftly down the streets, passing out of the way of the lampposts. Life was slowly awakening, though all was frightened and cautious. I ran in the back streets, making my way to the mountains. I heard the clock on the Great Tower bong, striking the sixth hour of the day. The message was deep in a satchel which hung below a small knife. The mountains in the distance were now nothing more than the Darkness. The air was chilled, and it kept me light of foot. I halted as a saw a cloaked figure leaning against a stone wall. The light of the lampposts made the figure a silhouette. It stirred, and I stepped back.