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Simon and Stanhelm were standing near the scrap pile； panting for breath。 The older man had cut himself on a jagged edge and his hand was bleeding badly。
〃Hold still。〃 Simon tore a piece from his ragged breeches for a bandage and began to wrap it around Stanhelm's wounded hand。 Exhausted； the older man wobbled from side to side like a ship in high winds。 〃Aedon！〃 Simon swore unhappily。 〃That's deep。〃
〃Can't go no more；〃 Stanhelm muttered。 Above the face mask； his eyes had finally taken on the lifeless glaze that marked the rest of the forge's laborers。 〃Can't go no more。〃
〃Just stand there；〃 Simon said； pulling me knot tight。 〃Rest。〃
Stanhelm shook his head hopelessly。 〃Can't。〃
〃Then don't。 Sit down。 I'll go find the dipper man； get you some water。〃
Something large and dark passed before the flames； blocking the light like a mountain obscuring a sunset。
〃Rest？〃 Inch lowered his head； peering first at Stanhelm； then at Simon。 〃You are not working。〃
〃He h…hurt his hand。〃 Avoiding the overseer's eyes； Simon stared instead at Inch's broad shoes； noting with numbed bemusement that one flat； blunt toe poked through on each。 〃He's bleeding。〃
〃Little men are always bleeding；〃 Inch said matter…of…factly。 〃Time to rest later。 Now there is work to do。〃
Stanhelm swayed a little； then abruptly sagged and sat down。 Inch stared at him； then stepped closer。
〃Get up。 Time to work。〃
Stanhelm only moaned softly； cradling his injured hand。
〃Get up。〃 Inch's voice was a deep rumble。 〃Now。〃
The seated man did not look at him。 Inch leaned down and smacked Stanhelm on the side of the head so hard that the forge worker's head snapped to one side and his body rocked。 Stanhelm began to cry。
〃Get up。〃
When this did not produce any better results； Inch lifted his thick fist high and struck Stanhelm again； this time knocking him into a splay…limbed sprawl。
Several of the other forge workers had stopped to stare； watching Stanhelm's punishment with the crushed calm of a flock of sheep who have seen one of their number taken by a wolf； and know that for a while at least they are safe。
Stanhelm lay silent； only barely moving。 Inch lifted his boot above the man's head。 〃Get up； you。〃
Simon's heart was racing。 The whole thing seemed to be happening too fast。 He knew he would be a fool to say anything…Stanhelm had clearly reached his breaking point and was as good as dead。 Why should Simon risk everything？
It's a mistake to care about people； he thought angrily。
〃Stop。〃 He knew it was his own voice； but it sounded unreal。 〃Let him be。〃
Inch's wide； scarred face swung around slowly； his one good eye blinking in the scorched flesh。 〃You don't talk；〃 he growled； then gave Stanhelm an offhand kick。
〃I said 。。。 let him be。〃
Inch turned away from his victim and Simon took a step backward； looking for someplace to run。 There was no turning back now； no escape from this confrontation。 Terror and long…suppressed rage battled inside him。 He yearned for his Qanuc knife； confiscated by the Norns。
〃e here。〃
Simon took another step backward。 〃e and get me； you great sack of guts。〃
Inch's ruined face screwed up in a snarl and he lunged forward。 Simon darted out of his reach and turned to run across the chamber。 The other workers gaped as the master of the forge lumbered after him。
Simon had hoped to tire the huge man； but had reckoned without his own weariness； the weeks of injury and deprivation。 Within a hundred strides he felt his strength ebbing； although Inch still plodded some distance behind him。 There was nowhere to hide； and there was no escape from the forge； better to turn and fight in the open； where he could best use whatever advantage of speed still remained to him。
He bent to pick up a large chunk of stone。 Inch； certain that he had Simon captured； but wary of the stone； moved steadily but slowly closer。
〃Doctor Inch is master here；〃 he rumbled。 'There is work to do。 You。。。 you have。。。〃 He growled； unable to find words to describe the magnitude of Simon's crimes。 He took another step forward。
Simon flung the stone at his head。 Inch dodged and it thumped heavily against his shoulder instead。 Simon found himself filling with a dark exhilaration； a rising fury that surged through him almost like joy。 This was the creature who had brought Pryrates to Morgenes' chamber！ This monstrosity had helped kill Simon's master！
〃Doctor Inch！〃 Simon shouted； laughing wildly as he bent for another stone。 〃Doctor？！ You are not fit to call yourself anything but Slug； but Filth； but HaIf…Wit！ Doctor！ Ha！〃 Simon flung the second stone； but Inch side…stepped and it clattered across the cavern floor。 The big man leaped forward with startling speed and hit Simon a glancing blow that knocked him off his feet。 Before he could regain his balance； a wide hand closed on his arm。 He was jerked upright； then flung headfirst across the stone floor。 Tumbling； he hit his head； then lay for a moment； dazed。 Inch's meaty hands closed on him again。 He was lifted up； then something struck his face so hard that he heard thunder and saw lightning。 He felt his cloth mask pull away。 Another blow rocked him； then he was free and toppling to the ground。 Simon lay where he had fallen； struggling to understand where he was and what had happened。
〃You make me angry 。。。〃 said a deep voice。 Simon waited helplessly for another blow； hoping it would be strong enough to take away the pain in his head and the sickness in his guts forever。 But for long moments nothing happened。
'The little kitchen boy；〃 Inch said at last； 〃I know you。 You are the kitchen boy。 But you have hair on your face！〃 There was a sound like two stones being rubbed together。 It took some time for Simon to realize that Inch was laughing。 〃You came back！〃 He sounded as pleased as if Simon were an old friend。 〃Back to Inch…but I am Doctor Inch now。 You laughed at me。 But you won't laugh any more。〃
Thick fingers squeezed him and he was jerked up from the floor。 The sudden movement filled his head with blackness。
Simon struggled to move but could not。 Something held him with his arms and legs extended； stretched to their utmost。
He opened his eyes to the tattered moon face of Inch。 〃Little kitchen boy。 You came back。〃 The huge man leaned closer。 He used one hand to pinion Simon's right arm against whatever stood behind； then raised the other； which clutched a heavy mallet。 Simon saw the spike being held against his wrist and could not hold back his shout of terror。
〃Are you afraid； kitchen boy？ You took my place； the place that should have been mine。 Turned the old man against me。 I didn't forget。〃 Inch raised the mallet and brought it down hard against the head of the spike。 Simon gasped and twitched helplessly； but there was no pain only a tightening of the pressure on his wrist。 Inch hammered the spike in deeper； then leaned back to examine his work。 For the first time Simon realized that they were high above the cavern floor。 Inch was standing on a ladder that leaned