"Ringed Saturn light-crowned! Guardian of the outer skies! Saturn—"
Uranus ... Neptune....
Pluto.
The hunger of the Aesir....
Beyond Pluto, dark worlds Stuart had not known. Until finally he was alone. The last of his companions had been drawn into one of the vampire alcoves of the Long Orbit.
He went on.
There was another recess in the wall at his left. It was filled with night. Jet blackness, cold and horrible, brimmed it.
Something like an invisible current dragged him forward, though he fought with all his strength to resist. Instinctively he sent out a desperate call to the Protectors.
"We cannot aid you. We must leave you ... you will die instantly."
"Wait! Don't—don't give up yet! Give me your power—"