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〃Mad；〃 said the other。 〃He was mad。 Sometimes we go mad； you know。 They say so。〃
〃I would have killed them；〃 replied the first。 〃Mad or not。〃 They moved away from the pit and were gone。 I caught a Dupey eye upon me with Mavin's keen intelligence behind it。
〃We have spent time enough here；〃 she hissed。
There was the matter of the Fatwagon； which should be left in a place it would not attract attention。 There was the matter of the arches behind which the watchers lurked。 She knew this as well as I； and we sought a solution to the dilemma。 We found it at the base of the metal cage； a slight declivity in the pit wall； a space large enough to hide us as we Shifted。 When next the moveable cage fell and rose； we rose with it； hidden beneath it like a false bottom to the thing。 Once the space around the pit was empty； two Tallmen came into being and moved away to the fringing corridors。 When we had found a secluded place； we stopped to set some plan of action。 Tallman had believed what he had told us。 He had not known the name 〃Himaggery〃 or 〃Windlow。〃 He knew only that a certain cargo was ordered for them； that it would go behind the inner doors to them； to be used in certain ceremonies which were to happen soon。 He knew only that the monsters were created by them； in order that the monsters could be watched by them。
They made things； things which were sent out into the world to be sold or given away by the Gifters。 They needed pawns to serve them； so pawns were brought in through the mumble mouths。 Tallmen were created by them to maintain the corridors； to maintain the portals； to repair things which broke。 〃But we cannot；〃 he had said pitiably。 〃No one knows how to fix them。 They did not talk to Tallmen； except to give instructions。 This Tallman had not been through the inner doors； he did not know what happened there。 We asked what friends he had？ None。 What acquaintances？ None。 Surely he slept somewhere； in some pany？ No。 At most； they could gather in pairs。 Why sleep in pany？ Why eat in pany？ One slept wherever one was。 。
We had asked him how he had learned to speak？ Surely he remembered a childhood？
At that his eyes had rolled back in his head and he had trembled like a drumhead。 Mavin had said sadly； 〃Let it go； Peter。 I do not know whether it was born of human kind； but it has been changed beyond recognition。 This is only an empty vessel； drained of all but limited speech and directed action and fear of pain。 Let it go。〃
That was when we had let him go。
Now we leaned against a wall and considered。 Somewhere in this tangled； underground labyrinth were the inner doors the Tallman had spoken of。 Somewhere in this web of a place we would find some answers； but we would not find them standing against a wall。 We would have to follow some of them。 〃I will not do this；〃 Mavin said with asperity； 〃mock that unfortunate creature by saying them。 They are magicians； and so I will say。
〃Say away；〃 I mented。 〃Particularly if it will help some。〃
Easier conceived of than acplished。 There were none of the magicians about。 Perhaps it was not a time they moved about。 Perhaps the earlier occurrence had been a random happening with little chance of repetition。 We wandered； baffled and frustrated。 Bells rang。 Machines wheezed and gulped。 Tallmen moved quietly past。 Silence came。
〃Perhaps it is night outside；〃 said Mavin。 〃These beings must once have lived beneath the sun。 Perhaps they keep its time still。〃
〃If that is so； they maybe sleeping rather than watching what goes on around them。 And if that is so； then we might risk other bodies than these。〃 We hesitated； wondering whether it was wise to take the risk。
At last she said； 〃If it finds us anything； it is worth it。 I will go left； you right； as fast and as far as possible。 Meet here when they begin to move about again。〃
So we agreed； and I set out as furred…Peter once more； on legs as swift as I could Shift them。 I had no luck； none； and returned to the place heavy with anger and disappointment。 Mavin was there already； curled against the wall half asleep； and I knew at once she had been luckier than I。
〃I found them；〃 she said。 〃Found the inner doors。 Sleep now； and when we have rested； we will find a way through them。〃 We were well hidden。 I gave up anger in favor of sleep and dreamed long； too well； of Izia。
9。 The Inner Doors
The place of the magicians was full of niches and corners； almost as though they provided space for invisible beings； Tallmen and servants whom they did not see。 We found such a niche； a place from which we could see the doors Mavin had found without being seen ourselves。 The doors were quite ordinary； a wide pair of time…blotched panels without handles or knobs； and beside them a little booth of glass； though I suspected it wits of a material more durable than that。 We had not long to wait before one of the magicians came into the booth； an old one； jowls jiggling and pouches beneath his eyes； a nose which； had I seen it in a tavern in Betand； I would have considered evidence of much wine toping。 He hawked and mumbled to himself for a time； his voice carried out to us through some contrivance or other which made it echo and boom。
〃Huskpaw here；〃 he mumbled。 〃On duty； Huskpaw。 Huskpaw is on duty。 Doors unlocked。 Oh； turn to tum； boredom； weariness； and ennui； clutches and concatenations of all tedium。〃 Then he must have heard a sound because he stiffened； sat himself down before the glass and took a pose of watchfulness。 We heard the voice of Manacle。 〃Doctor Manacle； here； Proctor Huskpaw。 Desirous of egress 。 。 。〃
〃What business have you among the monsters？〃 rapped Huskpaw； so rapidly I knew it was rote； even as he reached for whatever thing it was controlled the doors。
He received a giggle in response； the voice of Shear。 〃Doctor Manacle goes forth to select monsters for consecration； Proctor Huskpaw。 It is time。 The ceremonies will not wait。
〃Lecturer Shear；〃 Manacle's voice； cold as a battlefield after Great Game。 〃I can make my own explanations； if you please！ Huskpaw； give your handle a twist there； my good fellow。 Your Dean goes forth among monsters to select a few for consecration。 Write me down as upon the business of the college。〃
〃Certainly； Dean Manacle。 At once； sir。 Written as upon the business of the college。 Surely。 Proctor Huskpaw at your convenience； sir。 。 。 。〃 opening the doors through which Manacle and Shear emerged； Shear still in a high good humor； obviously unsuppressed。 Mavin twitched at me； and we followed them； hearing Huskpaw's voice behind us as we went； 〃Oh； certainly； Dean； certainly； Doctor； Dean Manacle； Dean Mumblehead； Dean monster…lover。 Blast and confusion upon him and his lick…ass Shear； old stuff…sox。 May he rot。〃 We followed the two on a circuitous route before they stopped at last beside one of the monster pits； whether the one we had been in or some other； I could not tell。 They leaned at ease upon a railing； looked at the farther wall without letting their eyes move downward； and discussed the grotesques which seethed below。
〃Nothing here worth consecration； eh； Shear？ Not for us； at any rate。 Perhaps for Quench？ Now； I have the idea that Quench wou