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the islands moved in a constant； slow churning。
The attendants pulled them forward； and； as they passed between rows of poor madmen lying on straw pallets。 Dirk saw an occasional one whose movement was hurried； frenzied…and totally aimless； a kind of threshing pantomime of violence。 Dirk tried to shrink away； inside his skin； away from them all； they filled the long； narrow room； standing； sitting； or tying against the walls。 Each one had a chain； some on the ankle； some on the wrist； the other end of the chain was driven into the wall。 He stared about him； horrified； following the attendant； feeling as though he was wading through a sea of groans； wails of despair； cries of rage； and shrill； gibbering laughter。 Suddenly； he doubted if he could even make it through one night here。 He could only stare； horrified； as the warden riveted a chain around his ankle and went away； leaving both of them chained between a Tradesman who crouched against the wall； glaring at an unseen persecutor and cursing steadily in a low； even voice； and a Farmer； squat and flabby； who sat hunched against the wall； munching slowly at a sore on the back of his hand。
〃It's a madhouse；〃 Dirk whispered； stunned。
〃Yes。〃 Gar swallowed heavily； his eyes bulging。 〃Not a mental hospital； not an insane asylum。 A madhouse。 The real； genuine medieval article。 A Bedlam。〃 He swallowed again； thickly。
〃I don't know if I can even make it through one night here。〃
〃Shut up；〃 Gar snapped； his eyes burning。 Cold sweat stood out on his brow。
Dirk frowned up at him； puzzled…and felt a sudden hollow fear； as he watched the anger bleach out of Gar's eyes； leaving only agony。 The big guy looked like a wounded man fighting against a burning pain clawing inside him； able to hang on only because he knew the doctor was ing。 〃What's the matter with you？〃
Gar swallowed thickly again and muttered； 〃The walls。。。 agony。。。 despair。。。〃 He turned on Dirk furiously。
〃Shut up； can't you？ You're tearing my ears out！〃
Dirk shrank back into a crouch； staring up at the big man as fear scooped out his entrails and jellied his legs。 He hadn't been saying anything。
As the light faded； Gar sank back against the walls； lower and lower into a crouch； back plastered flat against the rough stone； staring bug…eyed up at the little； high window across from him； sweat trickling down his face in the chill。
When the sun had set； and the huge stone room was cloaked in twilight； a warder came by with bowls of food…a hunk of stale brown bread； a cup of water； and a bowl of gruel for each man。 There were no spoons； the inmates ate with their fingers and drank the gruel； or spooned it up with their hands…or turned it upside…down over their heads。
Gar wouldn't touch his food。 He sat on his heels； jaw clenched tight； eyes bulging； sweating。 Dirk watched him； and wisely held his peace。 At least； he thought it was wisdom。
Clank of keys； a warder stopped in front of Gar。 Dirk looked up at a miniature gorilla； obviously chosen for the sensitivity and delicacy of his feelings。 He scowled down at Gar。 〃e； then…eat！ We'll not have you wasting away； and robbing us of the penny a day the King gives us for you！〃
But Gar just sat on his heels； staring off into space。
The attendant looked worried。 With a shock； Dirk realized the Neanderthal actually had some dedication。 He sat on his heels； staring into Gar's eyes。 〃e； e； it's not so bad as that。 Only eat； and hold onto life； and all will grow better。〃
Gar's throat muscles worked； but he stayed silent。
The warder scowled； and Dirk remembered that even the finest empathy can be blunted by the wrong environment。 He screwed up his courage and reached over to give Gar a shake。 〃Nay then； coz！ Will you not do a king's bidding？ His Majesty bids you to eat…why； then； glad fellow； you were ever a man for the trencher！ e； 'tis a fat pullet； and wine from the King's own table！〃
The warder's brow smoothed； he nodded approval。 〃Aye； there； good fellow； talk him into it； if you can。〃
'To be sure。 Majesty； to be sure！〃 Dirk salaamed； turned to hiss into Gar's ear； 〃e out of it； idiot！ What're you trying to do…get yourself force…fed？〃
Gar's head tamed； slowly； almost mechanically； as though it were separate from his body。 His voice was a hoarse； grating whisper。 〃The walls。。。〃
〃Yeah； the walls。 Well； the hell with the walls！ Eat the damn food； man； or they'll ram it down your throat。〃
Gar's eyes stayed glassy。
Dirk scowled to hide abiding fear。 〃e on！ What's the matter with you？〃 He slapped Gar's cheek and cried； 〃Wake； coz！ For the moon； that startled into flight； the sun before turn； from the lake of night。。。〃
He hoped Khayyam's ghost wasn't listening； but it seemed to work。 Something seemed to click behind Gar's eyes； they seemed to focus suddenly。 He turned； frowning； to stare at the bowl of food。 Then he shuddered and began to eat。
The warder nodded approvingly； climbing to his feet 〃You're a proper man； though a daft one；〃 he said to Dirk。 〃Care for your brother； then。 You seem to have wits enough for that； at least。〃
At the far end of the chamber； a man screamed； rearing up to claw at the air； straining against the chain harnessing his shoulders。 The warder looked up in alarm and leaped over to him。 Another attendant slammed into the man from the other side。 They grabbed the ancient's arms； wrestled them down around behind him。 〃e （hen； old Jean； e；〃 the warder growled in a tone that was meant to soothe。 〃It'll pass； Jean； it always has。 They'll go away。。。〃
Dirk turned away； stomach rebelling； as the old man collapsed； sobbing； sliding back down the wall； drooling and trembling。 Dirk looked up at Gar； and felt alarm grab him。 The big man had frozen again； into stone； eyes squeezed shut； lips parted； breath hissing in and out。 Sweat dripped from his temples。
Dirk scowled。 〃Hey； then！ What's the matter with you？〃
〃I can't。。。〃 Gar swallowed thickly。 His eyes opened； he gave his head a quick shake。 〃I can't。。。 not much longer。。。〃
With a heave； he rolled forward to his knees； rolled back to sit on his heels with only the soles of his feet in contact with the floor。 〃The stones； dammitt I can't take them！ The clamor in here is bad enough； but the stones！ Ten times worse…it's too much！ They。。。 the emotions。。。 screaming。。。 rage； despair； the。。。〃 He swallowed； and was stone again； his mouth moving as though trying to force sound out…Dirk felt a thrill of panic； and under it； the dread certainty that； if Gar hadn't been crazy when he came in here； he would be when he went out。 This was just the place for it。
He tried to calm himself…maybe it was all an act。 Too good an act； something inside him prodded。 He'd heard of such cases…actors who really began to believe they were the characters。 And if the character was insane。。。
The gloom in the chamber deepened into night。 A single lamp burned at the far end of the hall； where two warders sat playing cards。 The inmates lapsed into slumber…most of them； at least。 A few began to moan； rocking themselves from side to side。 Several lay