SON OF THE WIND
weather. The forehead was worn by wind, the cheeks by rains, and across the breast a gash, as if the sword of the storm had cleft her. From the ledge on the right it extended upward to the left shoulder, and there disappeared in the shadow. Or was it only shadow? The space between the Sphinx's helmet and shoulder looked profound as the pit. Blanche hesitated, and looked at Carron. "You know there's only a chance we will see anything."
The meaning of the words were accepted in his mind as soon as they were spoken. "Let's go on," he answered. His voice sounded oddly to him. He felt wide-awake, but it was like being wide-awake in a dream. He saw her moving in front of him and had no fear that she might fall. She appeared to him more spirit of the rocks than woman. Some quality in his emotion had changed. Excitement was mounting from his senses into his brain. It seemed to him he had gone very far, farther even in his thoughts than his feet had climbed above solid earth. The sound of pebbles loosened and falling spoke to him of how far that was. He was leaving the thick golden radiance that dwelt in the plain. He felt it slip from his shoulders like water as he ascended into a thinner, keener, more crystal air. The moon was pinned tight in a purple sky. The atmosphere was motionless upon his cheek, until he
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