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THE SPIRES OF KURRONG
By Malcolm Wells For many generations the people of the spires believed they were the only living human race left on their planet. They had been told that Daemons had inhabited the planet surface and driven their ancestors into the domed cities. When Markus and Filona fall in love, they break the strict laws of the domes. Markus is son of the Prefect of Alpha Dome, Filona an innkeepers daughter and their union is forbidden. The couple flee to the planet surface, despite thoughts of the dangers they might face. What they find there will astound them. The decisions they make for their future will have a dramatic effect on the whole planet. Read the first chapter below. Find out about the author. eBook $4.99 Download after purchase |
CHAPTER 1
The well-dressed young man squeezed the hand of his pretty partner. "I will kill you first if you wish. That way it will be swift and painless." She smiled sweetly, "No, we will jump together. I am not afraid to die as long as we are together."
Filona grasped his hand as they peered warily over the edge of their world. What they saw took their breath away. Bathed in the first rays of the dawn sun, the underworld was not as dark and foreboding, as they had feared. In places, the lush tree canopy gave way to rock faces just like the spires on which the twin cities stood. A stream of precious water ran unharnessed through a carpet of green vegetation. They stared in awe for what seemed an eternity; in reality, only two minutes had passed.
“We must be quick,” Markus informed her, “I cannot maintain this gap in the force field for long.”
The jagged rocks at the bottom of the spire were not so inviting. They knew that even if by some miracle one still lived after such a leap, more danger lurked amongst those trees. The City Elders told of daemons that roamed the dense jungles of the underworld.
"Will the Dark Ones gnaw our bones when we are dead, Markus?"
"He shrugged, "When we are dead, Filona, it will not matter. Our bodies will be empty shells once our souls depart. We will dwell together in the gardens of Aphelion forever."
They came together for a last embrace in their mortal bodies. A harsh cry shattered their happiness.
"Hey, do you two have a licence to do that? Where are your permits to be outside the city?" The perimeter patrol had arrived sooner than Markus had anticipated.
"We must do it quickly," cried Markus.
They moved forward, preparing to leap into oblivion. A loud humming noise filled the air, followed by a flash of blinding light. The couple froze in time, cocooned in the moment that the bolt of light had hit them. The guard who had fired the snare gun sheathed his weapon. He stepped back in time to the second he had fired the shot and manacled his prisoners before releasing them from the time capsule. He dragged them away from the precipice and sealed the rent in the force field. "Now then, you two will need to answer my... hey, aren't you the son of the Prefect?"
Markus knew there was no point denying his identity. The men of the Inner Zone always sported short hair and drab uniform trousers and shirts. This young man’s blonde flowing locks and fine clothes signalled that he was a member of the Outer Zone. Markus was a tall man, with a striking physique that told of good diet and regular exercise. His piercing blue eyes and handsome features turned heads wherever he went. "Yes, I am Markus, son of Lord Denva."
The guard smiled and looked at Filona, “And you are an Inner Zoner by the looks of you.” There was a note of derision in his voice, but his face betrayed the lust that the petite young woman stirred in him. The plain tunic she wore served only to highlight her natural beauty. The cut of her short red hair framed the natural beauty of her face.
The guard looked back to Markus and laughed. "Boy, are you in trouble, leaving the city without a permit, consorting with a member of the inner zone, tampering with the force field, resisting arrest…”
Markus’ chin lifted in defiance. “You should show more respect for the son of the Prefect.”
The guard glared at him. “I have no respect for those who break the law. I should have saved your father the embarrassment and let you jump."
"Why not do so now?"
"It's more than my job is worth. The command centre will have logged the fact that I fired my snare gun. I must justify that by returning with prisoners." He looked the aristocrat up and down. “Why would a man in your position be prepared to give up everything for an Inner Zoner?”
Markus cursed the restraints. He wanted desperately to wipe the smirk from the man’s face.
“Perhaps if you had jumped straight away instead of stopping to admire the view, we would have arrived too late. Now you must answer to the Elders. I vouch your father will not be amused.”
“Nor will my father be amused when I inform him of the way you behaved towards me.”
The man sneered contemptuously and pushed him into the small cage at the rear of the patrol van, alongside Filona. The guards shared a private joke as they secured the cage and climbed into the cab. Markus cursed his stupidity. It had been a dumb idea. The City Guards were a law unto themselves. It would be pointless to complain about their treatment. Besides, his father would be in no mood to listen to petty complaints.
The well-dressed young man squeezed the hand of his pretty partner. "I will kill you first if you wish. That way it will be swift and painless." She smiled sweetly, "No, we will jump together. I am not afraid to die as long as we are together."
Filona grasped his hand as they peered warily over the edge of their world. What they saw took their breath away. Bathed in the first rays of the dawn sun, the underworld was not as dark and foreboding, as they had feared. In places, the lush tree canopy gave way to rock faces just like the spires on which the twin cities stood. A stream of precious water ran unharnessed through a carpet of green vegetation. They stared in awe for what seemed an eternity; in reality, only two minutes had passed.
“We must be quick,” Markus informed her, “I cannot maintain this gap in the force field for long.”
The jagged rocks at the bottom of the spire were not so inviting. They knew that even if by some miracle one still lived after such a leap, more danger lurked amongst those trees. The City Elders told of daemons that roamed the dense jungles of the underworld.
"Will the Dark Ones gnaw our bones when we are dead, Markus?"
"He shrugged, "When we are dead, Filona, it will not matter. Our bodies will be empty shells once our souls depart. We will dwell together in the gardens of Aphelion forever."
They came together for a last embrace in their mortal bodies. A harsh cry shattered their happiness.
"Hey, do you two have a licence to do that? Where are your permits to be outside the city?" The perimeter patrol had arrived sooner than Markus had anticipated.
"We must do it quickly," cried Markus.
They moved forward, preparing to leap into oblivion. A loud humming noise filled the air, followed by a flash of blinding light. The couple froze in time, cocooned in the moment that the bolt of light had hit them. The guard who had fired the snare gun sheathed his weapon. He stepped back in time to the second he had fired the shot and manacled his prisoners before releasing them from the time capsule. He dragged them away from the precipice and sealed the rent in the force field. "Now then, you two will need to answer my... hey, aren't you the son of the Prefect?"
Markus knew there was no point denying his identity. The men of the Inner Zone always sported short hair and drab uniform trousers and shirts. This young man’s blonde flowing locks and fine clothes signalled that he was a member of the Outer Zone. Markus was a tall man, with a striking physique that told of good diet and regular exercise. His piercing blue eyes and handsome features turned heads wherever he went. "Yes, I am Markus, son of Lord Denva."
The guard smiled and looked at Filona, “And you are an Inner Zoner by the looks of you.” There was a note of derision in his voice, but his face betrayed the lust that the petite young woman stirred in him. The plain tunic she wore served only to highlight her natural beauty. The cut of her short red hair framed the natural beauty of her face.
The guard looked back to Markus and laughed. "Boy, are you in trouble, leaving the city without a permit, consorting with a member of the inner zone, tampering with the force field, resisting arrest…”
Markus’ chin lifted in defiance. “You should show more respect for the son of the Prefect.”
The guard glared at him. “I have no respect for those who break the law. I should have saved your father the embarrassment and let you jump."
"Why not do so now?"
"It's more than my job is worth. The command centre will have logged the fact that I fired my snare gun. I must justify that by returning with prisoners." He looked the aristocrat up and down. “Why would a man in your position be prepared to give up everything for an Inner Zoner?”
Markus cursed the restraints. He wanted desperately to wipe the smirk from the man’s face.
“Perhaps if you had jumped straight away instead of stopping to admire the view, we would have arrived too late. Now you must answer to the Elders. I vouch your father will not be amused.”
“Nor will my father be amused when I inform him of the way you behaved towards me.”
The man sneered contemptuously and pushed him into the small cage at the rear of the patrol van, alongside Filona. The guards shared a private joke as they secured the cage and climbed into the cab. Markus cursed his stupidity. It had been a dumb idea. The City Guards were a law unto themselves. It would be pointless to complain about their treatment. Besides, his father would be in no mood to listen to petty complaints.
