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The magician answered thoughtfully。 〃I believe that it was Hades … or Pluto； as most people call him。 No one sees him at close range； or face to face； and lives。〃
〃But what is he doing here？〃
The magicians could e up with no real answer for that。 〃Gods go where they will。 And Hades' domain after all prises everything that is under the earth。 But he is not worshipped by the Blue Temple； so we can hope that he is here somehow as their antagonist … that he will favor our enterprise； if he takes notice of it at all。〃
Ben was worried。 〃Then we should make sacrifice to him right away； shouldn't we？〃
He had realized for a long time that magicians in general held a low opinion of the efficacy of routine sacrifice and prayer offered to any god； and these two magicians now proved to be no exception。 Indosuaros only gave him a look and turned away。 Mitspieler did the same； but then turned back to say： 〃Do something of the kind quietly； for yourself； if it will make you feel any better。 I will not。 If it had any effect at all； it would only be to draw to myself the attention of a being whose attention I do not want。〃
Doon was consulting his Sword； which pointed him in the same direction as before； very close to flee area in which they had seen the shadow passing。 For the first time he hesitated visibly to follow Wayfinder's guidance。 Instead he turned to Ariane。 〃Girl； is that creature ready and willing to fly？ If so； send it out ahead。〃
Ariane whispered to Dart； and in a moment the monkbird was in flight。 Its flight path curved slightly to the left； and in a moment it had disappeared among the trees in the very area where the shade of the presence of the god had seemed to linger longest。 A few moments later a small cry； faint and mournful； drifted back。 It seemed to Ben more a cry of exhaustion than one of pain or shock。
The six people waited； but they heard no more； nor did the monkbird reappear。
〃e； we'll move on；〃 said Doon at last。 He looked at Ariane。 〃It can catch up with us on the way； if nothing's happened to it。〃
She protested。 〃But shouldn't we look for it？〃
〃It has not proved as useful as I had hoped；〃 sail Doon。 And the tall wizard shook his head。 〃Not there； not now。 If it can e to us it will。〃
Ariane looked off into the woods on the left for a moment more； but made no further protest。 They tramped on； for what seemed to Ben a long time； without further conversation。 It was hopeless to try to measure the day by the featureless light that filtered down through the high branches。 Ben now had no idea in which part of the sky the sun was； if there was really something like a sun up there at all。 It was still full daylight； as it had been ever since they had entered the realm of magic。 And it seemed to Ben that they had been moving all that time in a straight line。
At last Doon called another halt for rest。 This time he did not sheathe his Sword at all； but sat in the grass holding it and looking at it； and his doubt was plain to read upon his face。
Meanwhile the two wizards had gone a little apart； for what appeared to be one of their regular periodic conferences。 But when Indosuaros returned it was to say that he had sent Mitspieler on ahead to scout。
Doon exploded at the news。 He scrambled past the other man； looking wildly off in the direction in which the assistant magician had evidently vanished。 Then he rounded on Indosuaros。 〃What's the idea？ I am in mand here。 How dare you do such a thing without telling me？〃
Indosuaros； instead of lashing back； suddenly looked somewhat ill。 He leaned his back against a tree； and then slowly slid down it； until he was sitting in the grass。
〃What's wrong with you？〃
The graybeard looked up。 〃It will pass。 I advise you to wait for Mitspieler to e back； before you take any action。〃
〃If he es back； you mean。 Gods and demons； man！ What possessed you to send him off like that without asking me？〃
This time Doon received no answer。 Indosuaros' eyes were closed； and Ben saw with alarm that the wizard … now the only wizard that the party had available … was slumping down even more； looking as if he were in pain。
Doon gazed round at the other people； as if he were minded to order them to do something； but could not think of what。 In a moment he went back to staring after the vanished Mitspieler。
Ariane had sat down too； and her eyes were closed。 But she appeared to be only resting or thinking； and not sick。 Presently she said softly： 〃I think it is the magic all around us that makes the old man sick。〃
〃What can we do about it？〃 Mark asked her the question as if he really thought she might have a useful answer。
〃We should get him out of here。 But then we can't travel here without guidance。〃
Doon was looking at his Sword again。 Now he swore； and jammed it violently into the ground； instead of putting it back into its scabbard。
Mark and Ben conferred together； but were unable to decide upon a course of action。 As they talked； they became gradually aware that the forest around them was growing darker。 This was a different kind of phenomenon from the previous darkening。 Now the whole sky was slowly dimming； very much as it would at dusk outdoors on a cloudy day。
Indosuaros roused himself a little； enough to assure the others that this was indeed analogous to the natural fall of night outside； and harmless in itself。 Then he lay back； putting his head on his pack and muffling himself in his robes as if preparing to go to sleep。 Doon approached him as if intending another confrontation； but shrugged and seemed to give the matter up for the time being when he had taken a close look at the wizard's face。
The four people who were still active drank from the nearby stream； and again ate sparingly from their supplies。 As darkness thickened under the trees they turned their headlamps on again。 In the soft…focused beams the forest around them looked almost reassuringly normal。
Mark wondered aloud if their lights were going to be noticed。
Doon sniffed。 〃No need to worry about that； I'd say。 Anything that's here already knows that we're here too。〃
They examined Indosuaros again； and as far as any of them could tell； the wizard was sleeping almost normally； though he looked ill。 By general agreement it was decided to let him sleep until morning … no one voiced any doubt that morning was going to e。
Night in the forest deepened further； to an utter blackness that would have been unnatural in the world above。 The headlamps were adjusted to throw a diffuse illumination and set on the ground spaced around the party； so that they provided light on the surrounding woods while leaving their owners in partial shadow。 The circle included Indosuaros； as well as the four wakeful people who took turns talking and dozing through the night。
It was a long night； and for a long time in the middle of it Ben found himself awake； with Ariane's hand closed tightly in his。 The two of them were lying chastely side by side； and her eyes would watch his for a while and then close in rest or slumber。 Doon and Mark both