Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Chapter Seventy-one

Monier felt as if she was about to be overwhelmed. There was sudden activity everywhere around her. Frantic activity. The Citadel was fighting for its existence in an invasion that it didn’t understand. It was as if it was losing its grip on reality as the attack continued. Everything seemed to glow brightly, like a light bulb about to burn out and then, suddenly, it was dark.

Monier sat straight up and said, in surprised voice, "It's dead."

"What do you mean ‘It’s dead?’" asked Price.

"I feel no more electrical activity. The electricity is gone."

"What's happening?" asked Hyland.

"It's over. It's shut down. We've killed it. There is nothing left but the stone."

"You mean we beat it?" asked Coollege.

"Yes," said Monier, her voice rising. "Yes. We beat it. We own it."

For a moment longer they sat quietly, digesting what they had heard. Then Hyland stood up and said, "I think we'd better get out of here."

Price reached back, holding out a hand for Monier. "Come on, Rachel. It's all over."

Coollege said, "I don't believe this...it seemed so easy."

"Easy?" asked Hyland. "There are a lot of dead men and women who would disagree with you."

"Yeah," said Coollege.

With that Price lifted himself into the tunnel and turned to help the others climb up. They began the journey out of the Citadel.

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