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And so he did sleep each time they stopped； deeply and without dreams。 That； at least； enabled him to go on afterwards。 But neither of them was growing any stronger on the limited diet of fish and water that was all the caverns could provide。 And the time finally came when the caverns continued on in one direction and the river went deeper underground； disappearing into a deep pool whose bottom Dhugal could not sense。
After Dhugal had tried and worn himself out in the trying； die two of them slept beside the pool； huddled together for warmth beside only a meager fire； for less and less driftwood could be found as they went deeper into the earth。 Dhugal caught more fish and cooked them when he woke； and while he and Kelson ate their fill of it； he tried his best to set out the situation as he saw it。
〃We've e to the end of the river； Kel；〃 he said。 〃I've probed as deep as I can in the pool； but it dives underground； and there's no indication how far it might go before it surfaces again。 Maybe it never surfaces。 In any case； it doesn't appear that our escape lies in that direction unless it's by way of death。〃
Kelson shivered； pulling his cloak more closely around his shoulders。 He chilled more easily than had been his usual wont before their accident and he had lost far more weight than pleased Dhugal。 He had resumed wearing his riding feathers in preference to Brother Gelric's habit once he regained some of his strength； but they hung on him； as Dhugal's did on him。 The passing days had also endowed the king with a sparse but silky beard； which he rubbed at distractedly as he huddled closer to the fire。
〃I want out…but not that way；〃 Kelson said。 〃If we'd wanted to die by drowning； we could have managed that when this all began…however long ago that's been。〃
〃I thought you'd say that；〃 Dhugal said； threading another fish on a stick for roasting。 〃That being the case； our only option is to push on through the caverns and hope we'll find an escape before our food and water run out。 I caught ft couple of extra fish； so we can cook them and take them with us； but water is restricted to what we can carry in the flask…which won't last long once we've left the river； I'm afraid。〃
Kelson shrugged。 〃So； it's a choice of staying here； where We've got fish and water enough to keep us alive sort of indefinitely…but not getting any stronger or any closer to a way out…or else taking the gamble；〃 he said； rubbing between his eyes。 〃There has to be some kind of opening； though…eventually。 The air is always fresh。 And if there isn't a way out； at least we'll have tried。〃
Solemnly Dhugal nodded。 〃I wish you were strong enough for us to try really punching through a contact with outside； just once。 I can't believe Father and Alaric aren't searching for us。 Of course； after this long； I suppose everyone thinks we're dead。〃
After a moment。 Kelson asked； 〃How long do you think it's been； Dhugal？ Several weeks？ A month？〃
But Dhugal honestly had no idea。 Nor did they talk about it any more； after they had cooked up the last of their fish； packed it for travel； gorged themselves on water； and gathered up as much driftwood as they could carry to keep them in torches for as long as possible。
By the time they were far enough from the river that its roar was only a soft murmur…wele silence； after so long on its shore…the character of the cavern changed very quickly。 At first； their way lay through a succession of damp； rough…walled corridors connecting larger chambers； like beads strung on a necklace； irregularly spaced； some of them blank and featureless； but others fairylands of grotesque rock formations and mineral encrustations。 But increasingly； they were forced to pick their way through cathedral…like caverns almost clogged with stalactites and stalagmites studding ceilings and floors。 Sometimes； such places yielded pools of standing water； but it was stagnant and mineral…laden and cramped the bowels。 They soon learned not to try to drink it。
After the first few hours； they had to rely exclusively on Dhugal's handfire for light； too； because there was no more wood for torches。 The added exertion did nothing for Dhugal's already dwindling energy levels； and Kelson could not help； doing well just to stay on his feet and keep plodding ahead。 They stopped and slept several times in the next few 〃days；〃 each time eating and drinking sparingly from their now limited provisions。 Nor did they have a fire anymore to keep them warm while they slept。
As a consequence； they slept badly and derived less renewal from their rest than they had before。 Dhugal judged it well into the third day after they left the pool； and near the end of their supplies； when their hopes were brought up short。 The cavern simply ended。 A despairing sob escaped Dhugal's throat as he pleted most of his circuit of this final chamber and sank to a sitting position； his back against the stone。
〃There's no way out？〃 Kelson called； from the mouth of the corridor by which they had entered。
Dhugal made a strangled sound of negation as he shook his head and buried his face in his hands； his handfire dimming until he wept in total darkness。 Stunned； Kelson groped a few steps in that direction until his hand encountered the wall that would lead him to the other。 But then he； too； sank to the ground； laying his cheek and both hands against the stone and merely concentrating on his breathing for several minutes； unable to do more； praying for some reprieve from their apparent death sentence。
They could not go back。 Oh； they could start back…but with what provisions they had left； they would never make it as far as the pool。 And even if they could； nothing awaited them there except a slower； more wasting death。
But as Kelson knelt there in darkness； himself on the 。verge of despair； he became aware of something he had not noticed before。 There was a regularity beneath his questing fingertips…a smooth horizontal line which； as he ran his hands farther afield； was echoed in other lines running parallel…and others perpendicular。 An artificial pattern； like…
Bricks？ Good God； could the wall be man…made？
〃Dhugal！〃 Kelson murmured； hardly able to believe what lie was feeling。 〃Dhugal； it's a wall！〃
〃I know that；〃 came Dhugal's listless reply； through muffling hands。
〃No； I mean it's man…made。 Bricks or something。 Someone built it。 Feel it； Dhugal。 You can feel the lines of the joins。 Bring back your handfire and have a look！〃
Dhugal snuffled in the darkness； presumably making his own tactile inspection of the wall； then gasped。
〃Sweet Jesu； you're right！〃 he breathed； as his handfire flared again to show him frantically running his hands over the wall。 〃It's bricks and mortar。 Kelson； we are going to get out of here！ If someone built this； then they have to have done it from the other side。 All we have to do is find a way to break through。〃
But finding a way through was going to prove more difficult than their first exuberant optimism indicated； for they had no tools except Dhugal's dagger and their hands。 The mortar binding the bricks might be dug out； but it was slow； maddeningly painstaking work that quickly ruined the blade for any other purpose and made a d