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the old man had meant when he'd said the Tower was dying. The mood of
clean, precise symmetry created by the levels above contrasted sharply
with the decay below. The pipes were often thick with rust, some
cracked or crumbling apart, Many cables were corroded or frayed as
well. Lobais cautioned them often to avoid touching these places,
explaining that substances and energies moved through them that could
be deadly.
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His warning was graphically demonstrated at one point. A pipe had
split, letting a brown liquid ooze out and drip over the cables on the
wall below. One cable, nearly worn through, was reacting violently. It
crackled and spit, sending showers of sparks across the tunnel, filling
the already fetid air with an acrid smell.
No one needed a warning to be cautious in slipping by this place,
keeping as far away as was possible in the cramped space.
As they moved on they slowly became aware of a vibration and a deep,
slow, throbbing sound. It came from ahead of them and increased in
force rapidly as they went. It
IN THE TOWER'S HEART
199
reminded Lugh of nothing so much as the labored pounding of an enormous
heart.
Abruptly, the tunnel came to an end. A shaft rose from it toward a
lighted space not far above. A metal ladder up one side offered the
only avenue. This the old man began at once to climb, his string of
followers close behind.
They emerged into a vast square room, several stories in height, larger
tban Tara's main hall in extent. In the center of this space squatted
rows of immense objects. To young Lugh thev seemed at first like graven
images of monstrous gods within a temple, fit objects for the worship
of those who inhabited the Tower.
But these were not silent, inanimate statues. These were things that
rumbled and growled and shrieked in numberless, discordant voices
connected by a single, strong rhythm. And they moved too their myriad
levers, valves, and wheels, working away in some elaborate, mysterious
ritual.
Impressive as this sight was to Lugh's party, the cautious warriors'
first interest was security. They scanned the area carefully for
soldiers, weapons ready.
"Don't worry," Lobais told them. liThey seldom come here now. Come
along!"
He started forward. Findgoll quickly fell in beside, plying him with
questions about the wondrous machines. These the old man answered
readily, with a distinct,note of pride for the children he had tended
so long.
The others followed as they moved up a wide avenue between two rows of
the machines. While the Tower men seemed indifferent to the marvels,
the visitors from Eire stared up at them in open awe.
Those to their left were the largest, dwarfing the company of humans.
Great humps of gray-black rose up over a story. Their flat sides were
pierced by fans of slits through which large wheels could be seen,
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whirling around with a high, bumming sound. Across from them, sharp-
cornered units of the same metal were covered with a complex array of
devices whose function Lugh couldn't begin to guess.
Ahead of him Lobais was explaining with great gusto how energy was
produced on the left and transferred to the right, where it was sent
out to all the systems in the Tower. Findgoll was nodding and making
noises as if he understood every word, but the young warrior found it
quite incomprehensible. The Dagda fixed a curious eye on the odd pair.
200
MASTER OF THE SIDHE
IN THE TOWER'S HEART
201
"They seem to get on well," he said. "A common interest does it,"
MacLir replied. The Dagda snorted derisively. "That's well enough for
the Druid, but it's doing us little good." He raised his voice to call
out: "Findgoll, leave off your talking now. We've no time. We've got to
know where to go next."
The little Druid shot him a sour look but fell silent. Lobais pointed
upward.
"There," he said. "That's the way you'll need to go." They looked. In
one corner a ladder ran up the wall to a small doorway just below the
ceiling. There was a similar arrangement in the opposite corner.
"Those openings will take you to the stairways leading to the upper
levels," Lobais explained. He looked to the group of Tower men. "And if
you want to escape, you'll find other doors there that will take you to
the outside, right at the .shore."
"Maybe you can capture a boat and get away," Lugh suggested.
"And what about you?" said Eab. "You're still determined to go up
there?"
"We have to," Lugh told him. "There are many more in danger than
ourselves."
Eab looked around at his fellows, then faced the little band from Eire
again, his expression determined.
"Well, look here, my mates and I have been discussing this. There's
more than just us involved here too. We've got family and friends up
there. We can't just run away and leave them behind. We want to go up
there and see if we can't get them out."
"I congratulate you on your courage," said MacLir, "but you'll be
taking quite a risk. You know what kind of opposition you'll likely run
into."
"No worse than you'll be facing," Eab replied.
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