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Dirk turned to look at Gar in surprise。 〃Why； wherefore not？ He is as he has always been； since the day of his birth。 Except。。。〃 He rolled forward onto his knees； thrusting his face to within an inch of Gar's； peering at him from every side while he fought down a sudden surge of nausea。 Then he looked up at the guard with a delighted； beatific smile。 〃。。。 except he is bigger now。〃
The warder stood silent for a moment； his mouth working。 Then a sad smile won over his face； he turned his head from side to side。 〃Aye； lad。 Aye； he is bigger now。 Aye； that is all。〃 He started to reach out to Dirk； as though to pat his head； but thought better of it； and pulled his hand back。 〃Aye； care for him； then。 He is your brother。〃 He turned away； going back to the light。
Dirk watched after him； staring at the feeble glow of the lamp…anything to avoid looking at Gar。 Yes； Gar was his brother now。 There was a bond between them…now； when it was too late。
And the warder was right again…Gar was gone； or his mind； at least Catatonic； probably…he wasn't an expert。 He couldn't be sure。
And； now that it was too late； he understood。 Gar was a telepath； he could 〃hear〃 other people's thoughts； but not just that。 He could 〃hear〃 the thoughts of the dead； too…if he was in the room where the dead had lived。 There was a word for it； 〃psychometry；〃 and even a theory to back it up…that strong emotions made minuscule changes in the electrical potentials of objects within range； and a special kind of mind； 〃scanning〃 those objects even centuries later； could still resonate tiny echoes of those long…lost emotions and； through them； of the people who had held those emotions。 A really good psychometrist was supposed to be able to pick up a rock； or a cup； or anything； and describe the personality of the person to whom it belonged and the main events in that person's life。
And here； in a room that had never held anything but the mentally ill； and had held generations of them； for centuries。。。 A room in which there had never been anything but strong emotions； and most of them negative。。。 For a moment； Dirk felt a touch of what Gar must have gone through and shuddered； automatically pinching the sensation off； closing it away from his mind。 Gar must have thought he had walked into hell。 Presumably a telepath…or any kind of a psi…built up automatic defenses against psionic input； a kind of blocking or closure that would automatically shut out any signals he didn't want to hear； the way most people can be in a room where music is playing and never really be aware of it； until the music stops。 But even the strongest dam can be breached。 Or overwhelmed。。。
And what happens then； when the floodwaters e booming in； and the storm chums throughout the land？ Why； you find yourself a bolthole； some watertight place in the bowels of the earth； and you go lock yourself in and pull the key after you； so that nothing can ever get to you； ever； ever again。
Somewhere； some cul…de…sac corner of Gar's brain； the giant's mind had retreated into； pulling the hole in after it； leaving the rest of his brain clear； for the demons to play in。。。。
Suddenly； frantically； Dirk ached for daybreak。
CHAPTER 10
At long last； the huge cell began to lighten with false dawn； gray light filtering down to soothe shuddering forms with cool lucidity。 The warders stretched； grumbling； ready to strike out for home as soon as the day shift came in。
A huge； booming knocking sounded from the outside door。
Dirk looked up； hope suddenly spurting in him。 Was this it； so soon？ But how could they possibly have pulled the army together so quickly？ And what about the Bell not having rung？
The chief warder scowled and gestured to one of his men。 The attendant turned away； into the tunnel leading to the outside door； Dirk heard the huge bolts grind back； the hinges grate open。 There was the murmur of voices； then the attendant came back； looking singularly baffled。 He muttered something to the chief warder； who scowled； puzzled。 The attendant held out a sheet of parchment； the chief warder spread it out flat on the desk； scowling over it； lips moving to silently piece letters together。 Then he looked up； shrugged in resignation； and nodded。 The attendant motioned to two others； picked up a maul and a cold chisel； and strode down the room toward Gar and Dirk。
Dirk's heart hammered。 Never had he wanted out of a place so dearly as he wanted out of this one。
The warders came to a halt in front of Dirk and Gar； and Dirk went limp with relief。 Two went to stand to either side of him； ready to catch hold； while the third kneeled down； set the chisel against the chain； and cut through it with two blows。 He stood； shaking his head； mystified。 〃Why His Lordship wants them is more than I can see。〃
〃'Tis not for us to question；〃 one of his mates growled。 〃e； let's get it done。〃 He turned to Dirk； jerked his thumb。 〃Up on your feet； fellow。〃
Dirk stood； not understanding what was going on； but not about to worry about it； either。 At the last moment； he remembered the act。 〃Praised be the sun； moon； and stars！ The ransom is paid； the King wanders free！ Praised be the deliverers； praised be…〃
〃Yes； yes； I know；〃 the warder soothed。 〃Stand there like a good fellow； while we get your brother free。〃
The first warder set his chisel against Gar's chain while the other two watched warily。 The maul swung； the chain dropped free； but Gar still sat like a statue； staring forward。
〃Up！〃 The man with the chisel scowled down at the giant； braced for anything…but nothing happened。
Dirk dropped down beside the big man。 〃Why； e then； Brother！ We must up and away！ The night is gone； the sun wheels toward day！〃 He slung the giant's arm over his shoulder； braced himself for a hard haul； and pushed himself to his feet…and almost fell over backward。 He'd expected to have to haul the giant up by main strength； but impulse was all the huge body needed； it rose by itself； willingly。 But； standing； it just stood。
Dirk looked up at the warders。 〃e now； I'll lead my brother。 Take us out to the Lord of the Ransom； take us out from the castle of durance vile； ere the ogre returns。〃
The warders traded a miserating glance and turned to escort them out。
They went down between the two rows of inmates。 The ones who were awake looked up； saw two of their number going toward freedom； and set up a chorus of howls； wailing for liberty。 The warders stiffened； but their steps never slackened。 Inmates surged to their feet； clawing at the air and bellowing； but the warders plodded on at the same even pace； past the chief warder and into the passageway to the outside door。 Dirk breathed a silent sigh of relief； realized he was shaking。 He wondered how the warders could take it； and realized it was a miracle they'd managed to keep so much human feeling。
The warder wrenched back the bolts and swung the door open。 Dirk squinted against the dazzling sunlight； let them lead him out。 As his eyes adjusted； he looked up。。。
。。。 and saw a young page with five Soldiers； in Lord Core's livery。