captive to them. Vanderdecken and his ghastly crew were reaching out to him from behind a
grille of iron bars. He was in a cave, a prisoner, helpless to resist the captain and all hands,
living and dead, of the
Arnela got her strong hands under Ned and lifted him, then cuddled him like a baby, shushing
him, lest his howls betray them to the foe.
'There there now, good boy. This isn't like you, Ned. What is it? What's upsetting you? Only
little puppies cry and yowl like that. You're supposed to be a big, sensible dog.'
In his fevered vision, Ned saw Vanderdecken make a grab for him. Instinctively he bared his
teeth and bit at the phantom captain's hand.
Arnela was stroking the dog's muzzle when she felt the sudden change from cowering cur to
wild animal. The goatherd pulled her hand away just in time. Ned's teeth ripped through the
sleeve of her goat-hair tunic. Shock and anger overcame the big woman. She flung the dog
forcefully to the ground. 'Ooh! You bad, ungrateful dog!'
Ned felt the heavy impact as he struck the patch of snow, which Arnela's feet had hardened. It
broke the spell for a short moment. In that instant he heard the angel's voice ringing out like a
peal of thunder.
' 'Tis thou who must show the way
When visions of evil arise.
Others may see what ye cannot,
So be guided by thine own eyes!'
Ned called out from his bewildered mind to the angel. 'I don't understand, tell me what I
should do. Please!' Once more the heavenly being's voice spoke forth.
'Trust only what thine eyes can see,
When things are not as they seem.
Break free to the world of reality,
Escape thy master's false dream!'
The black Labrador's eyes snapped open. He understood the whole thing in a flash. Somehow,
some way, an evildoer had taken possession of Ben's mind. The force was so strong that Ben
could not avoid passing it on to him. Ned realised that he had to block the nightmare by
concentrating his thoughts upon other things. But first he had to make amends to his friend
Arnela. He nuzzled at her foot until she had to lift it slightly, then he thrust his chin under it
until she was standing with her foot upon his head. Ned's tail brushed a fan in the snow as he
wagged it back and forth.
Arnela sniffed, then a reluctant smile crossed her weather-beaten features. 'Well well, sorry
already, are we?'
Ned withdrew his head and nodded sheepishly. She raised him up until his front paws rested
on her waist. Taking the dog's face in both hands, she looked into his soft dark eyes. 'I don't
know what's going on in that doggy brain of yours, friend, but I'm sure you had a good reason
for what you did.'
Ned nodded solemnly. He pawed at his friend and whined softly.
Arnela ruffled his ears fondly. 'Then I'll say no more about it, Ned. You're a good dog!
Mayhap you were thinking of Ben and our other young friends. You were fretting and worried
about them, that's probably it.'
Ned licked her hand and nodded again. She set his paws back down onto the snow. 'Right,
then, we won't get them free by standing around here all night. Come on, let me go first, I can
probe the snow with my axe handle to make sure it's solid to walk on. Keep close behind, boy,
walk in my tracks.'
Following Arnela up into the high mountainous regions, Ned kept his mind busy by sending
out messages to his master. He thought of inconsequential, cheery things, which he hoped
might snap Ben out of his frightening dream. 'Aye aye, matey, it's me—your old pal Ned.
Remember that picnic we had in the jungle a few years back? Haha, that was a good one, we
were scoffing away when you suddenly noticed you were sitting on an anthill. Hohoho! I
never knew you were such a good dancer, jumping and leaping and smacking your own
behind. What a sight! Come on now, admit it, Ben, you didn't sit down for a week after that.
Never mind those bad old dreams, mate. Wake up, open your eyes! Talk to Karay and
Dominic, think of other things—anything! Hahaha, like me chasing that snobbish lady through
the fair on her horse. Hoho, the horse's big fat bottom wobbling all over the place and her
hanging on to her hat. What a dreadful hat that was, one of those creations with a dead stuffed
lark and a pile of wax cherries on it. You wouldn't want to be seen dead in it on a dark night,
eh? Come on, Ben, try and remember the good times, the funny bits.'
Whether wading chest deep in powdery snow, scrambling over loose shale and protruding
rocks or avoiding patches of sheet ice, the faithful dog never once ceased trying to break the
spell pervading Ben's mind.
25
LIGRAN RAZAN AND HIS ELDER BROTHER Rawth unlocked the long, barred cell door
and entered. They stared at the three young people, all locked in their own blood-chilling
trances, unable to speak, move or communicate with one another.
Ligran chuckled at the sight. 'Sweet dreams, eh? I wouldn't like t'be in the middle of a nap
like the one they're takin', not for ten bags o' gold!' He kicked Dominic's foot lightly.
Rawth cautioned him. 'Careful, ye might break their spell!' Ligran scoffed at his brother.
'Our wicked old sister's the only one who can do that. Look at this.' Kneeling, he popped one
of Dominic's eyes open wider. The facemaker was still staring straight ahead in a trance.
Ligran shrugged. 'See, he doesn't even know we're here.' He let the lid drop.
Rawth grabbed one of Ben's arms. 'Stop playin' around an' let's get this one to Maguda.'
Ligran helped his brother to lift the drugged boy; they bore him out of the cell and relocked it.
Draping Ben's arms about their shoulders, they towed him off down the corridor, his feet
limply scraping the ground.
The bear gave a low moan as they passed its cell. Ligran stopped briefly. He kicked the bars
and snarled in at the wretched animal. 'D'ye want me to go an' get my whip? I'll give ye
some-thin' to moan about!'
The creature fell silent, its sad, dark eyes dull and moist.
The brothers halted at a cave that had a wooden door. It was unlocked. Rawth kicked it twice.
The voice that came from within was that of their sister.
'Bring him in.'
The cave served as the armoury to the robber clan. Maguda Razan was seated on her litter,
this balanced on four small kegs of gunpowder. There were other kegs stacked there, plus an
array of flintlock muskets and rifles, pikes, spears and various odd-looking weapons piled
against the walls.
Maguda indicated a length of cord lying nearby. 'Bind his hands behind and sit him on the
floor.'
Rawth performed the task, lowering Ben into a sitting position with his back propped against
two casks of gunpowder. He and Ligran stood awaiting further orders.
Maguda's long nails rattled together as she shook a hand dismissively. 'Begone now, both of
ye. Come back with my litter bearers in an hour. Wait! Ligran, pour some of this into the
lad.'
Ligran took the goblet from his sister. He tilted Ben's head back and trickled some of the
potion between the boy's lips. Ben swallowed and coughed.
Maguda held up her hand. 'Enough, that should bring him to his senses.'
Rawth tried to sound helpful. 'Do ye want us to stay around, in case he tries anything—'
