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Show -68- "Verus told me Sol Vallis was beautiful, and that the sun always shines. She lied to me. It's ugly, and - and awful!" The old man touched her arm. "Did you say - Verus?" "Yes. She's a - a spoon! She talks to me, and I trusted her!" She reached into her pocket, but the spoon was gone! "Oh!" she gasped. "It must have fallen out of my pocket when I fell!" "Did you fall?" Sandy told the old man about Verus and her adventures, and how she happened to fall into Sol Vallis. His gentle eyes looked grave. "Verus did not lie to you," he said. "Many, many years ago, - so long that I can barely recall, - this valley was beautiful. The sun shone gloriously and the people were happy and prosperous, A mighty Prince ruled Sol Vallis. He was good and kind. His name was Majus. Verus, the enchanted spoon of which you speak, belonged to him and never left his side." He paused, and a look of distress came into his eyes. "One day, they both disappeared, and this terrible mist came over the valley." The old man* put his face into his hands. "Did - did you ever see the Prince?" Sandy whispered. "I can't remember. I am too old - too old." He lifted his head and continued. "The mist was brought upon us through the evil powers of Daemon, the sorcerer. While Majus and Verus were here, Daemon had no control over Sol Vallis. Now the tyrant rules us, and we must obey him until the Prince returns." |