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〃So you believe Josua was dead already？〃 The calmness of the duke's deep voice was belied by the unhappy nervousness of his free hand； which passed in and out of his beard； tugging and plucking。 His beard looked thinner and shabbier； as though he had pulled at it too often in recent days。
Tiamak nodded sadly。 〃He was struck very hard on the neck by the king's sword。 There was a terrible noise when it hit； a snapping； and then the blood。。。 。〃 The small man shuddered。 〃He could not have survived it。〃
Isgrimnur brooded for a moment； then shook his head。
〃Ah； well。 I thank Usires Aedon in His mercy that at least Josua did not suffer。 An unhappy man； though I loved him。 An unhappy ending。〃 He looked up at a shout in the distance； then turned his gaze back to the Wrannaman。 〃And you were then knocked senseless yourself。〃
〃I remember nothing after I heard the bell again。。。 until I awakened。 I was still in the place where the bells hung； but I did not know it at first。 All I could see was that I was surrounded by a whirlpool of fire and smoke and strange shadows。
〃I tried to climb to my feet； but my head was spinning and my legs would not work properly。 Someone caught at my arm and dragged at me until I could rise。 At first 1 thought I had gone mad； because no one was there。 Then I looked down and saw that it was Binabik who had helped me。
〃 'Hurry；' he told me； 'this place is falling into pieces。' He pulled at me again…I was dazed and did not entirely understand him。 Smoke was everywhere and the floor was pitching beneath my feet with loud grinding noises。 As I stood wavering； another shape appeared。 It was Miriamele； and she was dragging a body across the floor with great effort。 It took me a moment to see through the dust and ashes that it was the young man Simon。
〃 'I killed him；' Miriamele was saying over and over。 Tears were streaming down her face。 I did not understand why she thought she had killed Simon when I could see his fingers moving； his chest rising and falling。 Binabik hastened to help her and they pulled Simon across the floor toward the stairwell。 I followed them。 A moment later the tower shook again and a great chunk of stone fell down and shattered on the spot where I had stood。〃 Tiamak reached down and pointed at the cloth wrapped around his leg。 〃A piece flew free and cut me； but not badly。〃 He straightened up。
〃Miriamele wanted to go back for Josua； but the floor was shaking powerfully now； and more pieces of the ceiling and walls were crumbling。 Binabik was doubtful； and they began to argue。 My wits were ing back。 I told them that the king had broken Josua's neck； that I had seen it happen。 Miriamele was hard to understand…she seemed to be half…asleep； despite the tears…but she had begun to say something about Camaris when one of the bells broke loose and smashed down through the floor。 We could hear it clang as it struck on something below。 Smoke was everywhere。 I was coughing； and my eyes were as wet as Miriamele's。 I did not much care at the moment； but I felt sure that we would be burned or smashed to death； that I would never know what had happened to cause all this。
〃Binabik grabbed Miriamele's arm； pointing to the ceiling； shouting that there was no time。 Simon would be difficult enough to carry。 She fought him for a moment； but her heart was not in it。 The three of us picked Simon up as best we could…he was limp； it made him very difficult to carry…and we scuttled into the stairwell。
〃The smoke was not so thick down below the first turn。 The fire seemed to burn only in the bellchamber； although I heard Binabik say something that made it sound as if the whole tower had been in flames just instants before。 But even if it was easier to breathe； I was still certain we would not survive to reach the ground： the tower was pitching like a tree in a strong wind。 I have heard that in days long past one or two of the southernmost islands of Firannos Bay disappeared because the earth shook so hard that the sea swallowed them。 If that is true； their last moments must have felt like this。 We could barely keep on our feet in the narrow stairwell。 Several times 1 was thrown against one of the walls； and we were lucky we only dropped poor Simon twice。 Stone was shivering down and dust was everywhere； choking me as thoroughly as the smoke had。〃
Tiamak paused and pressed his fingers against his temples。 His head hurt。 Remembering the desperate flight down the stairs made it ache almost as badly as it had then。
〃We had gone down a little farther…it was fearfully difficult to make our way； and the very steps seemed to be breaking apart beneath our feet…when a figure appeared out of the dust below us。 It was smeared with ash and grime and blood； and its eyes stared。 At first I thought it some horrible demon that Pryrates had summoned； but Miriamele cried 'Cadrach！'； and I recognized him。 I was astonished； of course…I had no idea how he of all people had appeared in this place。 I could hardly hear him above the groaning and rumbling of the tower； but he said： 'I waited for you' to no one in particular； then turned and led us down the stairs。 I was angry and frightened； and I could not help wondering why he did not offer to help carry Simon； who was a terrible load for a young woman； a troll； and a small man like me to bear。 Simon was now beginning to move a little more； mumbling to himself and struggling weakly。 It made him even more difficult to carry。
〃Then there was a time I can hardly remember。 We went as fast as we could； but there seemed little chance we would escape before the tower collapsed pletely。 We were still very high up； maybe ten times a man's height。 As we passed one of the windows； 1 saw the tower's spire hanging crookedly； as if the whole tower bowed from the waist。 You notice strange things at such times； I suppose； and I saw that the bronze angel at the spire's tip had its arms extended as though it was poised to fly away； Suddenly the whole spire shivered； broke loose； and fell down out of sight。
〃There were cracks in the walls of the stairwell wide enough to put your arm into； Isgrimnur。 Through some of them I could see gray sky。
〃Then the tower shook again； so strongly that we fell down on the stairs。 It kept shaking； it was almost impossible to regain our feet； but we did at last。 When we had scrambled down a few more paces； the twisting of the staircase suddenly opened onto nothing。 The side of the tower wall had gone； fallen away outward： I could see it lying in great shards； spread out on the snow beneath； white on white。 A great chunk of the staircase had gone with it； so that there was a gap many paces across； and beneath lay a fall of twenty cubits onto darkness and broken stone。〃
Tiamak paused for a moment。 〃What happened next is strange。 Had I stayed in my swamp； I would not believe this tale from someone else。 But I have seen things that have changed what I believe is possible。〃
Isgrimnur nodded somberly。 〃As have I。 Go on； man。〃
〃We were stopped at the gap； staring hopelessly at the bits of rubble working loose from the ragged edge and tumbling down into shadows。〃
〃 'So here it ends；' Miri