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many ways。 But。。。 maybe someday I'll tell you the story。 I knew I was a queen's daughter； but mine was not the kind of life that I suppose most queen's daughters have。〃
They rummaged in their packs and began to share some food。 They talked of inconsequential things； until presently they heard the Baron's voice； warning everyone that it was time to get ready and move on。
Doon； in good spirits again； took Sword in hand and determined which direction to go next。 Wayfinder directed them promptly into the forest； at an angle to their right； away from the uneven line of the cliffs。 There was no path at all to be seen along their route； and Mark routinely began to store up minor landmarks in his memory； to provide a means of finding his way back； as he would have done on entering any unknown wood。 They walked through grass and wildflowers； past widely scattered bushes and an occasional upstanding red…rock boulder。 The land sloped downward； very gradually； in the same direction they were walking。 The stream had sought its own slope； curving away behind them； and was now out of sight。 Now there was only the forest； the look of it somehow already monotonous； and now they had put enough of the forest behind them to cover up the last sight of the cliffs。
Presently a sunlit glade appeared； some fifty or sixty meters ahead and directly in their path。 Mark looked forward in a minor way to reaching it and being able to take at least a squinting look more or less directly at the sun of the realm of magic。 But in approaching the place minor detours were necessary； first around a large stump and its fallen log； then around some trees； and then around a solitary bush。 And when they reached the place where he had seen the open glade； there was only the same thick topped forest around them as before； lit only by small dancing spots of sunlight too small to show you anything but shattered brilliance when you sighted back upward along the ray。 Now Mark could see other sunny glades； all of them somewhat in the distance。 The Sword led on indifferently。
He was vaguely alarmed by this minor experience； and looked back when they had walked on a few strides past the place。 The last landmark he had noted was a large stump with its broken； fallen tree； and already that was nowhere to be seen。 Abruptly Mark lost his automatic outdoorsman's confidence in being able to retrace his steps。
Presently they came to the stream again。 Of course it might have been another stream of about the same size； but it looked and sounded like the first one； and it came winding its way back across their path from the same general direction in which the first stream had flowed away。 The Sword pointed them straight across it； an easy wading。
Ben； walking now behind Ariane； found his attention continually being distracted by the rhythm of her moving body。 He had to warn himself repeatedly to concentrate on being alert for possible danger。 Though if he thought about it he was not sure there was any point in doing so； because whatever he saw or heard here was likely to be some magical deception。。。
Somewhere above the trees and the seeming sky there was； he knew； the maze； containing among its other parts the huge turning mass of the Old World wheel and all its nested tunnels。 If Mark was right about that； and it seemed he was。。。 abruptly； frighteningly； there came into Ben's imagination a picture of Hubert's battered body； bouncing and falling out of this magic sky。 There'd be a riffle through the treetops and then instantly a heavy thud … might they be going to e upon it here at any moment； the shattered head still wearing a glowing lamp？
Or would a mangled corpse； here in the realm of magic； look like something else entirely？
Whatever a man looked at here； or whatever he tried to think about； it seemed that it had to be done in fear。
Doon kept them moving； maintaining a good pace over the almost level ground。 The forest flowed past them； and flowed past them some more。 Ben wondered if he should have started counting steps。 The sameness of it； he thought； was already starting to make it seem endless。
Once more they approached and crossed the stream。 It looked and sounded the same as ever。 The ground； Ben thought； was now rising very slightly beneath their feet as they walked on。 The sun； as nearly as he could tell from sighting distant clearings； was somewhere near the zenith； making it hard to tell directions that way。 But he could have sworn that they were traveling in a straight line； or very nearly so； ignoring the small necessary detours around minor obstacles。
They passed another sunlit glade； off to their right。 Birds sang in it； apparently enjoying the vertical sunshine。
Mark called forward to the leaders： 〃How big is this cave that we're in； anyway？ Are we even still absolutely sure that we're in a cave？〃
Indosuaros； next to the head of the line； turned his head with an indulgent smile。 〃Of course we are。 But you are not moving through it as fast as you think。〃
〃I'm having doubts that I'm moving through it at all。 Can you see the far end yet？〃
The magician turned his eyes forward again； and seemed to be gazing off into the distance as he walked。 〃Even for me；〃 he began confidently； 〃it is。。。 〃
His voice trailed off there。 In a moment he had stopped abruptly； and in another moment the whole procession had stumbled to a halt。 The two wizards went through a session of whispering together； after which both of them continued to stare off in the same direction。
Looking in that same direction himself； Ben could see … or might it be only his imagination … a faint cloud above the trees； or at least a dimming of the sunshine there。 The darkening； whatever might be its cause； deepened swiftly and mysteriously。 It was passing like a slow wave； from the left of the observers to their right。
All six of the humans could see it now。 The monkbird appeared indifferent； but now the people all gave evidence of being able to feel it； too。 It was as if the temperature in the forest had dropped； though where they stood the sun appeared to shine through leaves as brightly as before。 But leaves hung quiet in motionless air； whatever was passing was not wind。 Ben had not the least doubt now that he was underground； the tricks of light and sky seemed poor and obvious shams。
Over there； something。。。 some power。。。 was passing。 Passing； yes； thank all the gods！ And it was gone。
The first to break the silence was Doon； and his voice was now constrained to a whisper： 〃What was that？〃
Indosuaros turned to him slowly。 The wizard's face looked disturbingly pale； and sweat was beaded on his brow。 〃I had not expected this。 That was a god。〃
A murmur went up； as if involuntarily。 Most people； including Ben； had never seen a god or goddess in their lives； and had no real expectation of ever doing so。 In human society the presence of a deity was somewhat rarer even than that of a king or queen。 〃Which god？〃 several voices asked。
The magician answered thoughtfully。 〃I believe that it was Hades … or Pluto； as most people call him。 No one sees him at close