"What was it?"
"I was going to climb up the mountain, past the top defrost towers and
the force fence, to the top of the ridge."
She stared at him, her eyes round. "Why, that's the edge of the world!
You might fall off!"
"Not if I'm careful."
Only a few in the valley could boast of going beyond the top row of
defrosters, fewer yet of even going within looking distance of the
force fence. Beyond it, tradition said, lived great beasts that could
eat a man with one bite. While the ridges that bounded the valley on
three sides, to the east, west and north, were the edges of the world,
from which one dropped off into bottomless space.
To the south, where forest enclosed the mouth of the valley, tradition
was vague, but the edge must be off there somewhere.
It had taken Henry all summer to build up his determination. But now,
up was the only direction it was safe to go.
"If you're not afraid, I'm not either," Theta said. "Let's go."
Carrying the basket with its remaining supply of fruit between them,
they started up the slope. It was only a short distance to the top
defrosters. These only went into action at blossom time for the apples
and other highland fruits.
From there to the force fence was a steep climb through rocks and
brush. Their pace grew slower as they approached the fence. Their eyes
scanned the rocks and scant brush for signs of the great beasts, but
they saw none. Higher yet, about a quarter of a mile, was the top of
the ridge. The edge of the earth.
Theta pressed against him. "I'm scared," she murmured.
Henry's face became set. "We said we were going," he said curtly. "You
can stay if you wish." He selected rocks for both hands.
The force fence only gave them a strong tingling sensation. The plast
sandals insulated them somewhat. The slope became steeper, but there
was no indication of any great beasts. Too excited to stop and rest,
although they were breathing heavily, they pressed onward.
Would it be night down there, over the edge of the world? Stars
shining? Would it be daylight and clouds?
The top of the ridge was a hundred feet away ... ten. Henry flung
himself on the ground so if he became dizzy he would not lose his
balance and fall. Theta did the same. Side by side, they crept the
remaining distance.
What they saw made them stare in open-mouthed amazement.
* * * * *
Before them was another ridge running out from the northern range. It
was pretty much like the one they were on.
Between it and them was another valley. Defrost towers rose from among
the trees. Over the top of the opposite ridge, they could see still
another. The northern mountains were lost in the blue distance.
The shock to both was unnerving. Steeled to look out into Limbo, they
found a valley much like their own.
Together they turned and looked back into what could be seen of their
own valley.
Even in shape the two were roughly similar. They could see the tall,
slim defrost towers, an occasional house and the geometrical designs
of the groves and orchards with their orderly rows of trees. There was
Town at the lower end of the valley. And there, at the upper end, was
something they never knew existed; a large, ivy-clad building that
stretched from cliffside to cliffside. And yet above that was a still,
blue lake.
Henry looked ahead again.
There _was_ a difference in the other valley. There were no orderly
rows of fruit trees, only thick forest like that which grew only in
their ravines or beyond the foot of the valley. The defrost towers
looked down on multicolored autumn foliage, even in the bottom of the
valley where everything should be green.
Why weren't there fruit trees for the defrosters to protect? What kind
of a crop did this valley grow? Henry scrambled to his feet.