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latch。
〃Probably；〃 Dhugal replied。 〃And there's simply no way to get a physical purchase from the locked side； except the way I just did it。 Nor is there any way of knowing how many more of these burial chambers there might be。 If these two are as old as they seem； and the caverns have continued in use； there could be dozens…even scores。〃
Kelson closed his eyes briefly； swaying on his feet even with the support of the door； then swallowed hard and started toward Dhugal。
〃We'd better get busy； then。 I'd like to sleep in a bed in the next day or two。 I'm all right；〃 he added； as Dhugal caught him under an arm and helped him sit against the second door。 〃Pull the energy you need to get the job done； I'll keep up with you if I have to crawl to do it。〃
Dhugal went back to get their cloaks and the flask； filling the latter from the wine jar they had opened； then returned to kneel beside Kelson again and set his hands against the new door。 The latch moved a little more easily this time； since he knew what ne was doing； but it still took a lot out of Kelson and Dhugal still could not do it on his own。
Another burial chamber lay beyond the second door； with another closed door opposite。 The two of them half stumbled and half crawled to reach it and rested for nearly an hour before tackling its opening…to yet another doored burial chamber。
And while Kelson and Dhugal continued to make their slow disheartened way through chamber after chamber… though at least the burials began to look more recent； when they had gone through nearly a dozen…Morgan and Duncan were equally disheartened； if not as hungry。 They had left the two MacArdry retainers behind at the campsite by the waterfall； to continue keeping the watch there； and proceeded with only Ciard and Jass as they dowsed the course of the underground river。 As the four of them sat by their campfire； sharing a rabbit that Jass had caught and roasted； Morgan wondered yet again whether they were wasting their time； prolonging the agony of finally having to admit that Kelson and Dhugal were dead。
〃D'ye really think there's any hope？〃 Ciard murmured； setting his bewhiskered chin on one upraised knee as he tossed the leavings of his portion of rabbit into the fire。
Morgan looked up sharply； almost wondering whether the old gillie had picked up his thought。 One day； he really must try to find out more about the second sight that Ciard blamed for many of his otherwise unexplainable perceptions。
〃Why； are you ready to give up； Ciard？〃 he replied softly； as Duncan looked up at him in surprise。
Ciard shook his head and sighed； clasping his arms around his knees for the fort that Morgan's words…or any other's…could not give。
〃Nan； I'm wit' ye until th' end； sair。 It's just that I dinnae know that we're goin' t' like th' end； when we find it。 The thought o' layin' th' puir lad in th' ground； at his tender years…sure an' ye cannae think they're still alive； after this long。〃
〃I can't give up until there's absolutely no hope！〃 Morgan said。
The fire flared up briefly as he tossed the dregs of his cup into it； and he lurched to his feet to stagger away to the edge of the circle of firelight。 After a few seconds； Duncan came to join him。
〃Are you all right？〃
〃No； I'm not all right； and I won't be all right until we know；〃 Morgan snapped； though he instantly regretted his sharp tone。 〃I'm sorry； Duncan；〃 he went on。 〃I guess it's finally beginning to get to me…knowing that we've done everything we can and it hasn't helped； that we're going to have to admit； eventually； that they are dead。〃
〃Well； we haven't reached that point yet！〃 Duncan said fiercely。 〃And we aren't going to reach that point； so long as we have faith that we're going to find them。〃
〃Faith。〃 Morgan quirked a bitter smile in Duncan's direction。 〃That's easy enough for you to say。 My faith's a little shaky right now； though； Duncan。 How could God do this to us？ How could He let this happen？〃
〃Maybe He's testing us。〃
〃Well； if He is； then I'm failing。〃
〃No you aren't；〃 Duncan said； 〃because I'm not going to let you。 e on； let's put out another Call to Kelson and Dhugal。 If they're alive； they could really need us。〃
Back at the campfire； directed by the two Deryni。 Ciard and Jass settled into their passive link with ease； for the four of them had performed this ritual morning and night； every day since leaving the waterfall campsite。 When it was done； with no more success than any of the times before； the two humans were allowed to slip gently and naturally into normal sleep。 Morgan and Duncan； still lightly in rapport； lay awake for nearly an hour afterwards； refreshing themselves with memories of the two they sought。
The two； meanwhile； continued to work their way through tomb after tomb。 Each burial was more recent than the one before； but each had yet another closed door barring their way out。 They tried not to disturb anything more than was necessary； for they truly meant no disrespect to the dead they must disturb in their attempt to survive。
They did arm themselves at the first opportunity； however； lest their eventual emergence should produce hostility before explanations could be given…for their very presence in the tombs likely would be viewed as sacrilege and a desecration of sacred ground。 They also continued to forage for edibles in each new tomb…for Kelson's strength； in particular was being drained without renewal by the constant demands Dhugal must make on him for help in opening the doors。 The sour wine gave them some sustenance； but it also kept them both gently buzzed until Dhugal discovered how to use his powers to counteract the effect； at least in himself。 For Kelson； it seemed a greater kindness to let him constantly stay a little drunk； to dull the fuzzy edge of headache that had been his constant panion since regaining consciousness。 Dhugal would have given a great deal to find grain that was not insect…infested or moldy； or a crust of bread not reduced to the consistency of the mortar they had chipped from the first wall。
But only the wine remained generally palatable。 Dhugal's one cautious attempt to chew on a handful of grain resulted in horrible stomach and bowel cramping； and then a frightening bout with hallucinations that rendered him unable to continue for what could have been as much as a day。 During the worst throes of the reaction； it even disrupted his powers to the point that he could not maintain handfire； so that a desperate Kelson was driven to breaking up some of the wooden coffers for torches…for he must have light to tend Dhugal。
The episode taught them a valuable lesson； not only about the dangers of contaminated food； but about the amount of energy Dhugal had been using to maintain the handfire on a constant basis； other than while they slept。 Consequently； they continued to use torches in preference to handfire； though they tried not to destroy anything other than the boxes。 Indeed； the first time one of them had needed to relieve himself； they had pondered for some time to choose the least offensive place…for they truly did not wish to profane sacred ground。 And Dhugal still grimaced every time he had to empty out another coffer and break it up f