of the legendary river plunged in a green torrent into the shadowy
abyss. It was so deep that the sunlight did not reach down into it.
Beside them the sparser waters of the Dandera river took the same leap,
falling white as an egret's feather, twisting and blowing in the false
wind of the gorge. In the depths the waters mingled, churning and
roiling together in a welter of foam, turning upon themselves like a
great wheel, weighty and viscous as oil, until at last they found the
exit gorge and tore away down it with irresistible force and power.
'You sailed through that in a boat?'Royan asked, with awe in her voice.
'We were young and foolish, then,'Nicholas said with a sad little smile
that was haunted by old memories.
They were silent for a long while. Then RQyan said softly, 'One can see
how this would have stopped Taita and his prince as they came upstream.'
She looked about her, and then pointed down the gorge towards the west.
'They certainly could never have come up the sub-gorge itself. They must
have followed the line of the top of the cliffs, right along here where
we are standing.' Her voice took on an edge of excitement at the
thought.
'Unless they came up the other side of the river,' Nicholas suggested to
tease her, and her face fell.
'I hadn't thought of that. Of course it's possible. How would we ever
cross over, if we find no evidence on this side?
'Let's consider that only when it's forced upon us. We have enough to
contend with as it is, without looking for more hardships.'
Again they were silent, both of them considering the magnitude and
uncertainty of the task that they had taken on. Then Royan roused
herself.
'Where is the monastery? I can see no sign of it.'
'It's in the cliff right under our feet.'
'Will we camp down there?'
'I doubt it. Let's catch up with Boris and find out what he intends to
do.'
They followed the trail along the edge of the cauldron, and came up with
the mule caravan at a spot where the track forked. One branch turned
away from the river into a wooded depression, while the other still
hugged the rimrock.
Boris was waiting for them, and he indicated the track that led away
from the river. 'There is a good campsite up there in the trees where I
stayed last time I hunted down here.'
There were several tall wild fig trees throwing shade across this glade,
and a spring of fresh water at the head.
To minimize the loads, Boris had not carried tents down into the gorge.
So as soon as the mules were unloaded he set his men to building three
small thatched huts for their accommodation, and to digging a pit
latrine well away from the spring.
While this work was going on, Nicholas beckoned to Royan and Tessay, and
the three of them set off to explore the monastery. Where the trail
forked, Tessay led them along the path that skirted the cliff top, and
soon they came to a broad rock staircase that descended the cliff face.
