Dominic splashed water in the girl's face. Ben slapped her cheeks and tugged sharply at her
hair as he shouted, 'Up and about, miss! Let's see you dancing and singing, pal!'
Karay screamed. She scratched and batted at Ben's hands as they pulled her hair. 'Eeeeee! Get
away, you filthy crawly things! Ugh, spiders! Uuuuggghhh!'
Ben's face was a fraction from hers. The girl's eyes were wide and pleading as she sobbed to
him, 'Kill the spiders, Ben. Don't let them get me. Kill them!'
It took an hour or more before Karay and Dominic were completely themselves, though they
both complained of roaring headaches and some dizziness. Ben explained to them what had
taken place. He told them about Maguda Razan's death but had to lie about the visions she had
seen in his eyes—he attributed her death to the fact that she was very ancient and must have
had a weak heart.
Karay was only half listening at that stage. She was gazing longingly at the ladle in the water
pail. 'Ooh, my mouth is so dry, I'd give anything for a sip of water!'
Dominic was in complete agreement with her. Ben shrugged. 'Touch that water, either of you,
and within an hour you'll both be fighting off snakes and spiders again, I warn you!'
Karay massaged her temples moodily. 'Well, what are we supposed to do now, just sit here?'
Ben nodded. 'There's little else we can do. Don't worry, though, I've got a feeling Ned might
come to the rescue soon.'
Dominic stared curiously at Ben. 'Is that a thought, or just a feeling, friend? Tell me.'
Ben's mysterious, clouded blue eyes met those of the facemaker, and he was smiling oddly.
'A bit of both, I think.'
Two Razan guards who had been posted inside the tunnel entrance stepped outside to enjoy
the late-afternoon sunlight. Leaning their flintlock rifles against the rock wall, they stood idly
basking in the warmth. They had not been there long when a tall cloaked figure came into
view, tugging a black dog on an improvised rope lead. The guards shaded their eyes against
the lowering sun, but they could not see the newcomer's face, which was hidden by the
overhang of the cloak's hood. The dog dug its paws in, trying to resist being led. But the big,
strong-looking figure hauled it along easily and waved a friendly hand at the two guards.
One of them nudged the other. 'Look, there's the black dog Maguda ordered everyone to
search for.'
The other guard viewed the animal sourly. 'Huh, lot of good that'll do now that Maguda's
dead. They're placing her in a tomb about now—maybe they'll bury it with her, eh?'
As the figure came closer, however, he challenged the person. 'Halt, who goes there, an' what
d'ye want here?'
The big person spoke confidently. 'Nought to worry about, friends, I am of the Razan. I
thought Maguda might like a little gift. I found this beast wandering the lower slopes.'
The figure continued coming forward. The first guard broke the news. 'You've come a bit
late, brother, Maguda Razan died last night.'
The newcomer pointed to the inside of the tunnel. 'Maguda Razan dead? She can't be. There
she is!'
Both guards turned to look into the tunnel. Arnela—for it was she—let go of Ned. Seizing
both men from behind with her powerful hands, she banged their heads hard against the rock
face. They dropped like two logs.
Ned winced at the sight of the two unconscious guards. 'Oof! I'm glad I'm on her side!'
Arnela bound both men back to back with her long climbing rope and gagged them securely
with their own bandannas. Grabbing a foot of each man, she towed them away easily and
stowed them in their own former hiding place. Shouldering both firearms, she pointed to the
tunnel. 'You go first, Ned. Maybe you can sniff our friends out.'
The black Labrador trotted inside, accustoming himself to the flickering torchlit walls as he
relayed a message to Ben. 'We're inside, Ben. Arnela's just flattened the entrance guards.
Where are you, mate, can you give me any help?'
The boy's thoughts answered him. 'Ned, I'm sorry, but we haven't a clue about this place. I
can't direct you, pal. But if you hear a bear whining and moaning, you'll know we're
somewhere nearby. They've got the poor animal in a cell about three doors down from us.
Listen out for him.'
The dog stopped, thought about Ben's suggestion, then came up with a solution of his own.
'The bear might fall silent—he doesn't know we're coming. Tell Karay to start singing and to
keep it up. Her voice is higher pitched, so I'll be able to hear it more easily.'
Ben turned to the girl with his request. 'Sing something, Karay, a nice long song with lots of
high notes.'
She remained seated and replied moodily, 'Who d'you think you're giving orders to, eh? My
mouth's too dry to sing. Besides, I've still got a splitting headache and I don't want to sing.
Huh, you can sing to yourself if you like!'
Dominic looked at Ben. 'Why d'you want her to sing all of a sudden? Is there a special reason
for it?'
Ben made an awkward explanation to the facemaker. 'I can feel that Ned's somewhere in these
caves, looking for us. I'll bet he's brought help, too. If he hears Karay's voice, it should help in
guiding him to us.'
Karay stood up and hurried to the bars. 'Well, why didn't you say so, Ben? How long shall I
sing?'
Ben shrugged. 'For as long as it takes, I suppose. Anyhow, it'll save having to listen to our pal
Mr. Bear—the poor old fellow's moaning and whining is making me sad.'
Karay began to sing.
'Don't love a soldier, my fair maid,
You'll have to follow his brigade,
Through the cold and muddy streams you'll wade,
Away across far countries.
Rub a dum dum dum, rub a dum dum dum,
That sound shall be your whole life's sum,
The fife and regimental drum,
Will rob you of your homeland.
And what will you be marching for,
When he leaves you to fight a war?
You'll sit about and grieve full sore,
To pray for his returning.
Rub a dum dum dum, rub a dum dum dum,
You'll grow to hate the beating drum,
When feet are bleeding cracked and numb,
Its sound will keep you marching.
Go choose a cook, a clerk or groom,
Or weaver who toils at the loom,
For he'll not tramp you to your doom,
Like that brave reckless soldier.
Rub a dum dum dum, rub a dum dum dum,
Why even army mules so dumb,
Would sooner hear a guitar's strum,
At home inside his stable!'
Karay stopped singing. She held up a finger for silence.
'What've you stopped for?' Ben queried.
