**THE WIZARD FROM NOWHERE

As he looked at the abandoned cabin, Rudy thought the sunlight was playing tricks on him. Then as he shaded his eyes, he couldn't tell what it was. He had the impression that air , cabin , and California hills were being folded aside to reavel piercing light, blinding darkness, and swirling colors beyond.

Through the gap , a dark from stumbled. Then the blazing vision was gone . There remained only an old man in a brown robe , holding a gleaming, smoking sword in one hand and a wailing baby in the other arm.

Rudy blinked."who in hell are you? and where--?"

The old man sheathed the sword in one smooth,competent gesture."I came through the void and am called Ingold Ingliorion. This is the altir endorion , last Prince of the house of dare.""

...

......

Gil knew that it was only a dream . There was no reason for her to feel fear---she knew that the danger , the chaos, the blind , sickening nightmare terror that filled the screaming night were not real ; this city with its dark , unfamiliar architecture, these fleeing crowds of panic-stricken men and women who shoved her aside , unseeing , were only the vivid dregs of an overloaded subconscious,wraits that would melt with daylight.

She knew all this; nevertheless,she was afraid.

She seemed to be standing at the foot of flight of Green marble stairs , facing into square courtyards surrounded by tall peak - roofed bulidings . Fleeing people were shoving of a malachite statue, without seeming to be aware of her presence at all; gasping, wild-eyed people ,terrified faces bleached to corpses by the brilliance of the cold quarter moon. they were pouring out of the gabled houses, the men clutching chest or bags of money , the women jewels, lap-dogs,or children crying in uncomprehending terror.Their hair was wild from sleep, for it was deep night; some of them were dressed but many were ***** , or tripping over bedclothes

hastily snatched, and Gil could smell the rank terror- sweat of their bodies as they brushed against her. None of them saw her , none of them stopped ; they stumbled frantically up those vast steps of moonlit marble, through the dark arch of the gates at the top , and out into the clamouring streets of the striken city beyond.

*TO BE CONTINUED***.....