leo4life/algoml_bookcorpus_49_50p · Datasets at Hugging Face

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the tune deepened and swirled , building to a crescendo that ended as abruptly as it had started .
in the silence that followed , i did my best to keep the pattern going in my head .
but by the time the singing started up again , i was way off , having warped the melody and drifted off-rhythm .
lady an and brian came in and settled down beside us like churchgoers late to mass .
it is good you came below , said lady an .
we had a bit of excitement up top .
a gang of protectors attacked the mount .
we repulsed it , but it is rare they challenge us so directly .
it seems the seraphim are interested in you .
seraphim ?
angels ?
so to speak , said lady an .
but not what you think .
nothing ever is .
but they are powerful in ways you cant imagine .
if their avatars ever found you on the surface , there is nothing we could do to protect you .
i suggest you stay below , until things calm down .
no .
i have to go .
ive got things to do .
people to find .
i didnt come here just to hide out .
what about the runner ?
said taro .
he barely avoided being cut down .
our pickets rescued him .
he brings word that tiamat is sending old ned for safekeeping .
hes gone into the big sleep .
ive already tasked the masons to prepare a chamber .
well soon have a chamber for you too , james , down deep .
oh , i dont need one , i said .
im not staying .
you cant leave now .
the seraphim have been alerted to your presence .
if you leave now , youll be hunted down .
i rose to my feet .
no !
i i cant stay , i said , starting to panic .
my claustrophobia returned .
i need to get out of here .
i need some fresh air .
dont be silly .
you dont even breathe .
no soul here needs to breathe .
i am only suggesting you wait until our enemys interest wanes .
and it will .
they have plenty of other anomalies to occupy them in this place .
i made for the exit .
brian !
taro !
hold him !
they lunged after me , grabbed my arms and hauled me back .
i tried wriggling free , but others in the chamber joined in and dragged me down to the floor .
this is for your own good , she said , looking down at me , her eyes sharing annoyance and sympathy .
you dont know what you are doing .
you cant possibly know .
we will hold you in protective custody until you have a better sense of where you are .
fuck no !
not again .
you cant keep me here she leaned in close to me .
please james , relax .
you are not a prisoner .
were just keeping you safe until you have a chance to learn the risks of being an infidel in the deeps .
particularly one who is not gray .
i took a deep breath and smiled , because a little shivery tingle told me that i was going to have the last laugh .
my senses were returning .
i could feel the coldness more intensely .
and that could only mean one thing .
chapter 32 : laurent searing heat penetrated my flesh , from the inside and out .
i gasped and wheezed , sucking in air that again carried oxygen , my lungs again serving the function of feeding it to living cells and not just some ritual and pointless pumping of gases .
the girls must have carried me all the way up from the dock .
i could hear them in the kitchen clinking pots and , laughing .
writhing and flexing my reclaimed body , i rolled off the sofa with a thump .
i lurched to my feet just as ellen came rushing into the living room carrying a dish rag .
i staggered into her , latching onto her shoulder to steady myself .
but the warmth of her body burned me and i pulled away , collapsing back to the floor .
oh my god !
your hands are freezing .
are you okay ?
im fine , i said , my voice croaking .
i just got back in the deeps .
takes me a while to adjust to the heat .
i need some water .
please ?
she rushed back into the kitchen , dodging around urszula who stood pressed against the door frame , smirking .
a wave of dizziness made me swoon and groan .
somehow , involuntarily , that groan acquired melody .
like a dog imitating a siren , i wailed a string of notes that should have sounded flat or sharp if they hadnt resonated so perfectly with my soul .
urszula joined in , her pitch quavery at first , but quickly locking into a sort of harmony .
you guys what the heck ?
ellen hustled back , sloshing an overly full glass of water onto the carpet .
you giving me a concert ?
its from the deeps , i said .
its what they do in the deeps .
riversong , said urszula .
it has been a long time since i have summoned it .
good to know it is still inside me .
that sounded so weird .
like middle eastern or ethiopian or something .
but that place cant be all bad .

the tune deepened and swirled , building to a crescendo that ended as abruptly as it had started .

in the silence that followed , i did my best to keep the pattern going in my head .

but by the time the singing started up again , i was way off , having warped the melody and drifted off-rhythm .

lady an and brian came in and settled down beside us like churchgoers late to mass .

it is good you came below , said lady an .

we had a bit of excitement up top .

a gang of protectors attacked the mount .

we repulsed it , but it is rare they challenge us so directly .

it seems the seraphim are interested in you .

seraphim ?

angels ?

so to speak , said lady an .

but not what you think .

nothing ever is .

but they are powerful in ways you cant imagine .

if their avatars ever found you on the surface , there is nothing we could do to protect you .

i suggest you stay below , until things calm down .

no .

i have to go .

ive got things to do .

people to find .

i didnt come here just to hide out .

what about the runner ?

said taro .

he barely avoided being cut down .

our pickets rescued him .

he brings word that tiamat is sending old ned for safekeeping .

hes gone into the big sleep .

ive already tasked the masons to prepare a chamber .

well soon have a chamber for you too , james , down deep .

oh , i dont need one , i said .

im not staying .

you cant leave now .

the seraphim have been alerted to your presence .

if you leave now , youll be hunted down .

i rose to my feet .

no !

i i cant stay , i said , starting to panic .

my claustrophobia returned .

i need to get out of here .

i need some fresh air .

dont be silly .

you dont even breathe .

no soul here needs to breathe .

i am only suggesting you wait until our enemys interest wanes .

and it will .

they have plenty of other anomalies to occupy them in this place .

i made for the exit .

brian !

taro !

hold him !

they lunged after me , grabbed my arms and hauled me back .

i tried wriggling free , but others in the chamber joined in and dragged me down to the floor .

this is for your own good , she said , looking down at me , her eyes sharing annoyance and sympathy .

you dont know what you are doing .

you cant possibly know .

we will hold you in protective custody until you have a better sense of where you are .

fuck no !

not again .

you cant keep me here she leaned in close to me .

please james , relax .

you are not a prisoner .

were just keeping you safe until you have a chance to learn the risks of being an infidel in the deeps .

particularly one who is not gray .

i took a deep breath and smiled , because a little shivery tingle told me that i was going to have the last laugh .

my senses were returning .

i could feel the coldness more intensely .

and that could only mean one thing .

chapter 32 : laurent searing heat penetrated my flesh , from the inside and out .

i gasped and wheezed , sucking in air that again carried oxygen , my lungs again serving the function of feeding it to living cells and not just some ritual and pointless pumping of gases .

the girls must have carried me all the way up from the dock .

i could hear them in the kitchen clinking pots and , laughing .

writhing and flexing my reclaimed body , i rolled off the sofa with a thump .

i lurched to my feet just as ellen came rushing into the living room carrying a dish rag .

i staggered into her , latching onto her shoulder to steady myself .

but the warmth of her body burned me and i pulled away , collapsing back to the floor .

oh my god !

your hands are freezing .

are you okay ?

im fine , i said , my voice croaking .

i just got back in the deeps .

takes me a while to adjust to the heat .

i need some water .

please ?

she rushed back into the kitchen , dodging around urszula who stood pressed against the door frame , smirking .

a wave of dizziness made me swoon and groan .

somehow , involuntarily , that groan acquired melody .

like a dog imitating a siren , i wailed a string of notes that should have sounded flat or sharp if they hadnt resonated so perfectly with my soul .

urszula joined in , her pitch quavery at first , but quickly locking into a sort of harmony .

you guys what the heck ?

ellen hustled back , sloshing an overly full glass of water onto the carpet .

you giving me a concert ?

its from the deeps , i said .

its what they do in the deeps .

riversong , said urszula .

it has been a long time since i have summoned it .

good to know it is still inside me .

that sounded so weird .

like middle eastern or ethiopian or something .

but that place cant be all bad .