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sidence； though the frayed ends of other ropes indicated that once he had enjoyed pany。
One lone； attenuated human shape hung from the weathered crosstree。 From the half…face that remained； a single empty eyesocket looked down upon the travelers； and seemed sardonically to mark their progress。 Hubert could not keep from looking up at it several times； though their march did not pause as it went by。 At last the windings of the road took the gallows out of sight behind a screen of barren trees。 All the plants here were oddly leafless； Hubert suddenly realized； though spring was well advanced。
Still the mounted leader rode on in silence； concentrating his attention on the road ahead and the surrounding woods and thickets。 Even leafless as it was； the growth beside the road still seemed to promise ambush。 No birds sang。 A hush held； as if some enemy already lay in wait； and had only a moment ago fallen silent in anticipation。 At intervals the leader； as he rode； put hand to sword once more。 But he did not draw。 His fingers rested carefully； almost caressingly on that black hilt； then slid away again。
When they were a few hundred meters past the gallows； he sighed gently； and appeared to e to the conclusion that any immediate challenge from the roadside was unlikely。 He relaxed a trifle in the saddle； and； while still keeping an alert eye on his surroundings； rode forward a trifle faster and more boldly。
Hubert； reassured by this sight； and growing ever more conscious of his rumbling stomach； speeded up the pace of his own feet somewhat until he drew close to the rider's stirrup。 Then； when the way ahead appeared to be clear for a little way at least； Hubert dared to speak。 〃Sir？ Will the blade show us where we can find some food？ I'm empty； pack and belly both。。。〃
There was no immediate response。 At least there had not been； as Hubert had half…feared there would； a flash of rage。
Encouraged； Hubert tried again。 〃Baron Doon？ Sir？〃
The rider did not turn his head by so much as a centimeter； but this time he answered。 〃If food were what I wanted；〃 grated the low voice from between his teeth； 〃what I； the owner and master of this Sword； desired more than anything else in the sweet universe； then Wayfinder would guide us to as great a feast as I desired。 But since food is not what I crave at this moment； it does not。 Now keep quiet； and follow me alertly。 Safety is not what I am looking for either。〃
Wayfinder； thought Hubert to himself。 Wayfinder。 I've heard some story about that； some tale of magic Swords。。。 But； having been ordered to keep quiet； he kept quiet。
The four men continued to move forward … again； more slowly； for now the riding beast； well…trained though it was； was giving signs of reluctance to proceed any farther along this road。 At a sign from Baron Doon； Golok unhooded his monkbird again； though for the time being he kept it on his shoulder。
The road continued a progressive deterioration； till now it was doubtful whether it deserved that name at all。 And now； as if capriciously； it branched again。 Again it was the right…hand fork that bore the most unfavorable aspect； even though the left appeared to lead into nothing better than another nasty thicket； this one so overgrown as to almost swallow up the track entirely。
Still there was no doubt that the right…hand way looked worse。 Even though … and here Hubert rubbed at his eyes； blinked； and looked again … even though it did appear to lead to a house。 Yes； there was an abandoned dwelling down there； right on the edge of an encroaching swamp。 It was a large house； or rather it looked as if it might have been large before portions of it had suffered a collapse。 The swamp； thought Hubert； had probably begun to undermine it from the rear。
The surviving portion had been sturdily built of timber and of stone； the masonry discolored and weakened now。 There might be； Hubert supposed； three or four rooms still standing roofed and usable； counting the fragment of an upper story that remained。 Usable； that is； if the whole thing did not collapse the first time someone walked into it。
The road to the right did not go past the house； but terminated at it； or； more precisely； at a narrow bridge a few meters from the wooden door。 The rickety； unsafe…looking bridge spanned a noisome ditch formed by an advanced arm of the swamp。 The bridge was fashioned of two thin； round logs； slippery…looking with damp and moss。 There was a sketch of a railing on one side； and crosswise between the logs a scattering of short boards for footing。 Some of these floorboards already hung down broken。
Again Baron Doon had recourse to his Sword。 This time； Hubert observed with a fatalistic lack of surprise； the blade quivered only when its owner pointed it in the direction of the house。
This time Doon did not sheath the blade； using it instead to gesture to Golok。 Then he went back to watching the house intently。
Again the flying mammal； after a low…crooning conference with its master； took to its dark； membranous wings。 It circled the house first。 Then it hovered briefly in front of one shadowed window； but balked at entering that dark； blank space。 In another moment it had returned to its master's shoulder； where it sat shivering。 When Golok spoke to it this time； it would not answer。
Doon； drawn blade still in hand； dismounted。 Then silently； leading his mount behind him； he approached the bridge。 The riding beast allowed itself to be led； though unwillingly； its hide quivering with its high…strung nerves。 Hubert saw how its feet curved； the hard footpads trying to grip the slippery logs of the bridge where the crossboards were missing。
The others were all hesitating。 Hubert swallowed； and crossed second。 Once he had made up his mind to follow and serve a leader； he'd serve and follow him。 Until the time came when he decided to quit altogether。 Provided； of course； that when the time came he was still able。。。
Firmly he banished thoughts like that。 Bee a coward； and the world was through with you for good。 The bridge under his feet felt more solid than it looked。
Once across the bridge； Hubert shot one glance behind him； and saw that the other two were starting over。 He could not help seeing； also； that the world back there； the distant parts of it at least； looked infinitely inviting。 Yonder in the background a clear sky spanned fair； green hills； and happy fields。。。
Such pleasant things were not for the highwayman…adventurer。 Hubert turned his back on them。 Now the frowning； vacant windows of the house were scant meters in front of him。 They reminded him unfortably of the empty eyesocket that had seemed to watch him； only a little while ago。
As soon as Golok； the last man； was across the bridge； Doon gestured to him again。 In obedience Golok again sent the monkbird forward。 But again it refused to enter any of those dark apertures； darker than windows ought to be even on such a gloomy day。
The Sword in Doon's hand quivered； lightly and insistently。 It was guiding them toward the single broad door that was set in the front of the building at ground l