Part 17 (1/2)

”What do you have to wager with, Cimmerian?”

”Not as much as you, I'll be bound, but-”

It was Valeria who held up one hand and pointed with the dagger in the other ”Stairs?”

Conan's eyes followed the gesture ”If they're not, rie was not proof against the thought of the light abandoning theical as it was, they owed their lives to it

”All thethe stairs, then”

Between them and the entry to the stairs, the water deepened alh the filth, greasy whorls of floatingto either side as they advanced Conan had both sword and dagger dra, and held the weapons clear of the water, ready to strike down at the slightest hint of alien presence

Nothing except h they were black and dripping frohs to feet when they reached dry stone Conan climbed the first few steps, reached a spot where the wall had cracked and now sagged across his path, and went to his hands and knees

He could barely creep under the stone Ten paces farther along, he could barely ht ahead made his heart leap with hope

The stairs wound up into natural darkness that reeked of fish oil, anirain In places, the steps had cru, even without the darkness In one place, the stairs seemed to rise up a vertical chiainst one wall and feet against the other

Far above, like a single star shi+ning on a rainy night, a diic about it

Rather, it told of human presence

The only problee to pass through the gap and begin the ascent Even his strengththe fallen slab, and could well bring the mass down on top of them if he succeeded

Thank Mitra, there was another way, or at least another hope Groping into the open, Conan's hand touched a puddle of congealed grease

Clearly, it had dripped down from above, where what must be a cook fire burned cheerfully

Conan started retracing his steps For a ed; then he felt Valeria tugging at his ankles Her lithe strength hed dust froo first Slip through the gap, then pass all the grease you'll find-”

”Grease?”

”Sorease -”

”Grease?”

”If I want an echo, woman, I'll shout! Go up and see for yourself if you doubt rinned ”In truth, why should I be surprised? This is the maddest quest I've ever been on It would disappoint me if it did not stay so to the end”

Conan kept to hiht be far frole yet, or even into the borderlands of the Black Kingdoht The people above reet him and Valeria with spears, or even with that cook fire that now seemed so end had it, but there were enough