Part 41 (1/2)

She did folloaya's advice nonetheless Like the others, she was silent as they hurried back up the tunnel, the s behind theer has coreat crack in the earth”

Wobeku sat up and shook sleep froht use so hie?”

”He smells smoke”

”Smoke, as froirded himself for battle When that was done, he was fully awake It was also then that he noticed that the jungle was ht birds and insects did not live down by the Kwanyi shore, but the jungle was neither lifeless nor silent under the moon

Until now Wobeku felt a chill in his loins He sensed that he was about to be called on to fight a foe not wholly of this earth

”See that the druuards at the lesser crack drive the logs we have ready into it” That would be of no avail against unearthly foes, but if anyone huht of ax-work before he succeeded

”Gather the guards about the great crack,” he concluded ”Not too close, but every e boys and the woes At once!”

The esture of respect to a chief before he re it Instead, he nodded and ran off

Wobeku did not run, but he moved at a brisk trot as he headed down the trail tohat he knewbefore he was halfway to his post

SIXTEEN

Conan's band would have gladly run from the smoke faster than they had run from the Golden Serpent There was no need to stop and thrust a spear at the swirling purple wall hard on their heels

If only they could breathe! Heat followed the s tendrils of both sle vines Conan ventured a look behind him, took one of the tendrils squarely in the face, and nearly coughed hi by a will of their own, however, until his wits ruled theain He did not falter or fall, and neither did most of the band Those who did, their co

No one wanted to see a coine living within that purple e shapes lurked there Conan had seen them, Valeria had seen them, and even Emwaya and Dobanpu admitted they were there

The two Spirit-Speakers did not, however, say what those shapes ht be That was about as much as Conan expected of any sorcerer, and he was notrude to those who had saved his life So he followed E

”Here we turn,” Dobanpu called He pointed at a narrow slit in the wall to the right Dried le rot warred with the s But Dobanpu seemed confident, and so far, he had proven trustworthy Also, Conan had no wish to wait for the fire to burn itself out Already there was i in all these caves could have produced Magic was in this fire, ic of a kind that sensible men escaped as quickly as possible, even if they did have a momentarily friendly sorcerer in coap It was a measure of his authority, or of their desperation, that four warriors plunged in without hesitation Four ear Before any o, Emwaya darted in

Dobanpu's howl caused her to thrust her head back into view ”Father, I can climb faster than you Who knohat lies above, or what arts we ainst it? Be ready to help me if I call”

Then she vanished Dobanpu looked about wildly, no longer a sorcerer, but a father seeing his child plunge into danger ”Valeria!” Conan called ”I'll take the rear You join the vanguard and see to Emwaya!”

Valeria left with the next handful of warriors Theso fast that Conan wondered if the way to the surface was easier than he had dared believe If they found stairs-