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poised expectation。 Who was he？ Why was Simon being shown this vision？ Was it the past？ The present？ Was it someone ing to rescue him？
The stealthy figure moved forward。 The tunnel widened； and the torchlight picked out the carvings of vines and flowers that twined on the walls。 Whenever this might be； the past； future； or present； Simon now felt sure that he knew where it was happening…in Asu'a； in the depths below the Hayholt。
The man stopped abruptly； then took a step backward； raising his spear。 His light fell upon a shape that bulked huge in the chamber before him； the torch…glare glittering on a thousand red scales。 An immense clawed foot lay only a few paces from the archway in which the spearman stood； the talons knives of yellow bone。
〃Now look。 Here is a part of your own story。。。〃 But even as the angel spoke； the scene faded abruptly。
Simon awoke to feel a hand on his face and water running between his lips。 He choked and spluttered； but at the same time did his best to swallow every life…preserving drop。
〃You are a man；〃 a voice said。 〃You are real。〃
Another draught of water was poured over his face and into his mouth。 It was hard to swallow while dangling downside…up； but Simon had learned in his hours on the wheel。
〃Who。。。 ？〃 he whispered； forcing the word out through cracked lips。 The hand traced across his features； delicate as an inquisitive spider。
〃Who am I？〃 the voice asked。 〃I am the one who is here。 In this place； I mean。〃
Simon's eyes widened。 Somewhere in another chamber a torch sdll burned； and he could see the silhouette before him…the silhouette of a real person； a man； not a murmuring shadow。 But even as he stared； the wheel drew him up again。 He felt sure that when he came back around mis living creature would be gone； leaving him alone once more。
〃Who am I？〃 the man pondered。 〃I had a name； once… but that was in another place。 When I was alive。〃
Simon could not stand such talk。 All he wanted was a person； a real person to speak with。 He let out a strangled sob。
〃I had a name；〃 the man said； his voice being quieter as Simon rotated away。 〃In that other place； before everything happened。 They called me Guthwulf。〃
PART TWO
The Road to the Tower
21
The Frightened Ones
Miriamele awakened slowly into darkness。 She was moving； but not of her own power； carried by somebody or something as though she were a bundle of clothing。 The cloying sweetness was still in her nose。 Her thoughts were muddy and slow。
What happened？ Binabik was fighting that terrible grinning man。。。。
She dimly remembered being grasped and pulled back into darkness。 She was a prisoner 。。。 but of whom？ Her father？ Or worse 。。。 far worse 。。。 Pryrates？
Miriamele kicked experimentally； but her legs were firmly held； restrained by something less painful than ropes or chains； but no more yielding； her arms were also pinioned。 She was helpless as a child。
〃Let me go！〃 she cried； knowing it was useless； but unable to restrain her frustration。 Her voice was muffled： the sack； or whatever it was； still covered her face。
Whoever held her did not reply； the bumpy progress did not slow。 Miriamele struggled a bit longer； then gave up。
She had been drifting in a half…sleep when whoever carried her stopped。 She was set down with surprising gentleness； then the sack was carefully lifted from her head。
At first the light； though dim； hurt her eyes。 Dark figures stood before her； one leaning so close that at first she did not recognize the silhouetted shape as a head。 As her eyes adjusted； she gasped and scrambled backward until hard stone halted her。 She was surrounded by monsters。
The nearest creature flinched； startled by her sudden movement。 Like its fellows； it was more or less manlike； but it had huge dark eyes with no whites； and its gaunt； lantern…jawed head bobbed on the end of a slender neck。 It reached out a long…fingered hand toward her； then drew it back as though it feared she would bite。 It said a few words in a tongue that sounded something like Hernystiri。 Miriamele stared back in horrified inprehension。 The creature tried again； this time in halting； oddly…accented Westerling；
〃Have we brought harm to you？〃 The spidery creature seemed genuinely worried。 〃Please； are you well？ Is there aught we can give to you？〃
Miriamele gaped and tried to slide out of the thing's reach。 It did not seem inclined to hurt her…at least not yet。 〃Some water；〃 she said at last。 〃Who are you？〃
〃Yis…fidri am I；〃 the creature replied。 〃These others are my fellows； and that is my mate Yis…hadra。〃
〃But what are you？〃 Miriamele wondered if the seeming kindness of these creatures could be a trick of some sort。 She tried to look unobtrusively for her knife； which was no longer sheathed at her waist； as she did so； she took in her surroundings for the first time。 She was in a cavern； featureless but for the rough surface of the rock。 It was dimly illuminated； all glowing pink； but she could see no source for the light。 A few paces away； the packs she and Binabik had carried lay beside the cavern wall。 There were things inside them she could use as a weapon if she had to。。。。
〃What are we？〃 The one called Yis…fidri nodded solemnly。 〃We are the last of our people； or at least the last who have chosen this way； the Way of Stone and Earth。〃 The other creatures made a musical sound of regret； as though this meaningless remark had great significance。 〃Your people have known us as dwarrows。〃
〃Dwarrows！〃 Miriamele could not have been more surprised had Yis…fidri announced they were angels。 Dwarrows were creatures of folktale； goblins who lived in the earth。 Still； as unbelievable as it seemed； they stood here before her。 And more； there was something almost familiar in Yis…fidri's manner； as though she had known him or someone like him before。 〃Dwarrows；〃 she repeated。 She felt a terrified laugh bubbling inside her。 〃Yet another story springs to life。〃 She sat up straighter； trying to hide her fright。 〃If you mean me no harm； then take me back to my friend。 He is in danger。〃
The saucer…eyed creature looked mournful。 He made a melodious sound and one of the other dwarrows stepped forward with a stone bowl。 'Take of this and drink。 It is water； as you asked。〃
Miriamele sniffed at it suspiciously for a moment； then realized that if they could bring her here so easily the dwarrows had little need to poison her。 She drank； savoring the feel of the chill； clean water on her dry throat。 〃Will you take me back to him？〃 she asked again when she had finished。
The dwarrows looked nervously at each other； heads wavering like poppies in a windy field。 〃Please； mortal woman； ask not for that；〃 Yis…fidri said at last。 〃You were in a perilous place…more perilous than you can know… and you carried something there which you should not have。 The balance is exceeding delicate。〃 The words sounded stilted and almost ical； but his reluctance was very clear。
〃Perilous！？〃 A spark of indignation kindled。 〃What right do you have to snatch me away from my friend？ I will decide what is perilous for me！〃
He shook his head。 〃Not for you…or not for you only。 Dreadful things are in the balance； and that place 。。。 it is not good。〃 He seemed very unfortable； and the other dwarrows swayed a little behind him； humming nervously to themselves。 Despite her unhappiness； Miriamele almost laughed at the odd spectacle。 〃We cannot let you go there。 We are deeply sorry。 Some of our number will return and look for your friend。〃
〃Why didn't you help him？ Why couldn't you bring him with us if it was so important that we not be there？〃
〃We were sorely afraid。 He did fight with an Unliving One； or so it seemed。 And the balance is very delicate there。〃
〃What does that mean？'〃 Miriamele stood up； for a moment more angry than fearful。 〃You cannot do this！〃She began to edge toward a shadowy place on the cavern wall that she thought might be a tunnel mouth。 Yis…fidri reached out and caught at her wrist。 His thin fingers were callused and hard as stone。 There was deceptive strength； great strength； in this slender dwarrow。
〃Please； mortal woman。 We will tell you all that we are able。 Content yourself for now to stay with us。 We will seek for your friend。〃
She struggled； but it was hopeless。 She might have been pulling against the weight of the earth。
〃So；〃 she said at last。 Fright was turning to hopelessness。 〃I have no choice。 Tell me what you know； then。 But if Binabik is hurt because of what you've done； I'll 。。。 I'1l find a way to punish you； whoever you are。 I will。〃
Yis…fidri hung his great head like a dog being scolded。 〃It is not our wont to force others against their will。 We have ourselves suffered too much at the hands of bad masters。〃
〃If I must be your prisoner； at least call me by my name。 I'm Miriamele。〃
〃Miriamele； then。〃 Yis…fidri let go of her arm。 〃Forgive us； Miriamele； or at least judge us not until all we have to
say is heard。〃
She lifted the bowl and took another drink； 〃Tell me； then。〃
Th