The Angel's Command

bit of sleep. That was a cold, hard march up the mountain.'

Within a few minutes the other two had joined him, both of them wrapped tightly in their own

cloaks and huddling together for warmth in the dank underground cave.

Ben immediately shut his eyes and concentrated on making contact with Ned. No matter how

hard he tried, however, there was not a single trace of the black Labrador's thoughts drifting

anywhere in his mind. Ben hid his disappointment by reassuring himself that the dog would

reach him when the moment was right. He drifted into a dreamless sleep.

Arnela watched the black Labrador as he wandered into her cave, limping and looking weary.

Surrounded by her goats, the big woman had been dozing by the fire. At first she thought it

was a dream, until one of the nanny goats bleated at the sight of the dog. Arnela came fully

awake then. She began pushing goats out of her way. 'Ned, is that you? What's happened?'

The dog replied mentally, knowing she could not hear him. 'I wish I could tell you, my dear

lady, but first I must get this paw seen to. Look!'

Whining softly, Ned offered Arnela the sore paw. She inspected it gently. 'You've sliced that

on some sharp rock, poor boy—there's a flap of skin hanging from the pad. Let me fix it.'

Ned bumped a big goat aside. 'It's my paw she's fixing, not yours. Anyhow, you've got little

hooves, bet they never get cut on the rocks. Listen, mate, if I give you a message, could you

communicate it to Arnela?'

The goat's jaws were working furiously around a mouthful of dried grass. It bleated dumbly at

the dog: 'Maaaahahaaa!'

Ned sniffed disdainfully. 'If that's the best you can do, then don't bother. Oh, and mind your

manners, keep your mouth closed when you're eating, disgusting beast!'

Arnela cleaned grit out of the wound with warm water, talking in a comforting voice to Ned

as she worked. 'Don't worry, boy, I won't hurt ye. Stand still now. There, it's nice and ' clean

now. I'll put some balm on it. This is good stuff for healing wounds. I make it myself with

herbs and white ashes from the pinewood I've burned. Feels good and soothing, doesn't it?'

The goatherd did not expect an answer, though Ned replied thoughtfully, 'It feels wonderful,

you kind, clever lady!'

Arnela caught hold of a young billy goat with long, silken hair as he tried to skip by her.

'Hold still a moment, Narcissus, I need to borrow a tuft or two from your coat.'

With a small pair of shears she clipped a portion from where the goat hair grew longest.

Narcissus bleated pitifully. The goatherd sent him on his way with a pat. 'Go on, you great

baby. That didn't hurt you a bit, stop whinging!'

As Ned watched her separating the hair, he thought, 'What are you going to do with that, my

friend?'

Arnela continued talking as she ministered to him. 'Hair from a young billy is better than any

bandage. I wind it around your paw like this, and it protects the wound nicely. By the time

your paw's better, it'll have dropped off!'

Ned gazed trustingly at the goatherd. 'It feels very good, thank you, marm. I'll trust your word

as to its dropping off eventually. I mean, it'd look a bit foolish, wouldn't it—a black dog with

a white goat-hair paw? Pretty odd, I'd say.'

Arnela fed him a bowl of soup and one of fresh goat milk. Ned took them gratefully. She

watched until he was finished, then took his front paws in her lap. 'Now, where are the

children?'

Ned could only gaze at her beseechingly.

She continued, 'Have they found Adamo?'

A sudden brain wave struck the dog. He shook his head slowly.

Arnela was astonished. 'You shook your head! Does that mean you can understand me, Ned?'

The dog nodded solemnly.

Arnela's eyes lit up with wonderment. 'You can! You can understand me. Oh, you clever

dog!'

Ned licked her hand, thinking to himself, 'I could listen to your compliments all night, my

friend, but there isn't time. Go on, ask me another question!'

Arnela stared deep into Ned's eyes. 'So, what's happened to our friends? Sorry, let me put it

another way. Did you get lost from them? Are they still searching?'

Ned shook his head emphatically.

Arnela looked anxious. 'Are they lying injured someplace? I heard the avalanche.'

Ned shook his head, waiting on her next words.

'Have they been taken by the Razan?'

The dog nodded vigorously several times.

'They're prisoners—do you know where they are?'

Ned held his head still a moment, then nodded twice.

Arnela shooed away an inquisitive goat before she spoke. 'Ned, can you lead me to them?'

Again he nodded in the affirmative.

Arnela arose, put on her heavy cloak and picked up her rope and ice axe. Then, from a hiding

place among the goat fodder, she drew out a pistol that she had captured from the robber clan.

It was loaded and primed. Thrusting it into her belt, she patted the dog's head. 'Come on then,

Ned!'

The big woman halted at the cave entrance. She spoke to her goats as though they were

children. 'Now there's no need for you lot to go wandering willy-nilly around the mountains.

There's food in here, 'tis nice and dry, and water up to our very doorstep. I shouldn't be too

long away. Pantyro, I'm leaving you in charge, be firm with them, but no bullying. Clovis,

you'd better keep an eye on Pantyro. You're all on your best behaviour, so don't let me down!'

Ned cast an eye over the goats as he and Arnela left the cave. They gazed dumbly at him as

he left them with the thought, 'I'd hate to be you lot if the place isn't neat and tidy when your

mistress gets back!'

A little billy goat bleated at the dog: 'Maaaah!'

Ned eyed him frostily. 'Don't argue with your elders and betters, young fellow!'

With the black Labrador leading the way, Arnela began the long uphill trudge.

Now that he had set his rescue mission under way, Ned concentrated his thoughts upon Ben,

sending out messages of hope and comfort. 'Ben, can you hear me, mate? It's your old pal

Ned. I've got Arnela with me, we're coming to help you, wherever you are. Speak to me, Ben,

let me know you're alright!'

As they pressed onward and upward, the faithful dog began to feel anxious and worried. Ben

was not responding.

24

A TAPPING NOISE WAKENED KARAY. SHE LAY quite still, watching the barred

entrance through half-closed eyes. It was Gizal, the blind crone. Behind her came a man

carrying a pail and a cauldron with a ladle protruding from it. He placed them where Gizal

indicated with her stick, close to the bars. The hag held a finger to her lips, cautioning the

man to be quiet. After a moment they both crept silently off. Steam was emanating from the

cauldron, a not unpleasant aroma.

The movement of Karay rising woke Ben and Dominic. Dominic yawned cavernously. 'Can't

you keep still, Karay? I was in a nice sleep there.'

Ben sniffed the air. 'Smells like food, who brought it?' The girl reached through the bars and

dipped a ladleful. 'It's porridge of some sort. The old blind woman and a guard left it here not

a moment ago. Hmmm, I'm starving!'

Ben leapt upright. 'Don't touch it, Karay! There may be something wrong with the stuff!'

However, Karay was hungry and tasted some on her fingertip. 'It is porridge—oatmeal with