He wilted under Maguda's scornful glance. 'What need have I of fools? Get out, both o' ye!'
They retreated, closing the door behind them. Maguda peered closely at Ben. His head was
lolling from side to side, and his lips were moving slightly. Slowly his eyes opened. He stared
wildly around, a note of panic in his voice. 'Where are my two friends— what have you done
with them?'
Maguda closed her eyes until they were mere slits. 'Thy friends are still alive and locked up
safe . . .'—she paused for effect—'... for the moment.'
Ben attempted to sound reasonable, knowing he was in the presence of a wicked and vengeful
enemy. 'We mean you no harm . . . why are you keeping us prisoner like this? Please release
my friends at least, let them go.'
The old crone shook with silent mirth. 'Brave young liar. Ye came here to rescue my
grandson, but, alas, the Adamo that folk knew is gone. He is dead to me forever.'
Ben sat up straighten 'He is dead?'
Maguda pointed at herself. 'Not by my hand, but by his own stubborn choosing. I will speak
no more of him. Ye want me to grant freedom to thee and thy friends. I can do that, but on
one condition that only ye can fulfil, boy.'
Ben leaned forward eagerly, hope rising with him. 'Tell me, what do you want me to do?'
Maguda paused awhile, her fingernails tapping the litter. 'I know thou art a strange boy, my
omens told me so. Many things has thou seen in a great period of years, far longer than thy
appearance can tell to ordinary folk. But I am Maguda Razan, no ordinary person. The thing is
this: If I gazed deep into thine eyes, what would I behold, tell me?'
Ben answered as truthfully as he could without giving away too much. 'Marm, I have little
control over what others see in my eyes. Maybe people see in them just what they wish to.'
Maguda scoffed. 'Fortunetellers and charlatans say such things to stupid peasants. Thy words
do not fool me. I wish to see what thine eyes really hold. Fate, future, knowledge ... whatever
'tis, I must know. But beware, if I see sights not unto my liking, 'twill go badly for thee, boy!'
Ben knew it was a chance he had to take. All he could do was go along with Maguda's
request. He was afraid for himself, but more so for his two friends, and it was painfully
obvious that Maguda was not one to make idle threats. He cast a swift glance at the evil old
woman as she sat awaiting his decision. Some inner instinct told him that she was
apprehensive. Usually she would be in her great cavern surrounded by guards. Why had she
chosen to see him in private? Was she scared of what she would see in his eyes? Did she not
want others to see her weakness? Was Maguda Razan really so powerful and invincible?
Ben decided to take the chance and find out. 'I hope what you see in my eyes is to your
liking, marm. I'm ready for you to look into them.'
Maguda faced him, closed her own eyes tightly and began muttering incantations in a weird
ancient language. Her hands caressed a skull that was on the litter at her side.
Ben sat, resigned to his fate, waiting for her to finish the strange ritual. Without any prior
warning, images began invading his mind. He knew it could be nobody but Ned—the dog's
communication was so strong, it cut through everything. Ben could not push the images to the
back of his mind.
The eyes of Maguda Razan suddenly opened wide, staring at him, boring into his
consciousness. She hissed as her hands rose like two long-taloned claws above her head.
'Now we shall see. Look deep into mine eyes, boy, give thyself up to my powers!'
Ben met her hypnotic gaze but was surprised to find that he felt nothing. It was merely like
staring at an unpleasant old hag.
He smiled at the recollections Ned was sending him.
Maguda Razan blinked then, and her hands dropped slightly. 'What is this foolishness? I see
thee dancing about in some far forest, smiting thyself and leaping like a mad child. No, wait! I
see the fair at Veron now ... a stupid woman on a prancing horse, chased by a dog! Art thou
making mock of me, boy? Dost thou think Maguda Razan is to be made fun of?'
Ben had difficulty keeping a straight face, but he intoned dully, as if hypnotised, 'Look deeper
and you shall see.'
He concentrated his thoughts upon the
off the coast of Tierra del Fuego, amid icy waves and tattered rigging, the face of Captain
Vanderdecken appeared. Lank, salt-crusted hair framed the Dutchman's accursed visage,
bloodless lips bared from stained tombstone-like teeth, his eyes glittered insanely. Laughing
madly, he paced the deck of the doomed vessel, hurling oaths and threats at all about him.
Ben saw Maguda's attitude change at the sight—she was enjoying it, extracting pleasure from
the dreadful scene. Her tongue, snakelike, licked withered lips as she cackled, 'He is truly the
spawn of hellfire!'
Ben hated calling up the visions, but if it would gain freedom for him and his friends, there
was no alternative. Pain pounded his temples, lancing like a blade into his mind. He gave no
rein to his thoughts, pouring the whole horrific experience out into Maguda's ruthless, staring
orbs. Mutiny, murder, quarrels, fights, all that had taken place on the high seas aboard the
Maguda Razan shuddered with delight—she was like a wayward child, giggling, simpering,
her wrinkled tattooed face twitching as she received new sights. Wickedness, evil, strife and
suffering were her very life's blood—she revelled in unspeakable vileness. Now Ben had lost
control of his thoughts, his brain felt as if it were at the bursting point. The cave seemed to
sway and rock around him as the wild kaleidoscope of that long-ago, ill-fated voyage spewed
forth unchecked.
Maguda's laughter echoed and re-echoed, building in its intensity.
Then ...
Thunder and lightning crashed through the maelstrom of sound, silencing everything! Through
the green light of St. Elmo's fire, exactly as it had happened all those years before, the angel
of heaven descended! Maguda Razan went rigid. She gave out one unearthly shriek and fell
stone-dead upon the litter. The sight of a being who radiated so much purity and beauty had
stopped the heart of one who represented darkness and evil!
Ben's head slumped forward to rest upon his drawn-up knees. He felt drained but cleansed by
the peacefulness and calm that surrounded him. Footsteps came pounding up the corridor
outside, and the door burst open. Ligran and Rawth, with a crowd of henchmen, rushed in,
followed by Gizal, the blind crone.
Unable to restrain himself, Ligran strode to the litter and prodded at the stiff form stretched
upon it. He recoiled instantly, his voice shrill with disbelief. 'She's dead ... Maguda's dead?'
Rawth grabbed his sword and turned upon Ben, shouting, 'You killed her!'
He swung the blade at the boy, but Gizal's staff struck his wrist, deflecting the swing. 'Fools!
Stay still until I find out what happened here!'
The henchmen stepped aside as Gizal tap-tapped her way to the litter. She ran her hands over
the body of Maguda, placing her fingers over the nose and mouth to check for breath. Taking
a long pin from her hair, Gizal touched it to the pupil of Maguda's eye—there was no feeling
of movement. Gizal nodded. 'She is dead!'
The men in the cave gave a simultaneous gasp of shock. The blind woman pushed her way
through to Ben, laying about at the dumbfounded men with her stick. 'Make way, move!' Ben
sat quite still and closed his eyes, trying to hide the revulsion he felt at being pawed over by
the witchlike hag. Forcing wide his jaws, she sniffed at his open mouth. He winced as she
tugged his hair, searching through it, her fingernails scratching as she probed around his ears.
Then Gizal leaned upon his shoulder, bending him forward. Ben tried to hold his breath when
