The Orphaned Worlds (58 page)

Steps led up and at the edge of the platform was a waist-high plinth of pale, featureless stone. Rosa carefully set the cylinder on its flat top then stood back. A shifting blue radiance appeared around the container and suddenly glowing symbols flickered up and down the plinth. At that moment, Achorga began streaming in through the entrance.

SENTINEL PRESENCE IS ONLY RESIDUAL
OUR DESTINATION IS SET
RETRIEVE ME THEN STAND ON THE BRIGHT EMBLEM

Rosa grabbed the container while Robert darted over to where a large symbol like an embellished filigree letter O glowed brightly. All the time horribly aware of the clicking, clattering sound of Achorga limbs as they scrambled towards the warp-well. Then Rosa was standing next to him and dazzling curtains of light sprang up around them, completely obscuring the huge Forerunner hall …

For a long, drawn-out moment he felt as if the light was pouring through him, its brightness invigorating his mind and senses, an exhilarating cataract of cold fire filling his head …

Then abruptly it was gone and he staggered, eyes blinking at a sudden dimness.

‘Father, are you okay?’

‘Yes, I’m … I am fine. That was quite an astonishing experience,’ he said. ‘I don’t recall the transfer from Giant’s Shoulder being quite as visceral as that …’

He paused, eyes adapting to normal light levels as he became aware of his surroundings, then amazed.

The Forerunner chamber beneath the Achorga hive had been imposing, but this edifice was built on an altogether more stupendous scale. They were now standing on another big circular platform, like the others made of stone but this was a pale material and the grooves of the intricate convoluted patterns were sharp and clean, as if freshly cut. Dark, glassy walls rose straight up to a dome with a silvery octagonal pattern. Curved ramps led down to a side avenue which ran straight for perhaps half a kilometre to a similar dome and platform. On one side was a steep-sloped wall from which immense empty plinths protruded at regular intervals, interspersed with huge square frames filled with blank silvery surfaces that offered no reflection. Along the top of the wall, itself about two hundred metres high, were more of the silvery frames and behind them pillars supported a long balcony provided with numerous small buildings and structures. Nowhere was there any sign of life.

The other side of the huge avenue consisted of a single unbroken and transparent wall which rose up to curve over the high balcony and meet a dark, shiny wall that formed a backdrop. But there, beyond the transparent wall, was a sight fit to render insignificant anything devised by mortal or transient sentience. Above them, vast and beautiful, was the galaxy.

THIS IS THE SEAT OF REGARD