Silence again. They stood almost as though they were waiting for
something, hardly breathing, with Ciaran still holding the silent harp
in his hand.
Very, very faintly, under his fingers, the strings began to thrum.
Vibration. In a minute Ciaran could hear it in the crystal. It was like
the buzz and strum of insects just out of earshot. He said:
"What's that?"
The boy's ears were duller than his. But presently he smiled and said,
"So that's how they're going to do it. Vibration, that will shake Ben
Beatha into a cloud of dust, and me with it. They must believe I'm
still asleep." He shrugged. "What matter? It's death."
Ciaran slung the harp across his back. There was a curious finality in
the action.
"There's a way from here into the pit. Where is it?"
Bas pointed across the open space. Ciaran started walking. He didn't
say anything.