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n caught inside would never be able to crowd themselves into position to reach the rock and lift it open。 Of course； if given time； they ought to be able to manage some way of getting out。 If given time。
The rock was not going to e crashing shut behind him this trip。 Not all of the treasure had been unloaded yet。
As he let this weighty bundle slide down into the hole in the cave floor； Ben started back reflexively。 Half a meter or so below the level of the floor； a pair of hands； inhumanly large and white； had e momentarily into view to catch the package。 As quickly as they had appeared； the hands were gone again； all in utter silence。
Ben turned away again； saying nothing。 As he moved past a line of burdened men all waiting to drop more cargo into the pit； he realized with a pang of fear that the unloading must now be almost finished。 He took quick strides toward the stair； wanting to make sure that he got out of the cave again before the job was done。
At the upper entrance； the officer had just delayed the last driver； who was just about to start down with what must be the last bundle on his shoulder。 〃Wait for me below； out of the rain；〃 Radulescu was telling him。 〃I want to speak to all of you。〃
And the last man； burdened； entered the cave。 Just inside the entrance Ben shouldered past him。 Ben got out； leaving behind him a voice that muttered obscene protests at almost being forced off the stairs。
The officer； with his Old World light once more in hand； greeted Ben's emergence with another look of disgust； this time there was perhaps something more dangerous in the glance as well。 And Radulescu cursed Ben wearily。 No real curse fortunately； but one of the hollow forms used automatically to relieve feelings and abuse subordinates： something about an Emperor's child； lacking in both wit and luck。
〃Sir？〃 Ben responded numbly。 Now； he was thinking to himself； I must move now； before it is too late； before。。。
〃The unloading is finished；〃 the officer informed him； speaking slowly and plainly now； as to the pany dullard。 〃I want all of you to assemble in the cave。 Go down there and wait for me。〃
Behind Radulescu the six unburdened loadbeasts were waiting patiently。 And down in the cave the five other drivers waited； displaying the same kind of patience。 Ben felt unable to move。 He had the sensation that he was about to be forced to jump from a high tower into unknown darkness。
Something must have altered in his face； for the officer's own expression suddenly grew dangerous。 〃Inside！〃 Radulescu shouted； and in the same instant cast down his torch and began to draw his sword。
Ben could feel the dead weight of training on him； and also the weight of fear。 Terrified at his own obedience； he took a step toward the cave。 But when he looked down through the entrance at the burning candles； the old wax congealed on rocks； and the five loadbeast faces of his fellow drivers； he saw with sudden and dreadful clarity that he was about to step into his grave。
Instead he shot out his right hand； seizing the officer by the upper part of his left arm。 The man howled and tried to draw his sword； but the action was difficult for Radulescu to plete with Ben's strength pulling him forward； bending him off balance。 Suddenly pushing with all his power； Ben sent Radulescu stumbling and reeling into the cave。 The force of the thrust propelled the officer right on down the stairs； and if he had managed to draw his sword by now it was not going to do him any good。
Before Radulescu could draw breath for a second outraged yell； Ben pivoted and threw his weight on the great sealing stone。 For one heart…stopping instant the sheer inertia of the huge boulder resisted him。 Then the mass moved； slowly for the first fraction of a second； faster in the next； then falling with a doomlike thud to close the cave。 Ben pulled a foot back just in time to save it from being crushed。
Candlelight had been sealed down into the earth now； along with yells and wrath； but the cold torch lay as brilliant as ever on the ground。 Ben； who wanted to pull darkness round him like a cloak； left it where it was。 He turned and ran into the night。 He had already considered taking Radulescu's riding beast； and had rejected the idea。 Where he planned to go his own feet would serve him better。
That mode of travel had its drawbacks too。 Almost at once Ben banged his feet on rocks concealed in darkness； and tore his legs on thorns。 He had to slow down to a quick walk； to keep from breaking a shin or toe。 If he crippled himself now； the damage would very soon bee permanent。 He was moving； he hoped； south and a little east； trying to angle toward the coastline with its irregular brink of cliffs somewhere not far ahead。 Ben had in mind a plan of sorts。 It was not an elaborate plan； having necessarily been made on very short notice。 That might be just as well。
What he had feared was going to happen next now happened； and almost immediately。 Once more the dragon's chiming snort came clearly through the night； this time from right behind Ben； and disconcertingly close。 The officer Radulescu； though sealed into the cave and probably injured； had been able to release the binding magic。 Now Ben could hear the monster ing after him； the sounds audible through the unceasing wind and his own heavy breathing as he trotted。 He heard the crunch and roll of stones beneath the dragon's feet； the breaking of thorny bushes as it trod them down。
Very little of Ben's bulk was fat。 And he had been known to dash for short distances at a speed that others found surprising。 But running was not really his strong point； and he knew that he was not going to outrun a landwalker； nobody was； not even on a fast and level track； which this certainly was not。 Running all out； gambling against the chance of broken toes and shins； he angled more sharply toward the east and the invisible clifftop。
Now those huge feet behind him； terrible in the slow length of stride that gained on him； had settled into what was certainly direct pursuit。 The groundshaking rhythm of that walk grew perilously near； and nearer still。 Ben； the experienced dragon hunter； made himself wait until the last possible moment before he tore his trailing cloak free of its last clasp and flung it up into the wind behind' him。 He dared not break stride or turn his head to find out what effect the action had。
Two of his own strides later； his ears told him that the effort at distraction had been at least a momentary success。 There was a thunder…roar behind him that came from a little closer than the sky； and the earthquivering pursuit faltered。
Ben managed to get in twenty more gasping strides before he could hear the dragon ing after him again。 And then he came near running clean off the cliff's edge before he saw it in the night。 Just in time he managed to throw himself down； clinging to the very brink。 He clambered over it as carefully as possible； groping with his feet and legs for some kind of solidity below。 At last his sandals scraped on rock； found purchase of a kind。 As he had hoped； the steepness of the cliffside here