The Brega path tsc-2

by Dennis McKiernan

  Shannon hurriedly tied the lantern to his waist and entered the flow. He took a deep breath and disappeared under the wall. Perry was frightened, but he knew he had to move quickly or all would die. His thoughts had returned to the

  terror-fraught time he tumbled helplessly under the floodwa-ters at Arden. Oh! he did not want to go into the rush; but in spite of his fear, he plucked up his courage and entered the underground river. The water was icy, and he gasped in the coldness. He grasped the rope and took four deep breaths as he had seen Ursor do, and on the fourth one he plunged beneath the surface, his eyes tightly shut. The last thing he heard as he went under was a loud horncall.

  Hand over hand the Warrow desperately hauled himself; and he gripped to the limit of his strength, for he knew that if he let go of the line he would be swept to his doom under the opposite wall. The current was swift and buffeted him. Bane slapped against his legs, and his armor for the first time felt heavy. Hand over hand he pulled, and he needed air. Oh, don't let me breathe water again, he thought in dread, and hauled with all his might. Just as he was certain his lungs would burst, his head broke through the surface, and he explosively gulped sweet breaths of air and opened his eyes for the first time since starting.

  By the light of Shannon's lantern the buccan could see the Elf reaching out to help him, and he took Silverleaf s hand and stumbled up to the shore in the cave. No sooner had he reached the bank than Anval and then Borin came. After a moment, giant Ursor surfaced, closely followed by Lord Kian. As soon as Kian reached the bank he called to the company to reel in the line, and tied to the end were knapsacks and lanterns.

  "Well," declared Kian, "that'll give the Spaunen a riddle to read. Let us hope they believe we went through another secret door."

  The companions stripped off their sodden clothes and searched through their packs for drier garments. Although the backpacks were not made to be submerged, still they were to a degree waterproof, and the clothing inside, though wet in places, was for the most part relatively dry. The bedrolls were not so fortunate, and, at Lord Kian's suggestion, were abandoned along with the drenched garments they had removed. Perry's warm Elven-cloak, however, seemed to shed water as effectively as a duck's back, and he rescued it from his roil. AH ropes and tools were retained, but most of the food had been ruined by the underwater jaunt, and the water logged crue as well as the mian-a tasty, Elven waybread carried by Shannon and Ursor-were discarded. Perry's map and his copy of the Brega Scroll were preserved in their waterproof wrappings. The weapons, armor, and lanterns were no worse for the trip.

  Bonn wrung water from his black forked beard and then caught up a lamp and went exploring. An undelved cavern ran down out of the north, swung west over the river, and curved away to the south. As in the last cavern, the river itself issued from one wall, cut across the cavern, and dived back under the other wall. Borin crossed over the water on a ledge along the northwest wall, and soon his lantern light disappeared around the curve to the south; but shortly he returned. "The way looks open, but this cavern, too, is arduous, with many shelves and slabs and cracks on our path. 1 deem we are walking in channels never before trod by Chakka, paths as old as the Mountains themselves. Yet the southern way should lead us back toward the Brega Path, and we must begin."

  Once more the Squad took up the trek, and as Borin had said, the way was arduous: ledges, splits, ramps, boulders, and ravines stood across their path. Twice they edged along a lengthy narrow path etched on the face of a sheer precipice. At one place they walked under a roaring cataract that leapt from a distant hole in a high wall to fall into a churning black pool far below the wet, slippery path they trod along a narrow stone ledge. But most of all they clambered: up, down, over, and across. Once Borin had to drive rock-nails and tie a rope so that the company could ascend a sheer precipice. Another time they thought that they would have to do just the opposite, sliding down a steep cliff on a rope tied at the top; but Anval lay on his stomach and dangled his lantern over the edge to espy a ledge aslant down the face of the bluff; and they followed this shelf to the cavern floor.

  They had struggled for six hours and had gone only five miles when the cavern came to an end at a high wall with great boulders strewn at the base or canted against the end wall. "Oh, no!" cried Perry, distressed, "we've come.all this hard way only to find another dead end!"

  Dejectedly, the Squad slumped to the cavern floor, weary and bitter. Suddenly, Shannon called, "Hsst! I hear Spaunen boots."

  The lanterns were shuttered, and Perry drew Bane; the blade was blazing, and quickly the Warrow resheathed it to hide its light. Now they all heard the Spawn, yet where could the foe be? This cavern had no side passages.

  Quietly, facing the way they had come, the Squad knelt in readiness, all weapons save Bane in hand, but the comrades could see no enemy. At Perry's side was Anval, who turned his head this way and that, searching for the Squam in the darkness; after a moment he leaned toward the buccan and whispered, "Look to the end wall."

  Perry turned and saw a dim glimmer of torchlight shining through the base of the wall, faintly backlighting one of the huge slabs leaning against a fold. Perry whispered to the Dwarf, "I'm going to take a look." And before Anval could object, Perry was gone, slipping noiselessly toward the great rock.

  Behind the stone was a cleft, blocked completely except for a small opening at the base. The torchlight came glimmering through that crack. It was a way out! But the hole was barely large enough for the Warrow to crawl through. Cautiously, he poked his head and shoulders into the opening. The crevice curved away, and from around the bend came the far-off flicker of burning brands and the faint sound of maggot-folk. The buccan wriggled through and into the cleft, where he could stand. Beyond the turns, the slot widened and issued put into a huge, delved chamber. Remembering the words that Delk had said back at the pine grove outside Dawn-Gate, Perry shielded his tilted, jewel-like eyes with his hand and, standing behind a rock outjutting, he peered through the cracks between his fingers and cautiously looked around the corner and toward the firelight in the chamber.

  In the center of the floor, sprawled all about, was a Hlok-led band of Rucks, nearly one hundred strong. By the light of their torches, Perry looked at the features of the chamber: It was nearly circular. From one end he could hear the sound of running water, and he saw a natural stone arch crossing a wide stream, His heart leapt for joy, for once again he knew where he was: this was the Bottom Chamber, a watering spot on the Brega Path. Dusk-Door was yet fifteen miles away, Rucks and a huge slab barred the route, and there were only twenty hours remaining til Durek was to try the words of opening, but Perry again felt hope, for he was no longer lost.

  As Perry watched, he saw one of the Rucks slink secretively away from the others and come straight toward the cleft and the Warrow. Perry drew back. What could ike Ruck be coming this way for? Did my eyes catch the light in spite of looking through the cracks of my fingers? Then Perry saw that his right sleeve was unbuttoned-perhaps had never been buttoned from the time he had changed out of the wet shirt back at the underground river. And the cuff had fallen away from his wrist as he'd held his hand over his eyes, and the firelight had reflected on his silveron armor; the Ruck was coming to claim for himself what he believed to be a long-lost gem gleaming in the dark. Perry scurried back along the cleft and popped through the opening and into the other cavem.

  "What did you see?" whispered Anval from the darkness beside the great slab.

  "There's a Ruck coming this way," hissed Perry, "and a lot more are sprawled in the chamber on the other side of this barrier."

  Ursor's great hand drew the Warrow into the darkness along the wall. "Fear not," breathed the Baeran, "I'll handle the Rutch."

  Perry could hear the Ruck scuffling down the cleft, cursing and muttering. It reached the end and stopped. Then the Warrow heard the Ruck drop to its hands and knees; the faint glow of torchfire reflected from the stone was blotted out as, grunting and swearing, the Ruck start
ed squeezing through the opening. The cave was too black to see what happened next, but Perry heard a choked-off intake of breath and the thrashing of limbs and a scuffling sound that was quickly repressed. Then there came a snap! and all was quiet. "It's done," Ursor hissed, and Perry was glad that he had not seen what had just occurred.

  In the darkness the Warrow gathered the Squad together. "The Brega Path is just beyond the end wall," he said quietly. "We are at the Bottom Chamber, fifteen miles from Dusk-Door. There is a Rucken company barring the way; but even if the Rucks weren't there, the way into the Chamber is blocked with that great slab of stone, and unless we get rid of it, I am the only one here small enough to get through the hole."

  "Perhaps we can topple the stone," conjectured Anval. "But the crash wiU bring all the Grg rushing."

  "Then let us decoy them," said Shannon. "After all, that is one of my purposes for being here: to draw off the Rupt if there is no other choice. Here is what I propose: We locate three places nearby to hide. Then we topple the stone. When it fails, Perry, Anval, and Borin get to the hiding places while Lord Kian, Ursor, and I hie back the way we came, lanterns brightly lit, drawing the Spaunen behind. As soon as the way is clear, you three will make for the Door while we three will escape underwater."

  "But there are maggot-folk back that way, too," protested Perry. "You'll just be running from one Spawn force to another. Why don't we simply wait for this Ruck company to move on?"

  "The Wrg back at the underground river are likely gone by now," responded Ursor, "and we know not when this company will move. No, Shannon is right: we must draw them off."

  "But Perry speaks true too," countered Borin. "If the Squam move soon, there is no need to take this risk."

  "These are my thoughts," announced Anval: "Borin and I can do but a limited amount at the Door without the guidance of a Gatemaster. If the trouble is simple, we may be able to set it aright. If not, then we could work for weeks and stil! not succeed. Hence, 1 deem it will matter little if we get there with ten hours to work, or with but one. With that in mind, let us set the toppling ropes on the slab now and get everything in readiness. Then we wait. If the Grg have not moved in good time-say, four hours-then we go ahead with Silverieaf's plan; on the other hand, if they do move on, we can all proceed to the Dusken Door together,"

  "That plan, though well thought, may just lose us four hours," pointed out Shannon.

  "Aye. But it may also save us from dividing our strength," retorted Borin.

  The Squad fell silent while Lord Kian weighed the alternatives. Finally he chose: "Set the lines, seek out the hiding places; as soon as all is ready, we topple the stone; we shall not wait. Our mission now is for Perry to deliver Anval and Bonn to the Door as quickly as possible; we must not delay any longer, for the time may be needed for other tasks, as yet unseen, between here and Dusk-Door."

  Quietly the Squad set about to carry out Shannon's plan. The hole was covered with Perry's cloak, and lanterns were dimly unhooded. Ursor cast the dead Ruck into one of the wide cracks in the floor as the rest of die Squad searched for and located three places to take cover: one on a ledge high on the west wall, the other two behind boulders along the east wall. And Perry, Anval, and Borin made sure that they could quickly get concealed in their selected hiding places: Borin on the ledge, Anval and Perry behind the boulders. Then a trio of toppling ropes were tied to the great slab up high, Borin clambering to do it. That done, the lanterns were hooded, and Perry made one more trip through the hole and down the cleft, this time with his sleeve well buttoned. When he returned he reported that the maggot-folk showed no sign of moving on.

  "Then we must delay no longer," declared Lord Kian, and he turned to Anvai and Borin. "We have come far together, and it saddens me that we are to be sundered. Yet the mission is our first concern and makes this separation necessary. In my heart I believe we will meet again."

  Then Lord Kian knelt on one knee before Perry and placed a hand on each of the buccan's shoulders. "Friend Waerling, though we have known one another but a brief time, I value your friendship. Take care and guide well." He embraced the Warrow and men stood.

  Shannon and Ursor in turn said a simple "Fare you well" to the Dwarves and the Warrow. Perry was too overburdened with emotion to say anything, and Anvai and Borin managed to say only, "Shok Chdkka amonu."

  Lord Kian stepped forward and took up one of the toppling lines, and so did they all: Borin assumed a stance behind Kian on that line; Ursor, and behind him Shannon, took up the second tine; and Anval with Perry grasped the third and last line, At Kian's quiet command, they all hauled back; the

  ropes grew taut as the Squad pulled, yet the stone yielded not. Again Kian gave the command, and all put forth maximum effort: grips tightened, arms knotted, backs straightened, and legs strained; still the rock remained stubborn and did not move. "Enough," panted Kian, and released his grip.

  Dejectedly, Perry dropped his end of the rope and sat down with the others, rubbing his forearms. "Now what do we do?" asked the Warrow.

  Borin glanced at the top of the slab. "When I fastened the lines," he recalled, "I saw a notch high up behind the rock. I deem a Chak could climb into it and use his legs to lever the stone. Anval, you are strongest. Climb to the cleft, brace between the rock and the wall, and give it enough more of a push with us pulling to o'erbalance it."

  No sooner did Borin speak than Anval swarmed up the slab and into the notch. He then placed his feet on the rock and braced his back against the stone wall. The rest of the Squad took up the ropes: Borin, Kian, and Ursor on the three separate lines, Shannon behind Kian, and Perry behind Borin.

  At Kian's soft command, again they pulled: Perry leaned into the rope with all his might, straining to his uttermost limits. Borin's great shoulders knotted, the muscles becoming iron hard as he hauled on the rope. Kian and Shannon threw all their weight and strength into their line, their arms rigid and their legs trembling with the effort. Giant Ursor had braced his feet against a fissure in the floor, and his body leaned almost level, his mighty thews drawing down hard on his rope.

  But it was Anval who proved to be the key: He summoned all of his power into pushing against the slab; perspiration beaded his brow; ligaments and tendons and blood vessels stood out in bold relief on his arms, neck, and forehead; his teeth ground together; and his face distorted with effort. His fingers clawed into their hold on the stone of the notch, and his arm muscles knotted. His back and shoulders braced hard against the wall, and his thigh muscles trembled with the strain. He emitted a low moan as the stress became nearly unbearable, and then slowly, slowly his legs began to straighten as the massive slab inched away from the cleft.

  Ursor's great legs, too, began to uncoil as the slab gradually stood upright, and the Baeran's mighty back straight102

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  ened. Perry's foot slipped, and he fell to one knee, but he quickly recovered and threw his strength back into the struggle. Bonn, Kian, and Shannon felt the rock pulling away from the wail and strained mightily to haul with all their strength for just a moment longer.

  And then the rock passed over center to fall to the cavern floor with a thunderous CRACK!

  And the black fissure into the Bottom Chamber stood open before the Squad, lighted by a lantern at this end and by far-off burning brands at the other.

  Momentarily the Squad slumped back, drained of al! energy. Then Kian struggled upright. "Quickly!" he gasped, "we must act now."

  As Perry retrieved his cloak, Anval dropped down from the cleft, and he and the Warrow limped to the crannies behind the boulders while Bonn wearily scaled up to the high ledge. Kian, Shannon, and Ursor, their strength returning, unhooded three lanterns and fled back down the cavern. A shout came from the chamber, and the slap of running Rucken boots could be heard. Perry scuttled behind his boulder. He could see through a crack between rocks. Torchlight shuttered down the notch, and a large Hlok-led band of Rucks burst through the mouth of the cleft and into the cave
. From far off Perry heard Shannon Silverleaf call, "Hai, Rucha!" and two arrows whined into the enemy, felling two Rucks. Then two more arrows hissed through the air to thud into another pair.

  The Rucks quailed back, but the Hlok snarled, "Ptang glush! Sklurr!" and cracked the thongs of a cat-of-tails. Most of the Rucks leapt forward in pursuit, but the Hlok shouted more orders, and ten of the maggot-folk stayed behind while the leader sprang after the others, torches pursuing lanterns. Soon the sound of the chase was remote, and the notch-warding Rucks fell to squabbling among themselves.

  Perry was dismayed. This is awful, he thought. They've left behind a rear guard, to the ruin of our plan, Now we can't get through. Oh, why did this have to happen? Hey! that's a fair question. Why would a rear guard be left behind? Are they waiting for something? If so, what?

  As Perry pondered the questions, he glimpsed Anval behind the other boulder; and the Dwarf made shushing, stay-where-you-are hand signals at the Warrow. Perry nodded his

  understanding and leaned back against the stone wall behind, waiting.

  An hour went by, men another, and another. Perry cautiously shifted about uncomfortably; it seemed, no matter where he moved, there was always a rock or a hump or a lump in the wrong place, and it ground into his back or thigh or seat. He wondered what AnvaTs plan was, and then he could see that the Rucks were nodding off, one by one. How did Anval know that they would sleep? Perry wondered; then: Perhaps it is the nature of the maggot-folk to shirk duty at every opportunity.

  In another hour all the Rucks were asleep, including the one who was supposed to be standing guard.

  Anval cautiously signalled Perry, Go quietly-and they slowly and soundlessly crept from behind their boulders as Bonn silently descended from the ledge. Both Dwarves held their axes in readiness, and Perry unsheathed blazing Bane. On tiptoe they threaded their way among the sleeping Spawn. As they passed the guard, Bonn's foot rolled a pebble that went clattering toward a crevice in the floor, sounding to Perry as loud as thunder itself. The three froze, and Perry held Bane ready to slay the slumbering watch, the sword point poised steadily over the Ruck's heart. Restlessly, the sleeping guard moaned and shifted his weight, while the pebble rattled to a stop down in the crack to leave silence behind, broken only by the snoring of the maggot-folk. None of the Rucks awakened, and the Dwarves and the Warrow passed into the cleft.