Brennende Wasser
Excerpt
She gazed into the still surface of the lake without the strength to move any farther. A vast tiredness was suddenly weighing her down. The lake seemed peaceful as it reflected back her image to her. It was so still that her eyes began to close. Her eyelids drooped. Her shoulders slouched. She had to keep on catching herself, or she would fall forward into the lake.
All the troubles of the world seemed so very, very far away. Maybe they were from another lifetime, or she had dreamed them. She saw reflected in the lake the most enchanting scene. The snowcapped, gray granite peaks boasted glaciers that never melted year round. Tall sugar pines shot several hundred feet into the air. They were intermingled with red incense cedars. Pacific dogwoods bloomed. They boasted delicate white flowers with yellow centers. They wound themselves around the bigger trees like vines.
Birds flew around making such sweet music that it sounded like a symphony of angels. The butterflies appeared to dance in time to the beat, hovering just about the surface of the lake.
Abigail blinked and blinked again. She saw a new her. She was not just blonde but ravishing. Her skin was as pure as milk. Her cheeks were cherry red. There was not a flaw in her complexion. Her eyes were dazzling. They possessed a special sparkle. One of those white dogwood blossoms had fallen into her hair.
She leaned closer to the water. The closer she got, the more incredible she looked. Her reflection blurred into the reflection of the columbines. The delicate grace of their red blossoms lent a special enchantment to her appearance as their blossoms drooped down from their stems like ballerinas taking a bow. Their yellow pistils protruded from the petals like the ballerinas' arms touching the stream bank.
She leaned over so far that her nose was almost touching the water. She stared at herself so hard that her image blurred. She blinked. Her image changed. It was no longer her looking back from the lake. It was the face of Eustacia Vye in profile. Eustacia's long, raven-dark hair cascaded down from her shoulders.
Abigail gasped. "What do you want with me? Why are you pursuing me like this?"
She gazed into the still surface of the lake without the strength to move any farther. A vast tiredness was suddenly weighing her down. The lake seemed peaceful as it reflected back her image to her. It was so still that her eyes began to close. Her eyelids drooped. Her shoulders slouched. She had to keep on catching herself, or she would fall forward into the lake.
All the troubles of the world seemed so very, very far away. Maybe they were from another lifetime, or she had dreamed them. She saw reflected in the lake the most enchanting scene. The snowcapped, gray granite peaks boasted glaciers that never melted year round. Tall sugar pines shot several hundred feet into the air. They were intermingled with red incense cedars. Pacific dogwoods bloomed. They boasted delicate white flowers with yellow centers. They wound themselves around the bigger trees like vines.
Birds flew around making such sweet music that it sounded like a symphony of angels. The butterflies appeared to dance in time to the beat, hovering just about the surface of the lake.
Abigail blinked and blinked again. She saw a new her. She was not just blonde but ravishing. Her skin was as pure as milk. Her cheeks were cherry red. There was not a flaw in her complexion. Her eyes were dazzling. They possessed a special sparkle. One of those white dogwood blossoms had fallen into her hair.
She leaned closer to the water. The closer she got, the more incredible she looked. Her reflection blurred into the reflection of the columbines. The delicate grace of their red blossoms lent a special enchantment to her appearance as their blossoms drooped down from their stems like ballerinas taking a bow. Their yellow pistils protruded from the petals like the ballerinas' arms touching the stream bank.
She leaned over so far that her nose was almost touching the water. She stared at herself so hard that her image blurred. She blinked. Her image changed. It was no longer her looking back from the lake. It was the face of Eustacia Vye in profile. Eustacia's long, raven-dark hair cascaded down from her shoulders.
Abigail gasped. "What do you want with me? Why are you pursuing me like this?"
