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"Silence!" adathered in an oly before the eyes of the kaldane "I seek the woman, Tara of Helium Where is she? If you value your life speak quickly and speak the truth"

If he valued his life! It was a truth that Ghek had but just learned He thought quickly After all, a great brain is not without its uses Perhaps here lay escape from the sentence of Luud

"You are of her kind?" he asked "You come to rescue her?"

"Yes"

"Listen, then I have befriended her, and because of this I am to die If I help you to liberate her, will you take me with you?"

Gahan of Gathol eyed the weird creature frorotesque head, the expressionless face Ahter of Helium been held captive for days and weeks

"If she lives and is unharmed," he said, "I will take you with us"

"When they took her from me she was alive and unharmed," replied Ghek "I cannot say what has befallen her since Luud sent for her"

"Who is Luud? Where is he? Lead me to him" Gahan spoke quickly in tones vibrant with authority

"Co the way froround burrows of the kaldanes "Luud is ed Gahan

"Sheathe your sword," warned Ghek, "so that should we pass others of my kind I may say to the their belief"

Gahan did as he was bid, but warning the kaldane that his hand was ever ready at his dagger's hilt

"You need have no fear of treachery," said Ghek "My only hope of life lies in you"

"And if you fail me," Gahan admonished hiht guarantee you"

Gheksubterranean corridors until Gahan began to realize how truly was he in the hands of this strange monster If the fellow should prove false it would profit Gahan nothing to slay hiht never hope to retrace his way to the tower and freedom

Twice they met and were accosted by other kaldanes; but in both instances Ghek's si a new prisoner to Luud appeared to allay all suspicion, and then at last they ca