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It was all too much。 It somehow carried matters beyond the enjoyment or appreciation even of successful robbers that there should be this much。
Then； without warning； turning a corner into a room that had just lighted itself ahead of them； the three of them encountered Doon。 The little man； who had probably just entered from the other side； recoiled at first； as startled as they were。 He said nothing。 Dirty and disheveled as were they all； he appeared somehow shrunken without his Sword。 There was a dagger still at his belt； but he made no move to draw it。 After staring wildly at the three of them for a moment； he mumbled something； but it was evidently addressed only to himself。
Ben had automatically drawn his own remaining weapon； which was a simple dagger also。 But in spite of their recent fight； he felt no urge to strike the man in front of him。 At the moment the Baron seemed more pitiful than dangerous。
〃Where's Radulescu？〃 Mark demanded sharply of their former leader。 〃Where are the Swords … the ones kept here in the treasury？〃
At mention of the Swords； a gleam of purpose came into Doon's eyes。 He again mumbled indistinguishable words； and stumbling past the three who confronted him； he ran on； searching his own search。 They could follow his progress for some little distance； by the lights that went on ahead of him； and winked off again when he had passed。 If the irregularity of his path indicated anything； he did not know where he was going。
〃Hermes has undone him；〃 Ben said。
Mark asked： 〃What are the three of us going to do？ Separate and search？ I assume that the Swords here are kept together in one place。〃
Ben briefly and silently considered his own plan； the plan that had brought him here； for enriching himself。 In the midst of all this it somehow now seemed almost inconsequential； a detail that he could take care of at any time by simply stretching out his arm。 But the Swords。。。 yes； they were indeed important。
He looked at Ariane； and almost forgot about the Swords。 She looked bad； not right yet by a long way； far from being out of the fog from that blow she'd taken on the head。 She gave him a weak smile in return for his look； but did not speak。
〃No；〃 said Ben。 〃Let's stick together。〃
They moved on。 Now； just around another corner ahead； lights were on。 And now a crash sounded from that direction； and then another； like pieces of pottery being smashed； one at a time。 They moved on； Mark with an arrow nocked； Ben with dagger drawn。
Rounding the corner； they beheld a room crammed with small statuary。 Dmitry and Willem had located it already。 The two of them were standing there； the pockets of their ragged clothing bulging； spilling gold coins。 Each had a sword in hand； and they were playing a game of smash among the statues。
Willem and Dmitry looked up with animal wariness as the three appeared； and paused in their game。 They smiled vaguely at the bow and dagger； but said nothing。 They swords they played with were only their own ordinary blades。
Mark； with a small motion of his head； signaled his two panions。 The three of them moved on； watching with a wariness of their own。
Some distance farther； in a room along one of the main aisles； another light was on。 When they peered in cautiously through the doorway； they discovered Radulescu； quite alone。 This room was filled with statues too。 These were all of fine clear crystal； and the Colonel was holding a small example carefully in his hands。 As the three came in； he looked up at them almost indifferently； certainly without enmity； and went on fondling his prize； his mind was clearly somewhere else。 It was as if the effort to sacrifice Ariane had happened twenty years ago； or in another lifetime。
He looked down at his little statue again； then held it up for their inspection。 〃This was my first theft；〃 he explained。 〃Pretty； isn't she？〃 Then he gazed at his visitors with more awareness。 〃You can relax now。 We can all take our time； rest a little。 Gather what treasure you want； and then I'll show you the way out。〃
〃Show us now；〃 said Mark。 〃Didn't you hear those yells？〃
〃There's time；〃 said Radulescu。 〃Enough time now for everything。〃 He gazed again at his little figure。 It was of a woman dancing。 〃。。。 my first theft。 I took it out of here once before； you know。 Smuggled it back to my quarters； wrapped up in my cloak； enfolded against detection in protective spells that I had devised myself I took it to my quarters guiltily； as if it had been a real woman； and I some kind of acolyte sworn to celibacy。 Of course she is more real； more vital； than any woman I have ever seen in flesh。 But。。。 there was no way for me to keep it； without discovery。 I knew even when I took it that I couldn't keep it； that I'd have to bring it back before the next formal inventory。〃 〃Show us the way out now；〃 said Ben。
Radulescu looked up； startled； as if he had forgotten that they were there。 〃We'll take it shortly。 Rest a little first。〃
Mark demanded： 〃Where are the Swords kept？〃
〃Ah。〃 Radulescu thought a moment； then pointed。 〃You'll find them down that way。。。 if you should be planning to kill me when you have them； remember that I haven't shown you the way out yet。〃
Ben turned away without answering。 His two panions followed him； leaving Radulescu to the contemplation of his treasure。
His solitary munion with the crystal dancer did not last for long。 Presently he looked up again； to see the two surviving deserters from the garrison standing in the doorway gazing at him。 Their eyes were almost blank； and they had their swords in hand。
They didn't look at Radulescu for long； the surrounding roomful of treasure was obviously more to their liking。
〃e in； gentlemen； e in；〃 said the Colonel； stretching a point in the interests of harmony。 〃e in and help yourselves。 There's plenty here for us all。〃
Dmitry's eyes came back to Radulescu； then fell to what Radulescu was holding in his hands。 〃Give me that one；〃 Dmitry said。
〃No。〃 The officer backed up a step。 And noted； with hardly more than irritation； that the one called Willem was shifting his position as if to e at him from one side。 〃And if you're thinking of attacking me； remember。。。〃
But before he could get the next word out； Dmitry's drawn sword was thrusting at his chest。
Ben and Ariane and Mark were already a good distance away from the room of crystal statuary when the bubbling scream reached their ears。 They turned their heads at the sound； but no one thought of stopping； still less of going back。
Ariane spoke her first words in some time。 〃The seventh sealing。。。 we've reached it now。〃
The others looked at her。
〃The greed of robbers。。。 the old song hints at it。〃 Then she clenched her eyes shut； and walked leaning on Ben for guidance and support。 〃Gods and demons； but my head hurts。 It's bad。〃
〃I don't wonder。〃 And Ben kissed her softly as they kept walking； and wished that they could stop to let her rest。 But he knew better。
They passed more chambers filled with crystal； and long rooms occupied by one special