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ntion； and he crawled on。
He was beginning to wonder if he might have misjudged the distance； or the direction of Doon's pointing finger； when he came upon Mark and Ariane； sitting huddled under an empty barracks…bed。 From underneath the next bed the bearded head of Doon protruded fiercely； and the Baron motioned Ben to take shelter also and lie low。
He did so and waited。 Presently Mitspieler came into view； not crawling but stumbling along in a way that gave an even more convincing portrait of defeat。 Approaching together； some meters behind Mitspieler； were Dmitry； Willem； and Daghur。 The wizard of course had not been able to leave without telling his son。 The son and his two friends were proceeding with exaggerated gestures of caution； preserving a silence that now and then erupted with half…smothered drunken giggles。
Doon's face； as he emerged from his hiding place to survey them； was a study。 But； Ben realized； there was not much that the Baron could do。 He was still determined on going on … he would not have e this far without a truly fanatical determination … and he had to have the wizard； some kind of wizard； with him on the next level down when it would be necessary to confront at least one demon。 And Ben was ready to go on。 Now； when he was directly faced with the prospect of unending slavery in the garrison； he himself could not find any distant and still unseen demon all that terrifying。 He was not only ready； he was eager。
Almost no words were exchanged。 The reunited party slunk off in the direction indicated by Doon； moving directly away from the noise and the crowd； and into regions empty of waking people。 Some of the party had lost their packs during their captivity … Mitspieler； Ben noted； had somehow retained his … but all were still armed。 And all had their headlamps； though Doon ordered that they not be used for the present。
Little by little； as the scene of celebration fell farther behind them； they stood up straighter in their march； and became more an advancing group； less a collection of individuals sneaking along in the same direction。 Still there was little said among them。
Presently Doon paused； evidently intending to have out his difficulties with Mitspieler； but the wizard urged him on。
〃Not here； not now。 I know what you want to say； and I am sorry for it。 But we must reach the next level before we can pause to talk or argue。 And then I must rest； before we can go on。〃
Doon； after a brief silent struggle with himself； had to agree。 The small procession went on quietly。 Even Dmitry and his friends were quiet； for the time being。 Perhaps； thought Ben； they were all sick with drink。
Now Ben became aware that the cave was narrowing in around them as they progressed。 The change was gradual at first； then swift。 Doon continued to forbid the use of headlamps； but still it became possible to see that they were headed straight toward a wall； a wall formed not far ahead by the ceiling of the cave ing down in a great curve。 Now the side walls closed in even more drastically； and at the same time the floor of the cave tilted into a downward slope。 And suddenly they were no longer in the vast and seemingly unbounded room of the garrison…sealing； but had been funneled into a passage only three or four meters wide。 Wall…flames in the cave behind the travelers still cast enough light here to let them see their way。 Now the ceiling was only a few meters overhead； curving sharply down over the high rock shelves that topped the walls on either side。
Doon led them quickly on。 The light from behind them was fading rapidly with distance； and soon they would need their headlamps。
〃We've done it；〃 Ben said aloud。 And just as if the words had been a signal； rock weighted nets of rope and cord； cast by concealed hands； sprang out simultaneously from the high shelves on both sides of the passage。 One of the falling rocks struck Ben on the shoulder with almost numbing force。 He had just time enough to reach for Dragonslicer before his arms were tangled pletely in the net； but not time enough to draw clear of the scabbard。 More cordage tripped him； and he fell。
Someone else's headlamp shot forth a beam； perhaps in an attempt to dazzle the attackers。 It might have been a good idea before the net was thrown； but now it was too late。 As Ben thrashed and rolled on the rock floor； struggling to get free； he had a good look at Ariane； and a look at Mark。 They were both floundering in the grip of some of the attacking Whitehands； a number of whom now came leaping down like clumsy monkeys from the high shelves where they had set their ambush。 Clumsy； perhaps； but also strong； and not nearly as clumsy now as were their victims； tangled in the clever weaving of the cords。
Four more Whitehands； large for their kind； now came trotting up out of the passageway ahead。 They wore； strapped to their heads； little golden glow…lamps of a kind that Ben had never seen before； and they bore a litter on their shoulders。 It was more like a stretcher； really； a mean； penurious…looking equipage。
Ben didn't wait to see what this arrival meant； but continued to roll from side to side； in a furious but so far futile effort to bring his full strength to bear on any of the strands of the net that wrapped him round and bound him； down。 If he just seized one of the thin cords and pulled as hard as he could； he'd cut his hands to the bone and disable himself from further effort。 Maybe he could get hold of one of the thicker ropes properly。。。
The litter was set down； a few meters away； and a Whitehands； obviously ancient； got himself out of it with some help； and then came to look at Ben and the other captives at close range。 He wore a uniform all of gold； the like of which Ben had never seen before。
〃Careful； my Founder！ Not too close。 This one still thrashes。〃
〃You reported that they were already your prisoners； ha hum？〃 The voice of the ancient one matched his ghastly appearance。 He was so pale that the others with him looked almost tanned by parison。
〃Yes； First Chairman； they are。〃 This was another subordinate； who glanced jealously at the first。
〃Ha； hum。 I think I shall be First High Priest today。 Yes； some function in that capacity may be necessary。〃 He was bent； smaller than the other Whitehands and more wizened。 Ben was being distracted； despite himself； from his hopeless efforts to burst free。
〃Yes；〃 the old man repeated。 He was obviously talking more to himself than to his subordinates … though they were certainly expected not to miss anything。 〃Yes； that fool Hyrcanus has never run things properly topside。〃 And the old man … he was of course an altered human like the others … with his grotesquely large and withered white hands hanging all but useless at his sides； kicked at one of the fallen prisoners。 Too feebly； Ben was sure； to hurt。 〃Well； down here； thank Croesus； the man in charge is still Benambra。 〃 And one of the impotent huge hands came up with a gesture to flap at its owner's chest。
Now the Founder； First Chairman； First High Priest； bent closely over another captive。 〃Ah； a fine weapon here； a t