The Starchild Page 17

  It began with shadow spreading across the worlds of the Plan of Man, and it ended with the bright light of the mighty stars illuminating a new road for humanity.

  The Machine had been playing a game with itself, for want of another opponent; then, in that long, thundering dialogue between stars and Machine, the game ended forever. The Machine had come late to its game, and found the board filled.

  That was how it began ... and that was how it ended. With the legend of Lucifer, and the story of pain and evil... and the eternal hope for good.

  The Machine sat too late at the gaming table, and found all the places filled ... with the stars, linked in their fusorian net, and with then- Adversary. No longer entrapped in the animal amniotic fluid of his birth ... no longer slave to the Machine ... no longer prey to the fusorians ... the Antagonist was ready to play.

  Long ages past, the stars had given him birth, but now he was of age. He was ready to assume his station, his rank and his name.

  His station—Adversary to the stars themselves.

  His rank—equal of the universe.

  His name—Mankind.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18