The Valley of Creation

'But you could guide a few of us secretly into Vruun, so we could release Jhanon ourselves,' pressed Shan Kar. 'Do so, and Barin goes free.'

Tark's thought came after a pause. 'If I did that it would be a direct disobedience of the Guardian's orders.'

'But if you don't, the Guardian's son will die!' Shan Kar threatened. 'Nsharra sent you to watch over her brother, didn't she? And you failed, Tark! How will you face her and report your failure?'

Tark's green eyes narrowed. The wolf looked from one to the other of them, then back to Shan Kar.

'You are right,' his telepathic answer came finally. 'I will be committing a minor act of treachery against the Brotherhood, but I must do it to prevent a worse thing happening.'

'Then this very night we go to Vruun!' Shan Kar said swiftly. He pointed to Nelson. 'He and one of his comrades go with us, Tark.'

Tark's eyes flickered back to Nelson's face, and the green orbs were inscrutable in expression.

'That is well,' he answered. 'I promise to get you secretly and safely into Vruun.'

When the guards had taken the great wolf away Nelson expressed his satisfaction. 'So far, so good! With the wolf guiding us, we've a strong chance of getting hold of Kree and the girl.'

Shan Kar looked at him with an ironical smile. 'You still underestimate Tark's resolution and cunning. He knows that it's Kree and Nsharra we're really going after. He figures to lead us inside Vruun and then suddenly turn on us and give the alarm.'

'Then why are you going in there with him, if you think that?' exclaimed Sloan.

Shan Kar's smile hardened. 'Because, if all goes well, we'll outguess Tark. Once inside Vruun, we'll overpower him before he can betray us!'

Chapter VII SECRET MISSION

Night brooded over Anshan, a velvety darkness that enwrapped the city's glassy towers and domes. Like glimmering ghost-bubbles the fairy spherical structures caught and imaged the thousand stars that burned in the blue-black sky.

Nelson turned from the open window out which he had been gazing and looked across the torchlit room at the others.

'The moon won't be up for hours, and that's good. With luck we can get in and out of Vrunn before it rises.'

'I wish that you were not going,' murmured Li Kin, his bespectacled face troubled.

Lefty Wister had elected to accompany Nelson. He sat checking the service automatics which Nelson had deemed more suitable than submachine-guns for this stealthy attempt. Van Voss sat watching with his pale, expressionless eyes.

Nelson shrugged. 'It's risky but no more so than some of the things we pulled for old Yu Chi Chan. And if we can capture Kree and his daughter we have a chance to clean up this business pronto.'

Nick Sloan nodded agreement. 'But you watch yourself, Nelson. That cursed thinking wolf will have your heart out if he gets the jump on you.'

'I want to be the one to kill that brute whenever the time comes!' Lefty said venomously. The little Cockney had chosen to be the one to accompany Nelson despite the fact that of them all he had the most superstitious horror of the intelligent animals. It was almost as though he was drawn on the dangerous mission by a fascination of hate.

Shan Kar and young Diril entered the room in full warrior dress of helmet, breastplate and sword-belt.

The Humanite's olive face was flushed with excitement, his black eyes eager. He held two of the thought- crowns in his hand.

'You're ready?' he said to Nelson. 'Then we'll get Tark. But first put on the thought-crowns — you two must wear them constantly.'

They went out and down the torchlit corridors with him, Li Kin looking mournfully after them from the doorway. Shan Kar led them through the vaulted ways of the building to a torchlit passage that had sentries posted in it. The doors here had massive wooden bars, set in crude, heavy metal hooks. This row of rooms had been converted thus into a prison-wing.

Eric Nelson was struck again by the contrast between the primitive ways of the present inhabitants of L'Lan and the marvelous, alien beauty and splendor of the ancient cities they inhabited. Truly these people had lost the knowledge of their ancient forebears!

Shan Kar unbarred and opened a door. The great wolf Tark rose soundlessly inside, and looked at them with inscrutable green eyes. Again, Nelson had the eery experience of hearing the wolf's projected thought through the instrument of ancient science that he wore upon his head.

'Before I go, I must see Barin,' came Tark's thought.

'No!' said Shan Kar instantly.

'Then I do not go!' flashed the wolf. 'For how am I to know but what you've killed him already?'

Shan Kar hesitated. 'Very well. You can see him. But you're not to plot with him, Tark!'

The wolf trotted soundlessly beside them as they went down the corridor to the farthest barred door. Nelson noticed that Lefty Wister never took his eyes off the beast. The Cockney's pinched face glared his fear and hatred.

Barin leaped up from his wooden cot when Shan Kar opened the door. The youth still had a raw wound in his forehead, but seemed to have otherwise recovered.

Nelson saw his likeness to Nsharra — the same highbred, handsome features, the same intense passion flashing in his dark eyes.

'Betrayer of the Brotherhood!' Barin spat at Shan Kar. 'Blasphemer against the law!'

He struck fire from Shan Kar. The latter's deep fanatic intensity of purpose boiled instantly to the surface.

'Your father's law — law of the lying Guardians of all the ages, who have told our people that beasts should rank with men!'

The wolf Tark was gazing fixedly at Barin and Nelson heard his thought. 'Barin, if all goes well, you will soon be free. Wait quietly.'

Barin glanced swiftly at the wolf, then suspiciously at Nelson and the Cockney.

'You plan something with these outlanders? Tark, I will not—'

'Wait quietly!' repeated the wolf, harshly commanding.

'No more!' cut in Shan Kar. The Humanite brusquely pushed them back, closed and barred the door.

It seemed to Eric Nelson that some swift glance of understanding had passed between Barin and Tark. A secret signal? Yet Tark went quietly enough with them back through the corridors. They emerged into the darkness of a court where warriors waited with a half-dozen horses.

'We take two extra horses for remounts,' Shan Kar said.

The wolf ventured no comment. But Nelson wondered if he guessed that the extra mounts were intended for Kree and Nsharra.

The next instant it was swept from his mind by a disturbing shock. The horses tossed their heads excitedly against their cruel-bitted bridles and uttered eager thoughts that sounded in Nelson's brain.

'It's the Hairy One!' they cried. 'Tark!'

It shook Nelson. And Lefty uttered a smothered oath.

'These horses of yours are talking to the bloody wolf!' cried the Cockney to Shan Kar.

Shan Kar answered curtly. 'All the clans in this valley are intelligent. These Hoofed Ones are our prisoners of war.'

'Slaves, say rather!' flashed the passionate thought of the golden mare in the forefront. 'Slaves, beaten into beasts of burden by the Humanites! Tark, do they know this in Vruun?'