It was as if I had been in a dream, in which there was nothing. There was only the faintest murmur of the wind in my ears, a murmur that sounded as if it were speaking in some ancient dialect.

"White fire, white fire!" It was like a shout from a hundred mouths at once. Like a mysterious summons from some ancient city far away!

A sudden flash of white light stung my eyes, and when I opened them I saw a shadowy figure standing near the window. When I got a good look at the figure, I saw that he was turning to look at me.

"You awake?" Leon,...