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Some sort of psychic surface tension seems joined with the physical inertia
one encounters just before the point of emergence.
Again, I thought she had stoppped, but it was only an appearance. It
was like watching someone doing tai chi, the painful slowness of that trio
of paces. But she completed it and moved again. If the final step didn't
kill her, then she was home free. Then we could talk. . . .
That final moment went on and on and on. Then I saw her foot move
forward and depart the Pattern. Shortly, the other foot followed and she
stood panting at the center. "Congratulations!" I shouted.
She waved weakly with her right hand while slowly raising her left to
cover her eyes. She stood thus for the a better part of a minute, and one
who has walked the Pattern understands the feeling. I did not call out
again, but let her recover, giving her the silence in which to enjoy her
triumph.
The Pattern seemed to be glowing more brightly just then, as it often
does immediately after being traversed. This gave a fairyland quality to the
grotto-all blue light and shadow-and made a mirror of that small, still pool
in the far corner where blind fish swim. I tried to think ahead to what this
act might mean, for Coral, for Amber.... She straightened suddenly.
"I'm going to live," she announced.
"Good," I replied. "You have a choice now, you know
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