The Shadow Dragons Read Online Free

great admirer of all your works,” Ransom said as they walked briskly along, “especially your latest, John. That book about the little fellows with the hairy feet, and wizards, and whatnot. I particularly liked the part where the giants turned into stone. Very moving.”
    “Actually, those were trolls,” John said. “And . . .” He stopped walking. “Hang on there,” he exclaimed. “How could you have read that? I haven’t even finished that book yet—and I’ve barely touched it in years!”
    Ransom slapped his forehead. “Apologies, my good fellow. I forgot it’s not due to be published until next year. That’s what I get for trying to curry favor with you by coming up with compliments.”
    “Oh,” said John. “So, ah, you didn’t really like it after all?”
    “I haven’t finished it,” Ransom admitted. “But it is on my nightstand, and I fully intend to, as soon as I have the opportunity.”
    “What is your profession, Mr. Ransom, if I may ask?” said Charles.

    The lamps were … moving with the light of active
    flame.
    “I’m a philologist,” he answered evenly, “at the University of Cambridge.”
    “A philologist?” said John. “Really? A languages specialist? How odd that we haven’t met before.”
    “Not particularly,” said Ransom. “The Cambridge that I come from isn’t the Cambridge you’re familiar with.”
    “Different country?” asked Jack.
    “Different dimension,” replied Ransom.
    “That sounds exactly like Cambridge,” said Charles.
    “Bert has alluded to the concept of different dimensions once or twice,” John said, “but we never got into specifics. Charles is our resident expert in that particular field.”
    Charles beamed with pleasure at the compliment. “I’ve actually devoted quite a bit of attention to the topic,” he said brightly, “even wrote a book about it.”
    “I know,” Ransom replied, his voice suddenly somber with respect. “It’s one of our most important theses on the subject of multidimensionality.”
    Charles blinked at him. “It was, ah, a work of fiction, actually.”
    Now it was Ransom’s turn to be surprised. He started to make a comment, then paused, his expression softening. “I keep forgetting what year I’ve come to,” he said mildly. “There are things I take for granted that you won’t actually know about for a few years yet, God willing.”
    Jack and John exchanged a glance of concern. God willing? Just what was that supposed to mean? That they wouldn’t discover the knowledge Ransom referred to too soon, or that they might not have the opportunity at all?
    “You seem to know a great deal more about us than we know about you,” Jack said. “I don’t know how comfortable I am with that discrepancy.”
    “That’s one reason my Anabasis Machine—I mean, my pocket watch—was fashioned in the manner it was,” said Ransom. “There are too many double agents afoot in the lands, and too many allegiances built on the sand. It’s difficult to know whom to trust—and so Verne made certain to give those of us who are loyal to the Caretakers’ trust an unmistakable symbol.”
    “A silver pocket watch,” John asserted, “with a depiction of Samaranth on the casing.”
    Ransom nodded. “Exactly.”
    “Couldn’t that be easily duplicated, though?” Charles opined. “I mean, it’s a very nice watch, but there are a hundred watchmakers in London who could make a replica in a day.”
    Ransom almost stumbled as he spun about to frown at Charles. “Haven’t you realized by now just how deep a game Verne, and Bert, and the others are playing?” he said with some astonishment. “When the Dyson incident occurred, didn’t you think it significant that Verne had already prepared for the eventuality by arranging the Lanterna Magica for you to find, fifteen centuries before it was needed?
    “These are the people who invented the idea of a secret society,” Ransom continued, “so of course there would be