**
“Bors, durum kötü!”
“Zindan’dan daha önce böyle bir ses duymadım! Hadi buradan kaçalım!”
Maceracılar, Rüzgâr Gale ile karşılaştıktan sonra dağılmış, şimdi ise onu ve Bell’i grup halinde kovalıyorlardı. Efsanevi kaçağı kendi elleriyle öldürmeye kararlıydılar. Sürpriz saldırıdan sonra kaçmayı başarmıştı ama bu kadar büyük bir grupla onu alt edebileceklerinden emindiler.
Ancak işler hızla değişiyordu.
Yirmi beşinci katta muazzam patlamalar yaşanmış, şimdi de tartışmasız Zindan’dan gelen feryatlar duyuluyordu. Herkes, kulaklarını kapatmadan duramayacakları kadar yüksek frekanslı seslerin bir anormalliğe işaret ettiğini tahmin ediyordu. Üst düzey maceracılar, eşi benzeri görülmemiş bir şeyin olmak üzere olduğunu biliyor, istisnasız hepsi Rivira’nın liderine, partinin kattan tahliye edilmesini talep ediyorlardı.
“Hey, Bors! Bors!”
“…Bekle.”
“Ha?”
Bors avuç içini onlara doğru uzatınca hareket etmeyi bıraktılar. Devasa, göz bandı takılı başının yanından diğer elini çekip mırıldandı.
“Ses… kesildi.”
***
Deniz kızı kollarıyla vücudunu sardı.
Öğğ… Bu sesten nefret ediyorum…!
Suyun derinliklerindeydi, mavimsi bir karanlıkla çevriliydi. Annesi Zindan’ın korkunç çığlığından kaçmak için suya dalmış, suyun içinde saklanmaya çalışıyordu. Vücudu cenin gibi kıvrılmış, kulak görevi gören yüzgeçlerine ellerini çaresizce bastırıyordu.
Korkuyorum, korkuyorum, korkuyorum…!
Daha önce olmuştu, sadece bir kez.
Beş yıl önceydi, emindi.
Annesinin Zindan’ın çok daha derinlerinden gelen feryadını duymuştu. Elbette o zamanlar Su Başkenti’nden ayrılamayan Mari ile alakası yoktu ama yine de korkmuştu.
O zaman da kötü bir şey doğmuştu. Çok şey bilmiyordu ama bunu biliyordu. Anlıyordu.
Mari ellerini kulaklarına bastırdı ve gözlerini sımsıkı kapattı. Korkunç gerçeklikten kendini ayırmak için suyun derinliklerine kaçmıştı. Ama kapalı göz kapaklarının ardında arkadaşlarını ve ailesini —Xenosları— gördü.
Xenoslar ve Zindan’da daha yeni tanıştığı çocuğun sırtının bir görüntüsü.
Kendi ailesi kadar önemli olan o çocuk buradaydı.
O, zaten en değerli hazineleri arasındaydı.
Bell…!
Korkusunu itti ve gözlerini açmaya zorladı. Gözyaşları suya karışırken ve kuyruğu suya vururken, deniz kızı ışığın süzüldüğü yüzeye doğru yüzdü.
***
“Ucuz atlattık…” diye mırıldandı Lilly, çenesinden süzülen ter damlasını umursamayarak.
Gözlerinin önünde çökmüş bir kristal zemin vardı. Çok aşağıda, azgın su yolunu görebiliyordu. Partisi, etraflarında patlamalar yankılanıp yol benzeri her şeyi yok ederken, çökmekte olan yirmi beşinci katta koşarak felaketten zar zor kurtulmuştu.
Hasarın ne kadar yaygın olduğunu bilmiyorlardı ama kötü olduğunu biliyorlardı. Her halükarda, kendileriyle aynı durumda olan canavarlarla savaşma zamanı değildi.
Su cenneti, harabeye dönmüş bir başkent olmuştu ve bazı rotalar artık geçilemezdi. Lilly, Zindan kendini onarmayı bitirene kadar yirmi dördüncü kata giden geçide geri dönemeyeceklerinden korkuyordu.
“Bu patlamalar beni endişelendiriyor ama…!”
“Bir dakika önceki o delicesine tiz ses… Yirmi yedinci kattan mı geliyordu?!”
“Eğer bu bir anormallikse, o zaman Sör Bell…?!”
Aisha, Welf ve Mikoto da aynı derecede perişandı.
“Cassandra! Cassandra! Kendine gel!”
“Bayan Cassandra?”
Ama şifacı, hepsinden daha fazla üzgündü. Yerde yığılmış, yanında diz çökmüş omzunu sallayan Daphne’ye ya da çılgınca adını haykıran Haruhime’ye tepki vermiyordu.
Bacaklarından güç çekilmişti ve başını iki eliyle kavramıştı. Yüzü bembeyazdı. Kanı o kadar çekilmişti ki arkadaşları, bir insanın bu kadar derin bir umutsuzluğa düşmesinin mümkün olup olmadığını merak ediyordu.
Tuhaftı.
Lilly ne olduğunu anlayamıyordu.
Ouka ve Welf de gergin bir şekilde nefeslerini tutarak izlerken aynı şeyi hissediyorlardı.
Kaosun ortasında düşünme yetenekleri körelmişti.
Lilly, Cassandra’nın ne dediğini zar zor seçebiliyordu.
“…k…aç…”
Tekrar tekrar bir şeyler çığlık atıyordu.
“Kaçın…!”
***
Kristal kayaların parçalanma sesi yankılanırken, yarığın içinden sessizce belirdi.
Mağaranın duvarından doğmuş, muazzam bir sıçramayla derin havuza düştü. Yeni doğan çığlığı, hoş olmayan sıcak bir iç çekişti.
Büyük Şelale’nin çarpma sesi tenine vururken, beyaz sis siluetini örtüyordu. Ne uludu ne de savaş çığlığı attı; bunun yerine uzun kuyruğunu salladı ve iki bacağını hareket ettirerek su yüzeyinde dalgalanmalar yarattı.
Göz çukurunun derinliklerinde uğursuz, kızıl bir ışık parladı.
Göl kadar geniş derin havuzun kenarında eklemlerini büktü ve dizleri gıcırdadı.
Bir sonraki an, gözden kayboldu.
Su yüzeyinden fırlayarak katın iç labirentine dalmıştı.
***
“Hey, Bors’la buluşmaya çalışmamalı mıyız?”
“Aptal. Önce kendi canımızı kurtarırız!”
Küçük maceracı grubu yirmi yedinci kattaydı ama Bors’un ana partisiyle buluşamamışlardı. Bunun yerine, insanlardan ve hayvan insanlardan oluşan dört kişilik parti, indikleri yoldan aceleyle geri dönmüştü. Zindan’ın anormalliği karşısında cesaretleri kırılmıştı.
Zindan’ı keşfederek geçimini sağlayan bir grup serseri için bu, bariz bir eylem tarzıydı.
Ama işler bekledikleri gibi gitmedi.
“…? Bu da ne sesi…?”
Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak!
Arka taraflarından garip bir ses geliyordu. Bir şeyin zıpladığını andırıyordu. Maceracılar durdu ve omuzlarının üzerinden arkalarına baktı.
Ses hızla onlara yaklaşıyordu.
Geçidin derinliklerinde bir gölge belirdi.
“Ha?”
“Bir şey geli—”
Pat!
Oldukça hoş bir ses duyuldu, ardından maceracının kafası patladı ve cümlesini bitiremedi. Son anı geldiğinde bile ne olduğunu anlayamamıştı.
Dizleri yere çökerken, kendisinden kan fışkıran sessiz bir et yığınına dönüşmüştü.
Dört kez oldu.
Yok edildiler.
Pençelerinden damlayan taze kanı umursamadı ve maceracıların cesetlerini çiğnedi. Devasa gölgesi labirentin üzerine düşerken, canavar yön değiştirdi.
Bir sonraki avına doğru ilerliyordu.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa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(Bu kısım, Light Novel'in anlatım tarzına uygun bir başlık olmalıdır. Örneğin: "Felaketin Ayak Sesleri" veya "Karanlık Bir Dönüm Noktası")
“Bors, durum kötü!”
“Zindan’dan daha önce böyle bir ses duymadım! Hadi buradan kaçalım!”
Maceracılar, Rüzgâr Gale ile karşılaştıktan sonra dağılmış, şimdi ise onu ve Bell’i grup halinde kovalıyorlardı. Efsanevi kaçağı kendi elleriyle öldürmeye kararlıydılar. Sürpriz saldırıdan sonra kaçmayı başarmıştı ama bu kadar büyük bir grupla onu alt edebileceklerinden emindiler.
Ancak işler hızla değişiyordu.
Yirmi beşinci katta muazzam patlamalar yaşanmış, şimdi de tartışmasız Zindan’dan gelen feryatlar duyuluyordu. Herkes, kulaklarını kapatmadan duramayacakları kadar yüksek frekanslı seslerin bir anormalliğe işaret ettiğini tahmin ediyordu. Üst düzey maceracılar, eşi benzeri görülmemiş bir şeyin olmak üzere olduğunu biliyor, istisnasız hepsi Rivira’nın liderine, partinin kattan tahliye edilmesini talep ediyorlardı.
“Hey, Bors! Bors!”
“…Bekle.”
“Ha?”
Bors avuç içini onlara doğru uzatınca hareket etmeyi bıraktılar. Devasa, göz bandı takılı başının yanından diğer elini çekip mırıldandı.
“Ses… kesildi.”
***
Deniz kızı kollarıyla vücudunu sardı.
Öğğ… Bu sesten nefret ediyorum…!
Suyun derinliklerindeydi, mavimsi bir karanlıkla çevriliydi. Annesi Zindan’ın korkunç çığlığından kaçmak için suya dalmış, suyun içinde saklanmaya çalışıyordu. Vücudu cenin gibi kıvrılmış, kulak görevi gören yüzgeçlerine ellerini çaresizce bastırıyordu.
Korkuyorum, korkuyorum, korkuyorum…!
Daha önce olmuştu, sadece bir kez.
Beş yıl önceydi, emindi.
Annesinin Zindan’ın çok daha derinlerinden gelen feryadını duymuştu. Elbette o zamanlar Su Başkenti’nden ayrılamayan Mari ile alakası yoktu ama yine de korkmuştu.
O zaman da kötü bir şey doğmuştu. Çok şey bilmiyordu ama bunu biliyordu. Anlıyordu.
Mari ellerini kulaklarına bastırdı ve gözlerini sımsıkı kapattı. Korkunç gerçeklikten kendini ayırmak için suyun derinliklerine kaçmıştı. Ama kapalı göz kapaklarının ardında arkadaşlarını ve ailesini —Xenosları— gördü.
Xenoslar ve Zindan’da daha yeni tanıştığı çocuğun sırtının bir görüntüsü.
Kendi ailesi kadar önemli olan o çocuk buradaydı.
O, zaten en değerli hazineleri arasındaydı.
Bell…!
Korkusunu itti ve gözlerini açmaya zorladı. Gözyaşları suya karışırken ve kuyruğu suya vururken, deniz kızı ışığın süzüldüğü yüzeye doğru yüzdü.
***
“Ucuz atlattık…” diye mırıldandı Lilly, çenesinden süzülen ter damlasını umursamayarak.
Gözlerinin önünde çökmüş bir kristal zemin vardı. Çok aşağıda, azgın su yolunu görebiliyordu. Partisi, etraflarında patlamalar yankılanıp yol benzeri her şeyi yok ederken, çökmekte olan yirmi beşinci katta koşarak felaketten zar zor kurtulmuştu.
Hasarın ne kadar yaygın olduğunu bilmiyorlardı ama kötü olduğunu biliyorlardı. Her halükarda, kendileriyle aynı durumda olan canavarlarla savaşma zamanı değildi.
Su cenneti, harabeye dönmüş bir başkent olmuştu ve bazı rotalar artık geçilemezdi. Lilly, Zindan kendini onarmayı bitirene kadar yirmi dördüncü kata giden geçide geri dönemeyeceklerinden korkuyordu.
“Bu patlamalar beni endişelendiriyor ama…!”
“Bir dakika önceki o delicesine tiz ses… Yirmi yedinci kattan mı geliyordu?!”
“Eğer bu bir anormallikse, o zaman Sör Bell…?!”
Aisha, Welf ve Mikoto da aynı derecede perişandı.
“Cassandra! Cassandra! Kendine gel!”
“Bayan Cassandra?”
Ama şifacı, hepsinden daha fazla üzgündü. Yerde yığılmış, yanında diz çökmüş omzunu sallayan Daphne’ye ya da çılgınca adını haykıran Haruhime’ye tepki vermiyordu.
Bacaklarından güç çekilmişti ve başını iki eliyle kavramıştı. Yüzü bembeyazdı. Kanı o kadar çekilmişti ki arkadaşları, bir insanın bu kadar derin bir umutsuzluğa düşmesinin mümkün olup olmadığını merak ediyordu.
Tuhaftı.
Lilly ne olduğunu anlayamıyordu.
Ouka ve Welf de gergin bir şekilde nefeslerini tutarak izlerken aynı şeyi hissediyorlardı.
Kaosun ortasında düşünme yetenekleri körelmişti.
Lilly, Cassandra’nın ne dediğini zar zor seçebiliyordu.
“…k…aç…”
Tekrar tekrar bir şeyler çığlık atıyordu.
“Kaçın…!”
***
Kristal kayaların parçalanma sesi yankılanırken, yarığın içinden sessizce belirdi.
Mağaranın duvarından doğmuş, muazzam bir sıçramayla derin havuza düştü. Yeni doğan çığlığı, hoş olmayan sıcak bir iç çekişti.
Büyük Şelale’nin çarpma sesi tenine vururken, beyaz sis siluetini örtüyordu. Ne uludu ne de savaş çığlığı attı; bunun yerine uzun kuyruğunu salladı ve iki bacağını hareket ettirerek su yüzeyinde dalgalanmalar yarattı.
Göz çukurunun derinliklerinde uğursuz, kızıl bir ışık parladı.
Göl kadar geniş derin havuzun kenarında eklemlerini büktü ve dizleri gıcırdadı.
Bir sonraki an, gözden kayboldu.
Su yüzeyinden fırlayarak katın iç labirentine dalmıştı.
***
“Hey, Bors’la buluşmaya çalışmamalı mıyız?”
“Aptal. Önce kendi canımızı kurtarırız!”
Küçük maceracı grubu yirmi yedinci kattaydı ama Bors’un ana partisiyle buluşamamışlardı. Bunun yerine, insanlardan ve hayvan insanlardan oluşan dört kişilik parti, indikleri yoldan aceleyle geri dönmüştü. Zindan’ın anormalliği karşısında cesaretleri kırılmıştı.
Zindan’ı keşfederek geçimini sağlayan bir grup serseri için bu, bariz bir eylem tarzıydı.
Ama işler bekledikleri gibi gitmedi.
“…? Bu da ne sesi…?”
Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak!
Arka taraflarından garip bir ses geliyordu. Bir şeyin zıpladığını andırıyordu. Maceracılar durdu ve omuzlarının üzerinden arkalarına baktı.
Ses hızla onlara yaklaşıyordu.
Geçidin derinliklerinde bir gölge belirdi.
“Ha?”
“Bir şey geli—”
Pat!
Oldukça hoş bir ses duyuldu, ardından maceracının kafası patladı ve cümlesini bitiremedi. Son anı geldiğinde bile ne olduğunu anlayamamıştı.
Dizleri yere çökerken, kendisinden kan fışkıran sessiz bir et yığınına dönüşmüştü.
Dört kez oldu.
Yok edildiler.
Pençelerinden damlayan taze kanı umursamadı ve maceracıların cesetlerini çiğnedi. Devasa gölgesi labirentin üzerine düşerken, canavar yön değiştirdi.
Bir sonraki avına doğru ilerliyordu.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (Bu kısım, Light Novel'in anlatım tarzına uygun bir başlık olmalıdır. Örneğin: "Felaketin Ayak Sesleri" veya "Karanlık Bir Dönüm Noktası")
“Bors, durum kötü!”
“Zindan’dan daha önce böyle bir ses duymadım! Hadi buradan kaçalım!”
Maceracılar, Rüzgâr Gale ile karşılaştıktan sonra dağılmış, şimdi ise onu ve Bell’i grup halinde kovalıyorlardı. Efsanevi kaçağı kendi elleriyle öldürmeye kararlıydılar. Sürpriz saldırıdan sonra kaçmayı başarmıştı ama bu kadar büyük bir grupla onu alt edebileceklerinden emindiler.
Ancak işler hızla değişiyordu.
Yirmi beşinci katta muazzam patlamalar yaşanmış, şimdi de tartışmasız Zindan’dan gelen feryatlar duyuluyordu. Herkes, kulaklarını kapatmadan duramayacakları kadar yüksek frekanslı seslerin bir anormalliğe işaret ettiğini tahmin ediyordu. Üst düzey maceracılar, eşi benzeri görülmemiş bir şeyin olmak üzere olduğunu biliyor, istisnasız hepsi Rivira’nın liderine, partinin kattan tahliye edilmesini talep ediyorlardı.
“Hey, Bors! Bors!”
“…Bekle.”
“Ha?”
Bors avuç içini onlara doğru uzatınca hareket etmeyi bıraktılar. Devasa, göz bandı takılı başının yanından diğer elini çekip mırıldandı.
“Ses… kesildi.”
***
Deniz kızı kollarıyla vücudunu sardı.
Öğğ… Bu sesten nefret ediyorum…!
Suyun derinliklerindeydi, mavimsi bir karanlıkla çevriliydi. Annesi Zindan’ın korkunç çığlığından kaçmak için suya dalmış, suyun içinde saklanmaya çalışıyordu. Vücudu cenin gibi kıvrılmış, kulak görevi gören yüzgeçlerine ellerini çaresizce bastırıyordu.
Korkuyorum, korkuyorum, korkuyorum…!
Daha önce olmuştu, sadece bir kez.
Beş yıl önceydi, emindi.
Annesinin Zindan’ın çok daha derinlerinden gelen feryadını duymuştu. Elbette o zamanlar Su Başkenti’nden ayrılamayan Mari ile alakası yoktu ama yine de korkmuştu.
O zaman da kötü bir şey doğmuştu. Çok şey bilmiyordu ama bunu biliyordu. Anlıyordu.
Mari ellerini kulaklarına bastırdı ve gözlerini sımsıkı kapattı. Korkunç gerçeklikten kendini ayırmak için suyun derinliklerine kaçmıştı. Ama kapalı göz kapaklarının ardında arkadaşlarını ve ailesini —Xenosları— gördü.
Xenoslar ve Zindan’da daha yeni tanıştığı çocuğun sırtının bir görüntüsü.
Kendi ailesi kadar önemli olan o çocuk buradaydı.
O, zaten en değerli hazineleri arasındaydı.
Bell…!
Korkusunu itti ve gözlerini açmaya zorladı. Gözyaşları suya karışırken ve kuyruğu suya vururken, deniz kızı ışığın süzüldüğü yüzeye doğru yüzdü.
***
“Ucuz atlattık…” diye mırıldandı Lilly, çenesinden süzülen ter damlasını umursamayarak.
Gözlerinin önünde çökmüş bir kristal zemin vardı. Çok aşağıda, azgın su yolunu görebiliyordu. Partisi, etraflarında patlamalar yankılanıp yol benzeri her şeyi yok ederken, çökmekte olan yirmi beşinci katta koşarak felaketten zar zor kurtulmuştu.
Hasarın ne kadar yaygın olduğunu bilmiyorlardı ama kötü olduğunu biliyorlardı. Her halükarda, kendileriyle aynı durumda olan canavarlarla savaşma zamanı değildi.
Su cenneti, harabeye dönmüş bir başkent olmuştu ve bazı rotalar artık geçilemezdi. Lilly, Zindan kendini onarmayı bitirene kadar yirmi dördüncü kata giden geçide geri dönemeyeceklerinden korkuyordu.
“Bu patlamalar beni endişelendiriyor ama…!”
“Bir dakika önceki o delicesine tiz ses… Yirmi yedinci kattan mı geliyordu?!”
“Eğer bu bir anormallikse, o zaman Sör Bell…?!”
Aisha, Welf ve Mikoto da aynı derecede perişandı.
“Cassandra! Cassandra! Kendine gel!”
“Bayan Cassandra?”
Ama şifacı, hepsinden daha fazla üzgündü. Yerde yığılmış, yanında diz çökmüş omzunu sallayan Daphne’ye ya da çılgınca adını haykıran Haruhime’ye tepki vermiyordu.
Bacaklarından güç çekilmişti ve başını iki eliyle kavramıştı. Yüzü bembeyazdı. Kanı o kadar çekilmişti ki arkadaşları, bir insanın bu kadar derin bir umutsuzluğa düşmesinin mümkün olup olmadığını merak ediyordu.
Tuhaftı.
Lilly ne olduğunu anlayamıyordu.
Ouka ve Welf de gergin bir şekilde nefeslerini tutarak izlerken aynı şeyi hissediyorlardı.
Kaosun ortasında düşünme yetenekleri körelmişti.
Lilly, Cassandra’nın ne dediğini zar zor seçebiliyordu.
“…k…aç…”
Tekrar tekrar bir şeyler çığlık atıyordu.
“Kaçın…!”
***
Kristal kayaların parçalanma sesi yankılanırken, yarığın içinden sessizce belirdi.
Mağaranın duvarından doğmuş, muazzam bir sıçramayla derin havuza düştü. Yeni doğan çığlığı, hoş olmayan sıcak bir iç çekişti.
Büyük Şelale’nin çarpma sesi tenine vururken, beyaz sis siluetini örtüyordu. Ne uludu ne de savaş çığlığı attı; bunun yerine uzun kuyruğunu salladı ve iki bacağını hareket ettirerek su yüzeyinde dalgalanmalar yarattı.
Göz çukurunun derinliklerinde uğursuz, kızıl bir ışık parladı.
Göl kadar geniş derin havuzun kenarında eklemlerini büktü ve dizleri gıcırdadı.
Bir sonraki an, gözden kayboldu.
Su yüzeyinden fırlayarak katın iç labirentine dalmıştı.
***
“Hey, Bors’la buluşmaya çalışmamalı mıyız?”
“Aptal. Önce kendi canımızı kurtarırız!”
Küçük maceracı grubu yirmi yedinci kattaydı ama Bors’un ana partisiyle buluşamamışlardı. Bunun yerine, insanlardan ve hayvan insanlardan oluşan dört kişilik parti, indikleri yoldan aceleyle geri dönmüştü. Zindan’ın anormalliği karşısında cesaretleri kırılmıştı.
Zindan’ı keşfederek geçimini sağlayan bir grup serseri için bu, bariz bir eylem tarzıydı.
Ama işler bekledikleri gibi gitmedi.
“…? Bu da ne sesi…?”
Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak!
Arka taraflarından garip bir ses geliyordu. Bir şeyin zıpladığını andırıyordu. Maceracılar durdu ve omuzlarının üzerinden arkalarına baktı.
Ses hızla onlara yaklaşıyordu.
Geçidin derinliklerinde bir gölge belirdi.
“Ha?”
“Bir şey geli—”
Pat!
Oldukça hoş bir ses duyuldu, ardından maceracının kafası patladı ve cümlesini bitiremedi. Son anı geldiğinde bile ne olduğunu anlayamamıştı.
Dizleri yere çökerken, kendisinden kan fışkıran sessiz bir et yığınına dönüşmüştü.
Dört kez oldu.
Yok edildiler.
Pençelerinden damlayan taze kanı umursamadı ve maceracıların cesetlerini çiğnedi. Devasa gölgesi labirentin üzerine düşerken, canavar yön değiştirdi.
Bir sonraki avına doğru ilerliyordu.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa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(Bu kısştaki uzun çığlıklar, orijinal metindeki harf uzatmalarına sadık kalınarak Türkçeye aktarılmıştır.)
Bazıları hızla parçalandı.
Bazıları paramparça edildi.
Bazılarının onuru oyuncak haline geldi.
Umutsuzca kaçmaya çalışanlar, etraflarını saran ve onları sayısız diş ve pençeyle parçalayan diğer canavarlar tarafından yere serildi ve daha da acınası bir şekilde yas tutuldu.
Ölen ve yoldaşlarını geride bırakanlar ardında hüzün bıraktı. Ancak onlara yas tutanlar da kısa süre sonra aynı yolu izledi.
Su Başkenti, bir katliam sahnesine dönüşmüştü.
“Aman Tanrım…!”
“Bu da ne…!”
Bunu gördüklerinde, Chigusa korkuyla titredi ve Ouka donakaldı.
Yirmi beşinci kattaki mağaradaydılar.
Lilly ve partinin geri kalanı, yirmi altıncı kata giden geçidin yakınındaki şelalenin ağzındaki uçurumda durmuş, kulaklarında gürleyen şelalenin sesiyle aşağıya, manzaraya bakıyorlardı. Mağaraya yeni çıkmışlardı.
Büyük Şelale kıpkırmızı akıyordu. Soluk, gelip geçici bir kızıl renkti.
Labirentin içindeki su yollarına doğrudan bağlı olan çağlayan, canavarların ziyafetinin ürettiği bir kan nehri kusuyordu. Yirmi yedinci kattaki göletin zümrüt mavisi, artık soluk bir anıdan ibaretti.
Çok aşağıda, suda sallanan, Lilly ve diğerlerine siyah noktalar gibi görünen, yarı yenmiş cesetlerin kopmuş bacakları ve kollarıydı. Silahların ve maceracıların acınası kalıntıları, bu su cennetinin en alt seviyesinde yüzüyor ve batıyordu.
Cehennemin derinlikleri cesetlerle dolup taşıyor, hepsini “anne”ye, Zindan’a geri döndürüyordu.
“Olamaz… Hepsi… kan mı…?”
Welf, sesindeki titremeyi gizleyemedi.
“Bu delilik; kaç maceracı…? Yirmi yedinci kata giden herkes mi…?”
Mikoto’nun sesi de, bu olasılığı düşündükçe kısıldı.
“Lütfen şaka yapmayı bırakın! Bay Bell hâlâ yaşıyor! Bay Bell…!” diye panik içinde söyledi Lilly.
Lilly’den bile daha panik olan Haruhime, bembeyaz kesilmişti.
“Ah, aaah…!!”
Aisha bile dalgındı.
“…Bu da ne oluyor?”
İkinci seviye maceracı, bakışlarını kan kırmızısı göletten karşısındaki yarığa çevirdi.
Bir an için, o çok derin yarıktan neyin çıktığını hayal ettikçe nefes almayı unuttu.
“…Yirmi yedinci kata gidelim! Ne olduğunu bilmiyorum ama Bay Bell’i kurtarmalıyız!” diye bağırdı Lilly. Çok yukarısında, yirmi dördüncü kata giden geçidin yanındaki uçurumda duran başka bir maceracı grubu çığlık atıyordu.
Yirmi altıncı katın içine giden tünel, Lilly ve diğerlerinin şimdi durduğu mağaranın güneydoğu tarafındaydı. Hestia Familia için aşağıdaki katlar bilinmeyen bir dünyaydı ama hepsi Lilly’ye başlarını salladı. Ne Welf ne Mikoto ne de Haruhime bir an bile tereddüt etmedi.
Lilly, diğerlerini de peşinden sürükleyerek mağarada koşmaya başlayacaktı ki, o ana kadar sessiz kalan Cassandra elini tuttu.
“!! Bayan Cassandra! Şaka yapmanın sırası deği—”
Küçük elini iki eliyle sıkıca tutan kızın yüzüne baktığında sözü boğazında düğümlendi.
“Cassan…dra…?” dedi Daphne, Lilly kadar hareketsiz duruyordu.
Welf ve diğerleri de durmuş, sessizce Cassandra’ya bakıyorlardı.
“Üzgünüm… Üzgünüm; üzgünüm; üzgünüm…!”
Hıçkırıyordu ama Lilly’nin elini bırakmıyordu.
Yüzü umutsuzlukla doluydu. Başını eğmiş, gözlerinden yaşlar sel gibi akıyordu. Orada olmayanlardan özür diliyordu.
“Üzgünüm; üzgünüm…!!”
Ona inanmayacakları için vazgeçtiği sayısız maceracıdan özür diliyordu.
Ve felaket yerine gitmesine izin verdiği çocuktan da.
Özür dilemeyi bırakamıyordu.
Bu, “felaket ziyafeti”ydi.
Zindan hiçbir şey söylemedi. Sadece duvarlarına sıçrayan kanı kabul etti, sanki olayların doğal akışı buydu. Daha önce mavi parlayan kristaller şimdi kana bulanmıştı; Bell’in partisini hayran bırakan fantastik manzarayı bir cehennem tablosuna dönüştürüyordu.
Zindan, yolculuklarının nasıl biteceğini biliyordu.
Kimse canlı dönmeyecekti.
***
Tavandaki kristaller şimdi kararmıştı, yirmi beşinci kattaki patlamalar yüzünden enerjisi bitmek üzere olan sihirli taş fenerler gibi. Oda giderek karardıkça, kulaklarımıza sesler ulaşıyor.
“Bu da ne…?!”
Canavarların kaotik ulumaları.
Zindan’ı sarsan bir şeyin sesi.
Ve tüm bunlara karışan, uzaktan gelen ama belirgin bir şekilde insan çığlıkları.
Sesler, tuhaf, rahatsız edici bir melodiyle iç içe geçiyor.
Bu sesler ne?
Bu çığlıklar ne?!
Lyu’nun bedenini desteklerken, önümüzdeki adama bağırmaktan kendimi alıkoyamıyorum.
“Ne yaptın sen?!”
“Bir tören bu, anlıyor musun!”
Derin bir sevinçle gülümsüyor.
“Beni kabusumdan uyandıracak bir tören!”
“Kabus…?”
Çökmüş gözleri cam gibi parlıyor, sanki delirdiğini gösterircesine. Umutsuz bir durum. Neyden bahsettiği hakkında hiçbir fikrim yok.
Paniğimi körükleyen şey, önümüzde genişçe sırıtarak duran bu adamın da bizim kadar kötü bir durumda olmasıydı. Canavarlar ulumaya devam ederken ve Zindan sallanırken ter damlıyordu, dişleri takırdamaya başlayacak gibi görünüyordu.
Sanki o da ölümün çenelerine doğru ilerliyordu—.
Ama bundan bile daha çok endişelendiren şey, her zaman bu kadar sakin ve soğukkanlı olan Lyu’nun şu anki haliydi.
“Jura…!”
Kollarımdan uzaklaşıyor ve düzensiz nefesini sakinleştirmeye çalışıyor. Ama küçük bedeni iradesine uymuyor. Sanki taşmak üzere olan bir korkuyla savaşıyor ya da daha doğrusu, onu bağlayan travma zincirlerinden kaçamadığı için şiddetle titremeye devam ediyor.
Kollarını sıkıca göğsüne sarıyor ve kedi adama delici bakışlar atıyor. Ancak o, küçülmek bir yana, durumdan keyif alıyor gibiydi.
“Yani hâlâ anlamadın mı, ha, Tavşan Ayak, Leon neredeyse ölecek kadar üzgün olmasına rağmen?” Bana alaycı bir şekilde laf atıyor. “Onu buraya, yirmi yedinci kata çağırdım!”
“Dur!!”
Lyu’nun yalvarışını görmezden geliyor ve sadece tekrar bağırıyor. Sonraki sözleri beni dilsiz bırakıyor.
“Astrea Familia’yı katleden canavarı çağırdım!”
“!!”
***
Ouranos tahtından kalktı.
“Ouranos, ne oldu?”
Lonca’nın altındaki Dua Odası’ndaydı, bir tapınağı andıran taş bir odaydı. Yeraltı odasının sunağına yerleştirilmiş dört meşale kırmızı bir parıltı saçıyordu. Gölgeli alanın merkezinde duran tanrı, mavi gözlerini büyüttü.
Oculus aracılığıyla bile Fels, yaşlı tanrının koltuğundan kalkmasına neden olan durumun ciddiyetini hissetti. Normal şartlarda nadiren hareket ederdi.
Ouranos için zaman durmuştu. Ciddi bir şekilde konuştu.
“O şey ortaya çıktı…”
“Şey mi? Neden bahsediyorsun? Ne diyorsun, Ouranos?”
Tanrının tuhaf davranışına karşılık Fels’in sesi panik içinde yükseldi.
Ouranos, kristal küreye konuşurken kısık gözlerle ayaklarının altında yayılan yeraltı dünyasına baktı.
“Beş yıl önce Astrea Familia’yı yok eden canavar…”
“…?!”
Ouranos, şaşkına dönmüş Fels’e ciddi bir şekilde konuşmaya devam etti.
“Felaket yeniden başladı…”
***
“Beş yıl önce, benim familiam, Rudra Familia, Astrea Familia ile çekişme halindeydi, anlıyor musun! Kimin haklı olduğu ya da ne olduğu umurumda değil ama biz Kötülerin yoluna çıkıyorlardı ve buna dayanamadık! Bu yüzden onları Zindan’a hapsetmeye karar verdik!”
Jura’nın sözleri yirmi yedinci kattaki odada yankılanırken Bell şok içinde ağzı açık kaldı.
Zihninin derinliklerinde bir sinyal zonkladı.
Şimdi duyduğu şey, Lyu’nun on sekizinci katta anlattığı hikayeyle bağlantılıydı.
“Tıpkı bugün gibi, bir sürü yangın bombası topladık! Leon’u ve familliasını oraya çekip onları diri diri gömmeyi düşündük! Ama o sert piçler ölmedi. Hatta savunmaya geçmek zorunda kaldık!”
O günü hatırladıkça Jura’nın gözlerinde korku ve öfke yükseldi. Ancak aniden duyguları soğumuş gibiydi ve dudaklarında rahatsız edici bir gülümse belirdi.
“Ama sonra… beklemediğimiz bir şey oldu.”
Lyu’nun yüzü çarpıldı ve Jura irkildi.
“Beklenmedik…?” diye sordu Bell, yüzünden terler akıyordu.
Kedi adamın benzi soldu ama yine de genişçe sırıtmayı sürdürdü.
“Zindan’dan türeyen bir canavar, anlıyor musun.”
***
“Aşırı hasar meydana geldiğinde, kendini koruma içgüdüsünü tetikler… Zindan’ın feryadı o kadar korkunçtu ki dualarım bile ona ulaşamadı.”
Ouranos, Zindan’ın devam eden sesini dinlerken kederle konuştu.
Beş yıl önceki o gün, Rudra Familia pervasızca yığınla Cehennem Taşı’nı Zindan’a getirmiş, katlardan birinde büyük patlamaların meydana gelmesine neden olmuştu.
Hasar o kadar büyüktü ki, labirent terimi artık hiçbir anlam ifade etmiyordu.
Ve sonra Zindan uyarı sinyalini göndermişti.
“Eğer sadece labirentin yapısına zarar vermiş olsalardı, pek bir şey olmazdı. Zindan kendini onarır ve rejenerasyon yapardı. Çocukların ‘sonsuz kaynak’ dediği kadar büyük bir güce sahip…”
“Ama yıkıcı davranış o kadar büyük, o kadar aşırıysa… ki rejenerasyon yetişemezse…”
“Evet… Zindan, rejenerasyonu değil, hasarın kaynağının yok edilmesini seçer.”
Aslında oldukça basitti, eğer Zindan’ı canlı bir varlık olarak düşünürsek.
Yabancı bir organizma bir insana içeriden saldırdığında, bağışıklık sistemi istilacı patojeni öldürmek için harekete geçer. Bu, tüm canlı varlıkların doğal kendini savunma içgüdüsüdür.
Aynısı Zindan için de geçerlidir.
Maceracıların dediği gibi, “Zindan yaşıyor.” Tüm canavarların rahmi çok şiddetli saldırıya uğradığında, yaşayan yeraltı labirenti savunma içgüdülerini harekete geçirir ve bağışıklık tepkisi olarak hizmet eden bir varlık türetir.
Yabancı organizmaları—bu durumda, istilacı maceracıları—öldüren bu varlık, Zindan’ın elçisi olarak düşünülebilir. Ve Zindan’ı kontrol altında tutma rolü olan Ouranos’un iradesini bile silkeleyip atar.
“Beş yıl önce meydana gelen hasarın aynısı bir kez daha mı yaşandı diyorsun?” diye sordu Fels.
“Durum böyle görünüyor…”
Beş yıl önce Zindan'ın ortaya çıkardığı varlık, bir Anormal'di.
Ouranos bunu tahmin etmemişti; dolayısıyla Astrea Familiası ya da Rudra Familiası da etmemişti. Bu, gerçekten de bilinmeyen bir canavardı.
Loki Familiası onu hiç görmemişti, Freya Familiası da. O zamanın en büyük iki familiası olan Zeus ve Hera Familiası da görmemişti. Yani, tanrıların ölümlü düzleme indiği bin yıl boyunca bu olay yalnızca bir kez gözlemlenmişti.
Yalnızca Zindan'dan merhamet dileyen Ouranos bunu fark etmişti.
Ve bu isimsiz canavarın kurbanlarından başkası onu hiç görmemişti.
“Benim dışımda herkes öldürüldü! Astrea Familiası’ndan o lanet kadın ve ben!”
Lyu'nun ondan sakladığı tüm hikâyeyi dinlerken, Bell'in zihninde şoktan başka hiçbir şey kalmamıştı.
Yanında, Lyu'nun yüzü acıyla doluydu.
“Son beş yıldır ne olduğunu araştırdım! Buna neyin sebep olduğunu ve o canavarı nasıl yeniden çağırabileceğimi tüm ayrıntılarıyla inceledim! Kötülüklerin Kalıntıları’ndan hiçbirine sormadım – hepsini kendim yaptım!”
Jura'nın hararetli açıklamalarını dinlerken Bell kulaklarına inanamıyordu. Başı hâlâ şaşkınlıkla dönerken ve dudakları titrerken, nihayet konuştu.
“Neden? Neden o şeyi tekrar çağırmak istedin…?”
“Eğitmek için, elbette ki!” Jura anında sertçe karşılık verdi. “O zamanlar altıma işesem de sıçsam da, bir eğitmen olarak gözlerimi ondan alamadım. Leon, sana bir canavar gibi mi görünüyordu? Bana değil! Bana göre, bir tanrıçadan bile daha güzeldi!”
Lyu, Jura’nın bakışına anlaşılmaz bir gözlerle karşılık verdi.
İlk kez, kedi adamın sesi titriyordu.
Bir canavar aşığı.
Bu ifade Bell'in zihnine kazındı.
“Varlığı eziciydi, her şeyi öldürüyor, her şeyi yok ediyordu! Onu istedim; hepsini kendime istedim!”
Belki de bir eğitmen olduğu için, gözleri bir çocuğunki gibi parlıyor, sesi sapkın bir sevinçle titriyordu.
O zamanlar, ezici bir huşu ve korku tüm vücudunu titretse de, canavara sahip olmayı yürekten arzulamıştı. Jura, bir anlamda, o korkunç yaratığı ilahlaştırmış ve ona tapmıştı.
Başka bir deyişle, tek kollu eğitmen, ezici gücü böylesi bir trajediye yol açan o canavara tutulmuştu.
Jura en derin motivasyonlarını açıklarken, Lyu ona öfkeyle baktı.
“Aptal! O canavar farklı! Öyle değil! Evcilleştirilebilecek bir şey değil!”
“Sıradan yöntemlerle değil! Ama bende bu var!”
Jura, genişleyebilen bir tasma çıkardı. Kırbaçla rezonansa girerek, Kötülükler tarafından yapılmış bu sihirli eşya, derin seviyelerdeki canavarları bile evcilleştirebilirdi.
“Ve bu yanımdayken, hiçbir şeyden korkmuyorum! Tehdit edilemem!”
“…?!”
“Senin tarafından bile değil, Leon!”
Jura, kalan eliyle Lyu'yu işaret etti, nefreti alev alev yanıyordu.
“Şimdiye kadar, rüyalarıma girmediğin tek bir gece bile olmadı! Evet, kâbustular! Ama o canavarı çağırdığımda… Evet! O günün kâbusunu yeneceğim!”
Bell, öfkeli söz selini dinlerken, kâbus ve üstesinden gelmek kelimelerinin anlamı zihninde netleşti. Lyu, Jura'nın travmasının somutlaşmış haliydi ve Jura, Lyu'nun kişisel travmasını onu aşağılamak ve yok etmek için kullanmayı planlıyordu.
Bu adama karşı sempatiye yer yoktu.
Yine de Bell, onun da geçmişin işkence ettiği başka bir birey olduğunu görebiliyordu.
“O benim! Asla vazgeçmeyeceğim!” diye uludu, tavana doğru bakarak.
Beş yıllık araştırma ve inceleme, Jura'yı iki sonuca ulaştırmıştı.
Birincisi, üst seviyelere ne kadar hasar verilirse verilsin, Zindan “ağıtını” yakmayacak, hatta bir uyarı bile vermeyecekti. Bunun nedeni, yüzeye yakın bölgenin Ouranos'un iradesinden büyük ölçüde etkilenmesiydi. Bu yüzden, canavarın o bölgeye çağırılamayacağını belirlemişti.
İkinci sonucu, isimsiz canavarın ortaya çıkması için gereken koşullarla ilgiliydi. Katlara verilen hasar o kadar şiddetli olmalıydı ki, Zindan onarımlara yetişemezdi. Eğer bu düzeyde bir hasar verilirse, canavar aynı katta ortaya çıkacaktı. Canavar, belirli önlemler alınmadan çağırılamazdı. Familiasının beş yıl önce kullandığı Cehennem Taşları'nın sayısını ve Zindan'a verilen hasar verilerini haritalardaki yüzlerce konumla karşılaştırarak, Jura belirli bir katın yaklaşık yüzde yirmisinin yok edilmesi gerektiğini belirlemişti. Başka bir deyişle, Zindan'ın yapısının bizzat zayıflatılması gerekiyordu.
Jura, beş yıllık yıkım deneyleri sırasında çok sayıda canavarı evcilleştirmiş ve ardından kurban etmişti. Zindan'ın en küçük tepkilerine dayanarak, Zindan'ın tüm Su Başkenti'ni tek bir kat olarak gördüğü sonucuna varmıştı.
“Bu Zindan tabusunu kimse bilmiyordu. Eğer bir tür düzenleme çıkarmış olsaydık, orada bir şey olduğunu ortaya çıkarmış olurduk… Bu yüzden sessiz kalmaktan ve gerçeği bastırmaktan başka seçeneğimiz yoktu,” dedi Ouranos.
Varsayım şuydu ki, sıradan koşullarda kimse orta seviyelerin veya altının genişleyen katlarına büyük çaplı hasar veremezdi. Sonuçta, kim böyle bir şey yapmak için kendi hayatını riske atardı ki?
Canavara tanık olan Astrea Familiası yok edilmiş, Rudra Familiası ise Gale Wind tarafından son adamına kadar ortadan kaldırılmıştı.
Olanlar hakkındaki gerçeği bilen tek kişi Lyu kalmıştı ve Ouranos, trajediyi bu kadar doğrudan yaşamış olan onun, tabunun sınırlarını asla zorlayacağını düşünmemişti.
Başka bir deyişle, bir daha asla ortaya çıkmamalıydı.
Eğer Gale Wind, Jura'yı öldürmekte başarısız olmasaydı bu doğru olurdu.
“Her şeyi Ksenoslara açıkladım. Beş yıl önce Anormal’i hissetmişlerdi ve ondan dehşete düşmüşlerdi. Böyle bir şeyin bir daha asla olmamasını sağlamak için onların yardımını istedim. Ama…”
“Şu an, Lido ve diğer Ksenoslar Knossos’un istilasına katılıyor…!” Fels inledi, yanıp sönen kristaller, okülüsün içinden büyücünün yüzünü aydınlatıyordu.
Ouranos ciddi bir şekilde başını salladı.
“Evet. Duruma hızlıca yanıt vermenin bir yolu yok.”
“Ve bu orta—hayır, alt seviyelerde oluyor… Tam da keşif gezisinin gittiği yerde… Olamaz! Hestia Familiası orada mı?”
“Bir canavarı evcilleştirmek mi…? Lyu’nun tüm familiasını yok eden o kadar korkunç bir canavarı… Ve onu bu kata mı çağırdın?”
Bell, üzerine bu kadar hızlı fırlatılan tüm bilgileri bir araya getiremiyordu.
Faydası yok! Yetişemiyorum.
Kendi kalbinin hoş olmayan bir şekilde kulaklarında gümbürdemesiyle, Bell çılgınca anlamaya çalıştı.
Demek Jura'nın katları yok ederek buraya bilerek çağırdığı canavar, Lyu'nun gerçek düşmanıydı…
O kâbus asla geri dönmemeliydi.
Ama şimdi bu katta kol geziyor, bir virüs olarak gördüğü her şeyi yok ediyordu. Başka bir deyişle—
“—Bors?!”
Nihayet neler olduğunu anlayan Bell, odanın girişine ve ötesindeki labirente döndü; orada hâlâ canavarların kutluyormuş gibi uluduğunu duyabiliyordu.
Bors'un partisindeki maceracıların yüzleri zihninde canlandı ve tam onların yönüne doğru koşmaya yeltenecekken, Lyu kolunu yakaladı.
“Bayan Lyu?!”
“Hayır…!”
Narin elf eli kar gibi bembeyazdı.
“Gitmemelisin! Eğer o şeyle savaşmaya kalkarsan…!”
İlk kez, Bell yüzünde yalvaran bir ifade gördü. Normalde kararlı olan mavi gözleri umutsuzlukla titriyordu. Sanki gözyaşları olmadan ağlıyor gibiydi—sanki onun içinden geçip geçmişin bir hayaletine ilerlememesi için yalvarıyordu.
Bell ne yapacağı konusunda kararsızdı. Hiçbir şey söylemedi.
“Aynen öyle, Leon! Bırakamazsın, değil mi?! O canavarla sen kendin savaştın ve ne kadar korkunç olduğunu benden bile iyi biliyorsun!”
Jura bir kez daha kıkırdadı.
“Bahsetmiyorum bile…”
Bell, kedi adamın sonraki sözleriyle nefesi kesildi.
“…kendi ellerinle daha fazla arkadaşını katletmek istemediğin gerçeğinden!”
Lyu’nun yüzü çatlayacak gibi oldu.
“Ah evet, sen de aynen bunu yaptın!”
“Kapa çeneni.”
“Değerli kendini kurtarmak için!”
“Kapa çeneni!”
“Arkadaşlarından vazgeçerek, sonunda o canavarı uzaklaştırmayı başardın!”
“Kapa çe-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ah!!”
Kedi adam güldü.
Bell yere mıhlanmış gibi duruyordu.
Lyu başını geriye atıp uludu.
Üçü de birbirine dolanmış duygularının kaosu içinde sıkışıp kalmıştı.
Tam o an, Zindan'da bir kükreme yankılandı.
Bir anlığına, tüyler ürpertici kükreme dindikten sonra, tüm kat sessizliğe büründü.
Bell nefes alamadı. Lyu donup kalmıştı. Jura titredi.
Üç maceracının özenle geliştirilmiş duyuları ve en temel hayvan içgüdüleri, uyarı sinyalleri çığlık çığlığa bağırıyordu.
Dehşet titremesi yalnızca bir saniye sürdü.
Kat bir ağızdan sarsıldı ve anlık sessizlik bozulduğunda, çılgın bir erkek ve kadın akını Bell'in durduğu odaya doluştu.
A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-ah!!
Maceracı sürüsü, Bors önde olmak üzere geldi.
Hem Bell'in hem de Lyu'nun çok iyi tanıdığı avcı partiydi.
Yalnızca şimdi, boyutu açıkça küçülmüştü.
Kalanlar bol miktarda kanla sıçramıştı—ve bu kendi kanları değildi.
Bell onlara şaşkınlıkla baktı.
“Bay Bor—”
Çığlığı kelimenin ortasında kesildi.
Odanın girişinin ötesindeki karanlıkta bir çift kan kırmızı göz belli belirsiz süzülüyordu. Buz gibi pençeler kalbini kavradı.
…İşte o.
Bir an sonra, gölge karanlıkta kayboldu.
“—”
Bell, ayaklar altında ezilen kristal sesini duydu ve ardından Bors ile partisi kaçmaya çalışırken bir hareketin hızla yanlarından geçtiğini fark etti. Durmaksızın devam etti, Bell'in başının üzerinden çaprazlama bir vızıltıyla geçti.
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