Swift lines of light drew themselves across the heavens. Emuel had seen shooting stars before, but never in such multitude. He found their silent brilliance moving and sent up a prayer of thanks to whatever might be out there.

With a terrific roar, a flaming ball of rock arced over him and fell to the earth, not more than a mile from where he lay. Emuel sat up to see a glittering plume of sand raining back down to earth from the impact site. He looked up, nervously watching for any more burning rocks falling from the sky, but all was as it had been before.

His heart racing, Emuel gulped down a mouthful of water before looking towards the great hole that had been punched into the desert floor. The sand surrounding it glowed a pale rose, then a deep scarlet as it cooled. He could hear a gentle hissing, as of gas escaping, and a hollow creaking noise. Hitching his pack onto his back, he set off, all the while checking above him and gingerly shielding his head with his cloak.

When he reached the edge of the steaming pit, Emuel overbalanced and fell on his back, scrabbling with his arms for purchase, his feet momentarily kicking against nothing but air. Recovering himself, he stood and peered down into the crater.

The steam obscured whatever it was that sat at the heart of the pit. There was a stench of rotting eggs and Emuel gagged; he tore a strip of cloth from his robe and tied it over his nose and mouth. Eventually the clouds dispersed and he saw a perfectly spherical rock, nestling in the blackened sand.

Emuel cautiously picked his way down the side of the pit. At the bottom he looked up; the obsidian jewel rose before him to a height of just over seven feet. He put his hand to the stone, and it was flesh-warm. He rapped lightly upon it and it responded with a judder that made him stagger back. He watched it warily for a few moments, but the sphere remained still, and Emuel approached again.