The Orb And The Spectre (Book 2) Read Online Free

asked Leth to place it on the ground between them, then to step back. Then Orbelon had shuffled forward and lowered himself to a sitting position before the cheese. He inhaled deeply, seeming to draw the aroma of the cheese into him with some pleasure.
       "Aah, yes," he breathed. "I remember so well."
       A tattered limb had reached out and taken the cheese into his rags. He sat then, quite still, and for a long time was silent. Eventually he had said, "Good. Good. All is well. Next time, will you bring me water, King Leth? Just a small amount. And a stone, a simple pebble or piece of gravel will suffice. And lastly, for now, something of wood. Small and easy to carry - even a handful of sawdust will do."
       Leth had ventured a question. "What are these things for?"
       He had the impression that Orbelon was appraising him, considering the question.
       "It is something of an experiment," Orbelon said presently. "A test. Something that I wish to ascertain after long ages of hope, toil and wonder. But now, Leth, you have begun this session with a question. Previously, in recent meetings, you have listened well. I know there are many questions you would ask if you could. Well, I offer you the opportunity to do so now. Please, ask what you will."
       Leth had hesitated, somewhat surprised. He had grown accustomed to being reprimanded, ignored or even dismissed for introducing questions - at least, those that did not pertain directly to the topic Orbelon had chosen to enlighten him on. Now the questions tumbled before his mind's eye, and he hardly knew where to begin.
       "This place," he said, indicating with his arms the vast enclosed blue space that surrounded him. "What is it? How did it come to be? What is its extent?"
       Orbelon chuckled to himself. "It is the Orb, as I am the Orb. No, hold your indignation! I know this is how I answered you when you posed the same question at our first meeting. But I will say more, insofar as I am able. This place is a realm, an otherwhere that exists within, beyond, and dependent upon your own realm. It is, in a sense, a nothing, yet at the same time it exists, and a nothing cannot truly exist, nor can it be described."
       Leth regretted that he had asked. "You choose to answer me in riddles. Do you make fun of me?"
       The great bundled head shook slowly from side to side. "This place has been created to fulfil a purpose which I cannot yet reveal to you. You ask about its extent. You mean , does it have a beginning and an end? Yes, it does, in a manner of speaking. But only to those who understand its laws. I say to you, does the cosmos in all its fullness have a beginning and an end? Show me its limits. Do consciousness or unconsciousness have a beginning and an end? Show me their limits. Show me the beginning of Creation, then show me where it ends."
       Leth was disquieted by the answer. He looked about him. "There are walls, in the distance, yet close. But if I move towards them they are never closer."
       "They indicate, perhaps, that no matter how far you go, there will always be something unknown and hidden beyond. Were you to have the means to leave your world and take wing to the stars, how far would you travel, for how long? Would you ever reach the universe's end, or its beginning? If you did, then you would be forced to consider your journey fruitless. For that terminus, that state at which all things begin or end, would reveal to you only that there had to be something beyond, something  in which the condition was contained. Another, greater universe. Another, greater realm. An enigma. Perhaps absolutely nothing - yet it would still exist, for if it did not how could you possibly be aware of it? Or is it possible that, in making the awareness, the leap of imagination, you are actually creating the possibility of the existence of the thing itself?
       "In fact that journey is not necessary, Leth. Not physically. For you are already blessed with