Chapter Six

Their sleep was broken in the middle of the night by a warning note from the Great Crystal. They stumbled sleepily from their room to make their way to the Crystal Chamber. When they arrived they saw Aughra already there, staring into the Crystal. There they all saw an image of a moon-lit swamp, and the energy creature moving slowly through the plants, touching them and bringing instant death. As they watched they saw the cloud capture sleeping animals and absorb their bodies into its mass, releasing energy flashes within the creature, these increasing in brilliance as it more animals were absorbed.

"It grows stronger," Aughra said, watching the images before her. "Soon it strong enough to leave swamp, attack others."

Kira buried her head against Jen's shoulder as she watched the horror unfolding in the crystal.

Mark watched without saying a word. Aughra looked briefly at him and noticed a hardening in his posture. His face grew taunt as he watched the destruction unfold. Finally he spoke.

"I will not allow Earth's evil to destroy Thra," he said, the determination in his voice evident to all. "There is no doubt in my mind that this is the type of evil that infects the Earth, and it wants to infect Thra in the same way."

Suddenly the movement of the creature changed and it seemed to move directly towards them in the Crystal. It filled the image and then suddenly vanished.

They talked about various matters for a short time then returned to their beds. Early in the morning they set out on their separate ways Aughra returning to her observatory while Mark and the Gelfling headed for the valley of the urRu.

They were driven by the urgency of their need and, before many hours had passed, they stood looking into the valley. Following Jen they entered the valley along the spiral ramp, down to the living area of the Mystics. The loom of urUtt the weaver was still standing, while various cloths and implements were still in evidence. They could almost feel the presence of the gentle urRu still there, spreading a soft blanket of calm on their tense nerves.

Mark looked around at the caves and the standing stones. "I wish I knew just what it was we were looking for," he said. "I know the urRu were peaceful," he continued, "but perhaps they left behind some kind of scroll that would give us an idea of how to at least contain the creature.

For hours they searched through each of the caves, trying to find anything they could use in their battle against the energy creature, but their search was in vain. As the sunlight began to dim they lit small fires and used torches to continue their search. Just before dusk Mark decided to examine more closely the floor in the valley where the circular ring of standing stones was to be found.

"We must have overlooked something," Mark said. "We couldn't have come all the way here for nothing." As he spoke he moved closer to the circle of stones. He passed between two of the stones just as the dying rays of the sun touched them. Suddenly he grabbed his head in his hands and fell to the ground.

"Mark!" Jen yelled as he and Kira raced to Mark's side as he struggled to rise from the ground.

"What happened?" Jen asked.

Jen and Kira looked at Mark's face and they saw that his eyes were not focusing on them at all. Instead his expression showed that his mind was somewhere else, no longer responding to the physical world. He rose slowly, then moved to the center of the circular ring. He stooped to the ground and began. digging. Within a few minutes he lifted something from its hiding p1ace. When he dusted it off Jen and Kira could see that it was some form of talisman that could be worn around the neck. Mark lifted the chain over his head and then lowered it, letting the talisman hang upon his chest, its intricate design holding great beauty that could be seen in the arrangement of the spiral shapes, but at the same time giving off a sense of incredible power.

Mark looked at the Gelfling, his eyes still not focused on their level of reality. "Move back," his said, his voice sounding as if, it came from far away. "Move beyond the stones."

Jen and Kira moved back, still watching the human. As soon as they were no longer near the stones they saw Mark lower his arms to his sides. Then he suddenly grew rigid. All the stones in the circle began to glow softly, then more brightly. The light increased in intensity quickly, and soon a second light was being reflected from stone to stone, converging at a central focus, channeling all the light energy directly towards the talisman. A loud peal of thunder rang through the valley as the light hit the talisman and than Mark was thrown backwards by the force of the impact.

The light from the stones vanished and Jen and Kira again ran to Mark's side. Although Mark was not moving, Jen could still see him breathing, so he knew their friend was still alive. They turned Mark over and Kira gasped as she saw what had happened to the front of his body. Where the talisman had been a burnt area was now present. On his chest, still glowing slightly, an image of the talisman had been burned into his skin. Of the talisman itself they could not find a trace.

"Jen, I'm frightened," Kira said.

"I am too," Jen replied. Before he could say anything more they heard a sound resembling a lonely wind in the distance. Slowly the sound changed, starting to form words that Jen could recognize.

"It's the voice of urSu, my master," Jan said excitedly.

"Only a Gelfling" the voice began "or one who is like a Gelfling in their heart could have released the power of these stones. Our world must be in great danger. You have been given a talisman of power, created by the strength of our own energies. Learn to use it wisely. Use it in love, never in hate."

The voice faded, replaced by the natural sounds of the valley around them. Jen and Kira heard Mark moan, then helped him as he tried to stand up.

Tears streamed down Mark's cheeks from the pain of the talisman image being burned into his chest. Kira held his hand as he looked around him.

"I heard the voice," Mark said, fighting to get the words oat. "I now have this," he said, pointing to the image on his chest," but I still don't know what to do. Maybe Aughra will have the answers we seek."

As Mark began to walk around, trying to take his mind off the pain, he looked at Jen and Kira. "Don't ask me how I know this," he began, "but I feel that I have somehow become linked to this planet. It's more than a physical bond, though; it's something almost spiritual in nature. It's as if Thra was trying to talk directly to me. Maybe in time I'll be able to understand what the planet is saying."

Mark looked down at the burned area on his chest. "Gelfling clothes, Gelfling heart, but still not a Gelfling," he said softly. He walked to the entrance of urSu's cave and sat down to rest.

Jen and Kira approached him. "You are a Gelfling to us," they said, smiling.

After he had rested for a few hours Mark and the two Gelfling left the valley of the urRu, heading towards Aughra's home, the night still some hours away.

---

Main index page

Dark Crystal main index page