Books In English "City Of Illusions" Ursula K. Le Guin | Page 161

ship himself. "Prech Ramarren," he said hoarsely, clutching at
Falk-Ramarren's arm, "where are we going?"
"To Werel."
"He's coming too—Ken Kenyek?"
"Yes. He can tell Werel his tale about Earth, and you can tell yours,
and I mine…There's always more than one way towards the truth. Strap
yourself in. That's it."
Falk-Ramarren fed the little metal strip into the course-controller. It
was accepted, and he set the ship to act within three minutes. With a last
glance at the desert and the stars, he shut the ports and came hurridly,
shaky with fatigue and strain, to strap himself in beside Orry and the
Shing.
Lift-off was fusionpowered: the lightspeed drive would go into effect
only at the outer edge of Earthspace. They took off very softly and were
out of the atmosphere in a few seconds. The visual screens opened
automatically, and Falk-Ramarren saw the Earth falling away, a great
dusky bluish curve, bright-rimmed. Then the ship came out into the
unending sunlight.
Was he leaving home, or going home?
On the screen dawn coming over the Eastern Ocean shone in a golden
crescent for a moment against the dust of stars, like a jewel on a great
patterning frame. Then frame and pattern shattered, the barrier was passed,
and the little ship broke free of time and took them out across the darkness.
— END —

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