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the rush of rightness following the finding of the poem's proper word。。。 It is these and the prospect itself； riding； riding； riding； from nowhere to nowhere perhaps； across and among the minerals and fires of the void； free of earth and air and water。。。
We race a great meteor； we touch upon its bulk。。。 Speeding across its pitted surface； down； around； then up again。。。 It stretches into a great plain； it lightens； it yellows。。。
It is sand； sand now beneath our movement。。。 The stars fade out as the darkness is diluted to a morning full of sunrise。。。 Swaths of shade ahead； desert trees within them。。。 Ride for the dark。。。 Crashing through。。。 Bright birds burst forth； plain； resettle。。。
Among the thickening trees。。。 Darker the ground； narrower the way。。。 Palm fronds shrink to hand size； barks darken。。。 A twist to the right； a widening of the way。。。 Our hoofs striking sparks from cobblestones。。。 The lane enlarges； bees a tree…lined street。。。 Tiny row houses flash by。。。 Bright shutters； marble steps； painted screens； set back beyond flagged walks。。。 Passing； a horse…drawn cart； loaded with fresh vegetables。。。 Human pedestrians turning to stare。。。 A small buzz of voices。。。
On。。。 Passing beneath a bridge。。。 Coursing the stream till it widens to river； taking it down to the sea。。。
Thudding along the beach beneath a lemon sky； blue clouds scudding。。。 The salt； the wrack； the shells； the smooth anatomy of driftwood。。。 White spray off the lime…colored sea。。。
Racing； to where the place of waters ends at a terrace。。。 Mounting； each step crumbling and roaring down behind； losing its identity； joined with the boom of the surf。。。 Up； up to the flattopped； tree…grown plain； a golden city shimmering； miragelike； at its end。。。
The city grows； darkens beneath a shadowy umbrella； its gray towers stretch upward； glass and metal flashing light through the murk。。。 The towers begin to sway。。。
The city falls in upon itself； soundlessly； as we pass。。。 Towers topple； dust boils； rises； is pinked by some lower glow。。。 A gentle noise； as of a snuffed candle； drifting by。。。
A dust storm； quickly falling； giving place to fog。。。 Through it； the sounds of automobile horns。。。 A drift； a brief lift； a break in the gray…white； pearlwhite； shifting。。。 Our hoofprints on a shoulder of highway。。。 To the right； endless rows of unmoving vehicles。。。 Pearl…white； gray…white； drifting again。。。
Directionless shrieks and wailings。。。 Random flashes of light。。。
Rising once more。。。 The fogs lower and ebb。。。 Grass； grass； grass。。。 Clear now the sky； and delicate blue。。。 A sun racing to set。。。 Birds。。。 A cow in the field； chewing； staring and chewing。。。
Leaping a wooden fence to ride a country road。。。 A sudden chill beyond the hill。。。 The grasses are dry and snow's on the ground。。。 Tin…roofed farmhouse atop a rise； curl of smoke above it。。。
On。。。 The hills grow up； the sun rolls down； darkness dragged behind。。。 A sprinkle of stars。。。 Here a house； set far back。。。 There another； long driveway wound among old trees。。。 Headlights。。。
Off to the side of the road。。。 Draw rein and let it pass。。。
I wiped my brow； dusted my shirt front and sleeves。 I patted Drum's neck。 The oning vehicle slowed as it neared me； and I could see the driver staring。 I gave the reins a gentle movement and Drum began walking。 The car braked to a halt and the driver called something after me； but I kept going。 Moments later； I heard him drive off。
It was country road for a time after that。 I traveled at an easy pace； passing familiar landmarks； recalling other times。 A few miles later and I came to another road； wider and better。 I turned there； staying off on the shoulder to the right。 The temperature continued to drop； but the cold air had a good clean taste to it。 A sliced moon shone above the hills to my left。 There were a few small clouds passing overhead； touched to the moon's quarter with a soft； dusty light。 There was very little wind； an occasional stirring of branches； no more。 After a time； I came to a series of dips in the road； telling me I was almost there。
A curve and a couple more dips。。。 I saw the boulder beside the driveway； I read my address upon it。
I drew rein then and looked up the hill。 There was a station wagon in the driveway and a light on inside the house。 I guided Drum off the road and across a field into a stand of trees。 I tethered him behind a pair of evergreens； rubbed his neck； and told him I would not be long。
I returned to the road。 No cars in sight。 I crossed over and walked up the far side of the driveway； passing behind the station wagon。 The only light in the house was in the living room； off to the right。 I made my way around the left side of the house to the rear。
I halted when I reached the patio； looking around。 Something was wrong。
The back yard was changed。 A pair of decaying lawn chairs which had been leaning against a dilapidated chicken coop I had never bothered to remove were gone。 So； for that matter； was the chicken coop。 They had been present the last time I had passed this way。 All of the dead tree limbs which had previously been strewn about； as well as a rotting mass of them I had long ago heaped to cut for firewood； were also gone。
The post heap was missing。
I moved to the space where it had been。 All that was there was an irregular patch of bare earth of the approximate shape of the heap itself。
But I had discovered in attuning myself to the Jewel that I could make myself feel its presence。 I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to do so。 Nothing。
I looked again； searching carefully； but there was no tell…tale glitter anywhere in sight。 Not that I had really expected to see anything； not if I could not feel it nearby。
There had been no curtains in the lighted room。 Studying the house now； I saw that none of the windows had curtains； shades； shutters； or blinds。 Therefore。。。
I passed around the other end of the house。 Approaching the first lighted window； I glanced in quickly。 Dropcloths covered much of the floor。 A man in cap and coveralls was painting the far wall。 Of course。
I had asked Bill to sell the place。 I had signed the necessary papers while a patient in the local clinic； when I had been projected back to my old home … probably by some action of the Jewel … on the occasion of my stabbing。 That would have been several weeks ago； local time； using the Amber to shadow Earth conversion factor of approximately two and a half to one and allowing for the eight days the Courts of Chaos had cost me in Amber。 Bill； of course； had gone ahead on my request。 But the place had been in bad shape； abandoned as it had been for a number of years； vandalized。。。 It needed some new windowpanes； some roofing work； new guttering； painting； sanding； buffing。 And there had been a lot of trash to haul away； outside as well as inside。。。
I turned away and walked down the front slope to the road； recalling my last passage this way； half…delirious； on my hands and knees； blood leaking from my side。 It had been much colder that night and there had been snow on the ground and in the air。 I passed near the rocK where I'd sat； trying to flag down a car with a pillow case。 The memory was slightly