Chapter 32Gryss started awake. About him was the touch of a dark and awful dream, but it vanished on the instant as he became aware of sunlight filling the room. For a moment he was a young child again and the day opened before him, full of warmth and summer scents, soft breezes and everlasting freedom.
He was about to cry out joyously to his parents when he remembered who he was.
And where.
And when.
Briefly his face creased as if he were about to cry. Then it relaxed into a look of half amused resignation.
He had spent what was left of the night in a chair, and his body was protesting the fact loudly. Carefully, he began to ease his limbs into life and, as he did so, one by one, the events of the previous night reformed themselves in his mind.
He looked across at the bed. Jeorg had
