
A haunting procession winds through a snow‑capped, crimson‑lit city where funeral fires consume thousands of bodies, and an unseen pestilence hangs heavy in the air. At its center walks a towering figure wrapped in a red cloak, his icy gaze fixed on a single onlooker who rises in reverent silence. Flanking him are a radiant woman scattering dead roses and a gaunt, almost genderless specter that exudes a chilling aura of death. Black‑robed and white‑robed priests carry lit lanterns, their chants unheard as the strange parade advances toward the river’s edge.
The scene unfolds on the banks of a mighty river, where a massive ship with crimson sails waits, its purpose as enigmatic as the red‑cloaked man’s. This opening thrusts listeners into a world where Eastern mysticism collides with Western ignorance, hinting at a looming conflict that will test the limits of belief and survival. As the procession passes, the air thrums with an uneasy mix of awe, dread, and the promise of an extraordinary journey yet to begin.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (527K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by John Bickers; Dagny; David Widger
Release date
2006-04-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1856–1925
Adventure, lost worlds, and ancient mysteries run through these classic stories by one of the great popular novelists of the late Victorian era. Best known for King Solomon's Mines and She, he helped shape the modern adventure tale and inspired generations of writers.
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