Present time
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Epilogue
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The soft sound of running water echoed gingerly in the ancient walls. This small inner yard was perhaps the most open part of the monastery. While backed up from one side with a high wall, repelling the sunlight, from the other it was facing only the abyss; a large, deep pit, separating Gol from the distant mountains. Every morning, one of the adepts descended the old, crumpled steps and gathered water from the springs in several heavy, ceramic jars to provide for the needs of the rest. Sometimes, when for some reason water supplies ran out more quickly, two adepts were sent out to do the chore, in order to compensate for such an occurrence.
As had happened this morning.
Having deposited six big, heavy jars on the ground to be filled, two Vulcans had come to stand side by side at the brink of the chasm, watching the dark clouds gathering over the mountain tops. The Kolinahru rarely spoke to each other, but this time, one of them broke the routine.
"An electrical storm. This is peculiar. It is not yet the season."
Wind was tugging at their robes, and the other adept leaned his head back slightly, making his hood slide off to his shoulders.
"It is not going to be an electrical storm," Spock said, watching the clouds draw nearer. "I sense water in the air. It is going to rain."
His companion's amazement was so deep that he turned to look at Spock directly.
"There hasn't been a thunderstorm in these mountains for the last ninety-seven years."
"Nevertheless," Spock maintained, unperturbed. "It is going to rain."
"How can you be so certain?"
Spock looked at the distant blurry line where the earth was meeting the sky, and for a moment, his gaze slid deeper, past the boundaries of the event horizon, further and further on across light years and star systems. And the answer to the question came easy, and it made perfect sense.
"It's raining in San Francisco."
His companion was long gone, but Spock remained on the cliff, face to face with the advancing storm, until the first heavy, rich drops of precious water began to fall onto the terracotta dust at his feet.
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The End
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Thank you all who remained with the story till the end. These three songs were frequently on my mind when I was working on it. I believe they would make an appropriate afterword. And yes, there is going to be a sequel, apart from Maneater, but no promises on when. Absolute Horizon hasn't been an easy story to tell.
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Blackmore's Night
Now and Then
The past is so familiar
But that's why you couldn't stay
Too many ghosts, too many haunted dreams
Beside you were built to find your own way...
But after all these years, I thought we'd still hold on
But when I reach for you and search your eyes
I see you've already gone...
That's OK
I'll be fine
I've got myself, I'll heal in time
But when you leave just remember what we had...
There's more to life than just you
I may cry but I'll make it through
And I know that the sun will shine again
Though I may think of you now and then...
Can't do a thing with ashes
But throw them to the wind...
Though this heart may be in pieces now
You know I'll build it up again and
I'll come back stronger than I ever did before
Just don't turn around when you walk out that door...
That's OK
I'll be fine
I've got myself, I'll heal in time
But when you leave just remember what we had...
There's more to life than just you
I may cry but I'll make it through
And I know that the sun will shine again
Though I may think of you now and then...
That's OK
I'll be fine
I've got myself, I'll heal in time
And even though our stories at the end
I still may think of you now and then...
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U2
One
Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame
You say...
One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it
Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's...
Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...
Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...life
One
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The Beatles
Blackbird
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
