The White City

Kandrigi, Priest of the Briga, knew he lay on a couch, a warm blanket of wool covering him. Otherwise, he did not know where he was. It was not important. Nothing was important.

  It comes in time, Kandrigi, the voice said in his head. He did not know whether it was his memory which spoke or the voice he had heard on the Khumsung. All are helpless against time, Kandrigi.

  But Kandrigi would not speak. He had vowed not to.

  It comes, Kandrigi, through cold eternal space.

  Be warned, Kandrigi, and let your race be warned.

  I have seen it, Kandrigi. It is a great body, capable of great destruction,

  Let your race he warned, Kandrigi, for I grieve for them and their destiny.

  Through time it comes from afar, Kandrigi; in time it will cross the path of your earth.

  Believe me, Kandrigi, believe me, I grieve for you and your race. There is no stopping the body, for it goes beyond my power. I warn you. Let your race be warned, so that they might prepare themselves for their destruction.

  Kandrigi, it comes in time. It comes with time. Tell your people, that they might prepare. Nothing else can be done. I have seen it. Irresistible it is, plunging through dark immensities of space.

  Be warned, Kandrigi. It will grow large in your sky and you will know then that you have been forewarned.

  You must tell them, Kandrigi, for I cannot. They will honour you till the end of your race. They will honour you for your wisdom and grace.

  Believe me, Kandrigi, I grieve. You do not understand me, as I feared. I cannot save your race. I can only warn it. One of your race must reveal the coming destruction, for if I were to tell all, there would be madness and despair. One man must tell all men so that they can weigh the warning within human comprehension.

  You are honoured, Kandrigi, for I honour you with this revelation...

  Someone touched him. He felt a finger move over his palm and fingers. It said:

  ‘It is I, Hepteidon.’

  Kandrigi pulled his hand away. In his head he heard:

  It comes in time, Kandrigi. All are helpless against time.

  Hepteidon took his hand again and moved his finger over it.

  ‘You have my sympathy, Kandrigi, in your affliction. I wish to help you.’

  Again Kandrigi pulled his hand away. He had vowed not to speak.

  It comes, Kandrigi, through cold eternal space.

  Hepteidon spoke with his finger again. This time he held Kandrigi’s hand.

  ‘You must allow me to help you, Kandrigi, for I believe I can.’

  Be warned, Kandrigi, and let your race be warned.

  ‘Tell me what afflicts you, Kandrigi, and I will help you.’

  I have seen it, Kandrigi. It is a great body, capable of great destruction.

  ‘What have you heard, Kandrigi? What have you seen?’

  Let your race be warned, Kandrigi, for I grieve for them and their destiny.

  ‘Tell me of your vision, Kandrigi. Let me share your burden.’

  Through time it comes from afar; in time it will cross the path of your earth.

  ‘There is a mystery here that I do not understand, Kandrigi. I have been told that I can help you, that I must help you, and though I am frightened I have come to ask you to tell me your secret.’ – Believe me, Kandrigi, believe me, I grieve for you and tour race. There is no stopping the body, for it goes beyond my power. I warn you, let your race be warned, so that they might prepare themselves for their destruction. – ‘If this secret concerns the Empire, then we, the priests of the Empire, have the right to know the secret and therefore you must reveal it to us. We claim the right to know and we will take steps to discover it if you do not tell us.’

  Kandrigi felt his hand being released. He had vowed not to speak.

  Kandrigi, it comes in time. It comes with time. Tell your people, that they might prepare. Nothing else can be done. I have seen it. Irresistible it is, plunging through dark immensities of space.

  His hand was gripped again and the finger touched his fingers.

  ‘It is a sad state you are in, Kandrigi, without hearing or sight. Will you ever see your homeland again? Will you ever hear the tongue of your people again or see their welcome? How will you find your way back to your people again?’ Kandrigi heard this and wrinkled his face in pain. The grip on his hand tightened. – Be warned, Kandrigi, it will grow large in your sky and you will know then that you have been forewarned. – ‘Do you not wish to see the lands of your people again? Tell me your secret and your afflictions will fall away. Of this I am assured.’

  You must tell them, Kandrigi, for I cannot. They will honour you till the end of your race. They will honour you for your wisdom and grace.

  The hand that gripped his tightened more. ‘Tell me, old priest, what you know, or by the power of the Empire I will have it dragged from you.’

  Believe me, Kandrigi, I grieve. You do not understand me, as I feared. I cannot save your race. I can only warn it. One of your race must reveal the coming destruction, for if I were to tell all, there would be madness and despair. One man must tell all men, so that they can weigh the warning within human comprehension.

  His hand was freed and throat was clutched. Yet still the finger stabbed at his fingers.

  ‘I warn you, old man. I will have no pity for you. You do not know my rank, but believe me I can call on all the machines of torture to my aid in this quest. No man will stop me. Do you understand me?’

  You are honoured, Kandrigi, for I honour you with this revelation.

  There was a struggle and the figure that had lain across him was pulled away. Another hand touched him and spoke:

  ‘I regret this, Kandrigi. Hepteidon is young and headstrong. I, Lamla, will seek mercy for you. Sleep now, the sun sets.’

  Kandrigi sighed. He had vowed not to speak.