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But Janos wasn't listening； his brow was furrowed in concentration。 Then his skin pearled white。 〃Oh； what a fool I've been；〃 he groaned。 〃The bastard's tricked me！〃
We asked what was wrong。 Janos shook his head in fury。 〃Only try and think of escape； and you'll see for yourselves；〃 he said； voice shaking with emotion。 〃Think on it hard。 Hard as you can。 Imagine us fleeing this place。 Take it step by step。 First the door 。。。 then into the streets 。。。 then back down the road they marched us on。〃
I closed my eyes and followed his directions。 The door gave way with ease； soon we were all running along the road toward the harbor。 I imagined a likely boat to steal； then just as I had us all aboard and ready to sail； a terrible； unreasoning fear hurled out of some dark corridor in my soul and sank its teeth into my guts。
I could not see the beast； but I could smell the mad reek of its presence and feel the hot pain of its fangs burrowing into me。 I knew I had only one hope of escape： I fled back down the avenue； back into the building that held us； back into the chamber that was our prison； and slammed that door shut with all my might。 I opened my eyes； bile in my throat； panic in my breast； and saw the same terror on Maeen's face。
〃Do you see what he has done？〃 Janos gritted。 〃I said he had low cunning； but by all the gods I mock； I did not suspect the ex…tent of that cunning。〃 Mortacious had placed more than one spell on the food。 One was to make us sleep until he was ready。 The other was to prevent us from fleeing once that moment came。 We were trapped in this ghastly city； our own fear molded to make that trap。
〃There is only one way to break the spell；〃 Janos said。 〃My own magic is useless。 So we must steal some of his。〃
We did not discuss the how and why of it； for we sensed any lingering discussion would arouse the worm from its lair。 We would go at it simply： one step； then another； seizing opportunity as it came。 The door gave no trouble； and there were no guards outside。 Janos told the men to wait until we returned； then we crept softly away。 I cannot speak for my two panions of that night； but if this account is to be as honest as I have sworn； I must admit how thoroughly Mortacious had unmanned me。 I did not face the task ahead as a brave warrior； or as the hero of a stirring ode。 All along the way I felt the wizard's cold fingers needle my spine and heard his scornful laughter。 Despair was my constant enemy； every hulking shadow my final moment。 We were only three furtive little creatures； kin to all the dark things that scuttle； cousins of shame。
We moved along bleak corridors； past dark； empty rooms that reeked of pain； the doors to those rooms yawned open； eager to swallow us。 Some rooms were barred； and we heard the low moans of their occupants。 Near the entrance to the building； I smelled the sharpness of a familiar oil； and the scent of much…used leather。 Sergeant Maeen； bless his old soldier's senses； traced it quickly： it was the last room along the main corridor； just by the exit。 The room was unlocked； and Maeen cracked it open and disappeared inside。 He returned a moment later and managed a small grin through the web of fear。 It was an armory； he whispered； and with that small hope to light our way； we moved out into the chill night。
There was no sign of anyone about； although that did not ease our fear。 We circled the place； leaping from shadow to shadow until we came to the rear。 Across a wide； barren field； the great building with its smoking furnace beckoned。 We hugged every pebble for cover as we scurried to it。 The smell of the place was overpowering； and far overhead fiery sparks showered into a moonless night。 Why we hurried there； I dared not wonder； for any thought beyond the moment would be a black pit from which we would never escape。 Perhaps it was a god who pitied us； perhaps it was Janos' lifetime lover； Holy Reason； perhaps it was only the small blind guide that squeaks in the breast of all living things。 All I know is； we saw the building 。。。 and went。
After an eternity of terror； the building loomed up at us； a cliff face of polished stone that stretched deep into the night in either direction。 The only feature was the immense black eye of the arched entrance and the twin columns that supported the arch。 We stumbled onto the cobblestone road that served the entrance and grasped at the iron gates barring the way。 At that moment luck abandoned us with the drum of footsteps and the grind and shriek of heavily ladened wagons。 As we stood there； helpless orphans of fate； torchlights flared at the curve of the road。 Then a long procession ribboned out of the night in our direction。 We ducked behind one of the columns and prayed luck would relent and shield us from our enemies' probing eyes。
Our hiding place gave us a clear view of the procession's approach。 There were more than twenty large wagons； and instead of beasts to draw them； there were people laboring in chain and harness； men and women； barely covered in filthy rags。 Large men with whips moved among them； lashing anyone who faltered。 I jumped as the iron gates beside us suddenly rumbled into life； rolling open on oiled runners。 We huddled back into the column's slender shadow as whips cracked and the wagons moved through。 A charnel smell wafted over us as they moved past； and I saw with horror that the wagons were heaped with bodies。 There were some still living among them； for I saw movement and heard desperate pleas。
As the third wagon was dragged by us； one of the women faltered in her chains and fell to her knees。 Her rags were clotted with dried blood。 They came open as she fell； and I saw a gaping wound in her belly； and the glistening of entrails。 She looked up； and for a moment our eyes met； but hers were as blank as an oxen's。 A whip snaked out； cutting a bloody furrow in her cheek。 She did not show pain or emotion； but only rose dumbly to her feet and gripped the chain to labor on。
As the last wagon moved through； Janos hissed for us to follow。 We leaped on the back and clung there； struggling for a grip on gore…soaked wood。 The gates rumbled shut； and we were inside。 I looked back and saw with numb acceptance that there was no one to operate the gates。 Moments before the wagon was jerked around a turn； I spotted an odd shadow near one of the gate's huge hinges。 The bars there were bowed and twisted from some accident。 I risked my grip and nudged Janos； and he saw it； too： a gap just large enough for us to squeeze through。 We jolted along a dark passageway。 Somewhere in the wagon a man groaned ceaselessly； then I heard a child cry； and almost wept。 But the cry had stirred my anger and that anger pierced a hole in Mortacious' black sorcery。 It was only a small hole； a pinprick at best； but it was enough to allow a slender light of courage to peep through。 I still feared Mortacious： my flesh still flinched under his spell's cold net； but if he came upon us now； he would find a man…not a scuttling rodent。 A big door boomed open； and light flooded down the passage。 As we leaped from the back of the wagon； a wave of intense heat followed the light。 It seared the lungs and turned the roots of my hair