Cygnus X-1

Book One — The Voyage

Prologue

 

In the constellation of Cygnus

There lurks a mysterious, invisible force

The black hole

Of Cygnus X-1

 

Six stars of the northern cross

In mourning for their sister's loss

In a final flash of glory

Nevermore to grace the night....

 

1

Invisible

To telescopic eye

Infinity

The star that would not die

 

All who dare

To cross her course

Are swallowed by

A fearsome force

 

Through the void

To be destroyed

Or is there something more?

Atomized — at the core

Or through the astral door —

To soar....

 

2

I set a course just east of Lyra

And northwest of Pegasus

Flew into the light of Deneb

Sailed across the Milky Way

 

On my ship, the Rocinante

Wheeling through the galaxies,

Headed for the heart of Cygnus

Headlong into mystery

 

The x-ray is her siren song

My ship cannot resist her long

Nearer to my deadly goal

Until the black hole —

Gains control....

 

3

Spinning, whirling,

Still descending

Like a spiral sea,

Unending

 

Sound and fury

Drowns my heart

Every nerve

Is torn apart....

 

To be continued

 

—Rush

Done