IN THE ANTESOLAR PERIOD, THE TELOTHRETH LAY FAR FROM ANY OF OUR CIVILIZED PLACES. FROM BEYOND DEATH, THE NEAR DISTANCE, IT RULED US.

WE WAITED FOR IT, WATCHING IT BREATHE, AS WE WATCHED THE COIL EMERGE FROM THE MOUTH OF THE NIGHT.

AND IN THE HIGH BANNERED HALL, MIRRORING THE GREAT STOMACH OF OUR LADY, I HAD STACKED THE CAIRN UNDER ITS WATCHFUL EYE.

BUT WE HAD BEGUN TO WORRY.

THE WELL BROUGHT UP ONLY OIL. DESSICATED FISH WASHED ASHORE, CHOKING THE RIVER. THE BANDAGES COVERING THE OCRIMENT,

THE DIVINE EYE, HAD BEGUN TO SOAK THROUGH. THE BELLS CEASED TO RING, AND THE SUN HAD NOT BEEN SEEN IN WEEKS.

THE SHINE WHEN THE KEEN EDGE OF THE KNIFE FREES THE BODY FROM ITS SHELL IN ONE QUICK MOTION. IT IS AN HONORED PRACTICE. THERE IS NO SHARPER HAND THAN THAT.

THE SHEAR OF THE PLANER MADE A HORRIBLE SOUND: SCRAPED COMPLETELY CLEAN.

AND LESSER ATTENDANTS TOOK THE NACRE AND GROUND IT INTO A PASTE.

FROM THIS PART OF THE RIVER, CARRACEANS AND CLEISHALANES GROWN STRONGER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL

THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. I UNROLLED A FRESH SET OF SELC BANDAGE,

THE SHIMMERING MEDICINE BURNING MY HANDS AND MY EYES, BUT WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT.

- - IRRISTHI, HAVE MERCY ON ME, FOR I GO TO AID YOUR MOTHER. ALLOW ME SAFE PASSAGE, CRADLE ME IN YOUR HANDS,

ALLOW ME TO PASS UNHARMED.

AND THEN I SAW THE MYADRISTATIC CONSTRICTOR FULLY,

WHERE IT HAD EATEN AWAY AT MANY LAYERS OF PREVIOUSLY-LAIN SELC.

I DIPPED MY HAND INTO THE PUPIL

AND COULD NO LONGER HEAR THE TRINTET PLAY.