"That metal suit you wear, that mask . .. ?"

"Armor and concealment, steel and anonymity—protection! Where are my companions?"

"Who are they that you seek, and where are youfrom?"

"I have ridden an inconceivable distance, past nebulaethat are waterspouts in rivers of stars. I seek the others,like myself, who come this way. We have an appointment."

"I have never seen another like yourself, but there aremany villages in the world. Another lies over those hills,"he gestured in the direction of a distant range, "but it istwo days travel."

"Thank you, man, I will be there shortly."

The horse reared and made a sound terrible to hear. Awave of heat, greater than the lamp's, enveloped themayor, and a burst of wind raced by, bowing the goldenblades of grass which had not already been trampled.

In the distance, thunder pealed on the slopes of thehills.

The horseman was gone, but his last words hung uponthe wind:

"Look to the skies tonight!"

The next village was already lighted, like a cluster ofawakened fireflies, when the hooves and steel grew silent before the door of its largest dwelling.

Heads appeared behind windows, and curious eyesappraised the giant astride his white beast.

This mayor, thin as the gatepost he leaned upon, blewhis nose and held his lantern high.

"Who are you?"

"I have already already wasted too much time withquestions! Have others such as myself passed this way?"

"Yes. They said they would wait atop the highest hill,overlooking that plain." He pointed down a gentle slopewhich ran through miles of fields? stopping abruptly at thebase of a black massif. It rose like a handless arm, turnedto stone, gesturing anywhere.

"There were two," he said. "One bore strange tools,as you do. The other," he shuddered, "said, 'Look to the