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. The dust storm passed
quickly, replaced by a steady blast of furnace-hot air. The
sailors and Jermina coughed and covered their faces.
Dunvane blinked through the grit lodged in his eyes and
stared at the rapidly brightening red glow. It soon filled the
sky from port to starboard. From its midst rose a column of
smoke, reaching from the sea surface up to the sky, where it
spread into a flat-topped cloud.
"The whole world's on fire!" Norry gasped.
"The water's starting to seethe like a soup kettle," cried
the lookout.
Dunvane stared over the bow. Steam rose from the sea.
The water was the color of blood. "I'm putting about,"
Dunvane said and tried to put the helm over to starboard.
Imkhian's long white fingers gripped the wheel. "Go
forward, Captain. In my prayers I was given to know that
we must seek out the fire, not hide from it. Fire purifies all
it touches. The gods will protect us."
The priest's voice was calm, his gaze fixed upon the
crimson glow before them.
Dunvane shook his head. "We must turn away, Revered
Son. The ship would go up like a torch."
The priest made his way past the sailors and stood by
the rail. His gaze roved around the spectacle before them,
the unknown red light, the pillar of smoke, the steaming,
blood-red water. He turned abruptly, his eyes blazing.
"Keep going!"
Lightning flickered overhead as the hot, glowing
column of smoke closed out the last bit of night. The red
glow lit them like a bloody sunrise. Dunvane spun the
wheel left and right, but the SUNCHASER could not break
out of the rushing stream that propelled it
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