Excerpt

Jareth was alone. The morning fog lay in the woods waiting. Somewhere beyond the edge of the forest crows were scolding but here in the circle of oaks it was quiet. He fingered the small leather pouch that hung on a thong beneath his shirt. Would he ever touch Maralinnes fire-gold hair again or was the lock inside his pouch the last he would ever have of her. He looked around the clearing carpeted with dew-wet wildflowers. Above him five ancient trees framed a hazy circle of sky. The air was cool and moist, promising a pleasant, late spring day. Jareth waited. Tension rose. He had been to this place twice before, once as a child and later as a man. Each time the Bear had come and time had twisted to run on a different course for a space. This time would he slide back to right some ancient wrong or would he race the sun forward until some players were in the right position on the stage then sleep until time caught up with him again? Janille had said she did not know the answers, but the silence between them when they walked through the woods before dawn spoke otherwise. There was pain and sadness in her eyes when she grasped his hands and bid him goodbye. May we all find love when this is done, she said begging his understanding.

And now he was alone with the past and the future waiting. The trees whispered. The patch of haze thinned above. Jareth moved to the center of the circle. The sun broke free and the world around him reeled. The patterns of light and dark shifted faster and faster, racing to a blur. He felt his spine bend forward. His limbs shortened and thickened. He threw back his massive golden head and growled a deep mournful growl.