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slain by Soldiers； then waked to life again。〃
Dirk stood a moment； galvanized； then he realized that； if he had to put up with superstition； he might as well make use of it。 He opened his mouth； but Madelon was ahead of him。 〃We are those two。〃
The Master's head snapped up； staring。 〃You？〃
Dirk nodded。
The Master slid a hand inside his doublet…clutching a holy medallion； at a guess。 White showed all around his eyes。 〃Were you truly dead？〃
Madelon hesitated。
Dirk shrugged。 〃Who can tell？ The churls said we bore no sign of life。 For myself； I can tell you I dreamed。〃
The Master's eyes swung to him like a pass needle to a magnet。 〃A dream？ What of？〃
Dirk swallowed； then forced it out： 〃The Wizard of the Far Tower。〃
The Guildmaster's eyes widened their last possible millimeter。 〃In what way may I serve you？〃 he whispered。
Dirk came down with a sudden attack of conscience； so Madelon leaped into the breach。 〃A man of ours has been taken and sent to the Games。 We must get him out； if we are to have any hope for The Day。〃
The Guildmaster turned to her in surprise； then frowned； musing。 〃It is indeed strange to take a man from the Games…once there； he will not be questioned； and at least will have a quick death。 But if you say it must be done； then it must。。。。〃
〃Dirk must go into the Cages； to take him word of the plan；〃 Madelon said quickly； 〃and I must be in the stands； to lead them out It is for you to choose the route and to have it cleared before us and blocked behind us。〃
The Master nodded。 〃Simple enough。 It is also for me to smuggle your friend in？〃
Madelon sighed with relief and nodded。
So did the Guildmaster。 〃That is more difficult； but possible； quite possible。 Let me see。 Alphonse is a trainer there； and the Master of the Cages is a cousin to。。。〃 His voice trailed off into mumbling as he turned away； chin in his fist； pacing the chamber。
Madelon caught Dirk's eye and gave him a glowing smile； lips parted in joy。
Dirk swallowed hard and tried to dig his toes into the carpet。 He managed a weak smile back。
The Master strode up to them； clasping his arms behind his back； nodding vigorously。 〃It shall be done。 Lady and Gentleman…yes； it shall be done！ I must go and see to the doing…will you abide here； to rest and refresh yourselves？ One will e in good time to lead you to one who will lead you。〃
It was a mand； for all that it was phrased so politely； but Madelon gave him her most dazzling smile。 〃We will be delighted； Guildmaster…and will do it quite gladly； for； to tell truth； we are sore wearied。 I thank you for all your great kindness。〃
The Master actually blushed。 〃It is nothing。 Lady； I delight in the doing of it。 Do you seat yourselves now； and leave all else to me。〃
He whirled about； ducked behind a tapestry； and was gone。 Madelon turned to Dirk； glowing。 〃You were magnificent； sir！ You knew just what to say！〃 But in this case； Dirk didn't。
CHAPTER 5
In the heat and bustle of the noonday crowd； no one took any particular notice of another brown…robed monk with a butcher's apprentice at his elbow。
〃Not far now；〃 the apprentice muttered。 〃We'll be at the beginning of the downgrade in a moment The arena lies below us。〃
Dirk peered out of the brown wool hood。 〃I'll be glad to get there； strange as that may sound。 This sack itches like an army of fleas。〃
They came to the rim of the hill； and Dirk stopped； appraising the stadium with an eye to a quick escape route。
Offhand； he didn't see any。 He looked through an iron…barred door in a ten…foot cellucrete wall； and stared down…a long way down。 The Lords had been thrifty； they'd built then…local coliseum in a natural bowl between the hilltop that held the town and the higher hill that held the King's castle。 Tier upon tier of seats fell away in a beige giant's staircase； to a circle of white sand a hundred yards across and twenty feet down from the innermost tier of seats。 That wall…and the whole stadium for that matter…was cellucrete： an unholy molecular alliance between cellulose and silicon； tough as armor； hard as tool steel； and slick as glass。 A grappling hook might get a purchase on granite； but not on this stuff。 Once a man was down in the circle of sand； he was there to stay。 Oh； there were doors in its walls…a set that led to the Cages； and another set that led to freedom…but only the Lords passed through those last。
〃No churl has ever escaped from there；〃 his guide informed him。
〃Pleasant thought； isn't it？〃 Dirk turned away。 〃Well； I always did want to set a precedent。 Shall we go？〃
They wound their way down to the bottom of the hill； where the street opened out into a cobblestoned plaza before a huge iron door in the cellucrete wall。 It was for wholesale transactions； it could be cranked up to admit a whole cartload of convicts； and often was。 For the retail trade； there was a smaller； hinged door set into it。
The butcher's apprentice ambled up to it； and on by； leaving Dirk standing by it in contemplation； like a moraine deposited by a glacier。
The ice； at the moment； was in Dirk's feet。 He folded his arms to keep his hands from trembling and propped his chin on his chest； reflecting that it was one thing to contemplate a damn…fool risk； but another to take it。 But…the die was cast； and Dirk should've had his head thumped。
He glanced up at the sun…just about high noon。 Something was supposed to happen about now。 Just what； the Guildmaster hadn't informed him…but something； any minute。。。
Suddenly； through the small iron gate in the door； he heard a melee of bellowing； screaming； and the clash of steel。 Then the lock growled； the door slammed open； and a brawny arm shot out to yank Dirk inside。 The door crashed shut behind him…not that Dirk could hear； the fight was much louder in here。
He found himself facing a Soldier tastefully attired in crossed leather belts and breechcloth。 Without a word； he yanked Dirk's robe off； almost taking his arms with it。 Dirk had to grind his teeth against pain…and to keep them from chattering； it was cold in here！ After all； all he was wearing was a breechcloth himself！
The guard grabbed him by the shoulder and hustled him away； shot a key into a lock； slammed open a door； and shoved him through。 The door boomed shut behind him； and Dirk was in。
He immediately wished he wasn't。 By wavering torchlight； he saw a near…naked crowd of yowling devils battering at a wall of bars。 Shrill whistle blasts answered them； and spears started poking through the bars。 Strangely； each man seemed to step just a little aside a split…second before the barbed head came through。
Then…suddenly…the howling slackened； groaned； and ground to a halt； like a record shut…off halfway through。 The prisoners turned away； shuffling toward Dirk； muttering。 On the far side of the bars； the guards relaxed and strolled away； growling to one another。
〃What made 'em go like that？〃
〃Happens all the time。。。〃
Dirk's ears pricked up。 〃Happens all the time？〃 What illicit operations were the pr