Page 26 (1/2)

Just visible beyond the creature, perhaps a thousand paces down the cavern’s length, squatted another such apparition, its araze travelled the opposite length of the cavern More servants -- the wizard saw four, possibly five of the The cavern was in fact a vast tunnel, curving in the distance

I a warren Flesh, and bone And these servants …

’You haveabove him

A flattened, misshapen head tilted down Dia stars ’Help us’

The voice was childlike, filled with despair

Quick Ben gaped Help?

’She weakens,’ the creature moaned ’Mother weakens We die Help us’

’How?’

’Help us, please’

’I–I don’t kno’

’Help’

Quick Ben staggered upright The clay flesh, he noas iant’s thick arms Chunks of dia Burn’s flesh The wizard’s thoughts raced ’Servant, child of Burn! How much ti,’ the creature replied ’It nears The ripped Quick Ben ’How close? Can you be more specific? I need to knohat I can ith, friend Please try!’

’Very soon Tens Tens of years, no more The hed For such powers, it seemed, centuries were as but days Even so, the enormity of the servant’s plea threatened to overwhelm him As did the threat What would happen if Burn dies? Beru fend, I don’t think I want to find out All right, then, it’s round around hi with his senses He quickly found the tracker ’Servant! I will leave soain I will find help -- I promise -- and I will coiant said ’I die Another will come Perhaps’ The creature’s arms had thinned, were now almost devoid of their dia The red stain in the ceiling had spread to the ribs it held, and cracks had begun to show

’I will find an answer,’ Quick Ben whispered ’I swear it’ He gestured and a warren opened Without a last glance -- lest the vision break his heart -- he stepped within, and was gone