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Binabik！〃 He could not get his breath。
〃Do not be moving！〃 his friend said urgently。 〃If you can but 。。。〃
Simon never heard the rest of what the troll meant to say。 There was a sharp stinging around his ankles as though they had been suddenly wrapped in nettles； then the earth twitched again beneath him and he was swallowed。 He barely had time to close his mouth before the clotted soil rose up and closed over his head like an angry sea。
Miriamele saw Binabik emerge from the hole。 As she stacked the brambles and twigs she had gathered； she watched him hover beside the entrance they had dug into the mound； talking to Simon； who was still inside the barrow。 She wondered dully what they had found。 It seemed so pointless； somehow。 How could all the swords in the world； magical or not； put a stop to the runaway wagon that her father's maddened grief had set in motion？ Only Elias himself could cry halt； and no threat of magical weapons would make him do that。 Miriamele knew her father only too well； knew the stubbornness that ran through him just as his blood did。 And the Storm King； the shuddersome demon glimpsed in dreams； the master of the Norns？ Well； her father had invited the undead thing into the land of mortals。 Miriamele knew enough old stories to feel sure that only Elias could send Ineluki away again and bar the door behind him。
But she knew that her friends were set on their plan； just as she was on hers； and she would not stand in their way。 Still； she had not for a moment wished to descend with them into the grave。 These were strange days； yes； but not strange enough that she wished to discover what two years in the disrespectful earth had done to her grandfather John。
It had been difficult enough to go to the burial and watch his body lowered into the ground。 She had never been close to him； but in his distant way； he had loved her and been kind to her。 She had never been able to imagine him young； since he had already been ancient when she was a small girl； but she had once or twice seen a glint in his eye or a hint in his stooped posture that suggested the bold； world…conquering man he must have been。 She did not want even those few memories to be sullied by 。。。
〃Miriamele！ e here quickly！〃
She looked up； startled by the fearful urgency in Binabik's tone。 Despite his call the little man did not look back to her； but slid into the gouge in the barrow's side and vanished； quick as a mole。 Miriamele leaped to her feet； knocking over her pile of gathered brush； and hurried across the hilltop。 The sun had died in the west； the sky was turning plum…red。
Simon。 Something has happened to Simon。
It seemed to take forever to cross the intervening distance。 She was out of breath when she reached the grave； and as she dropped to her knees dizziness swept over her。 When she leaned into the hole； she could see nothing。
〃Simoh has 。。。〃 Binabik shouted； 〃Simon has 。。。 No！〃
〃What is it？ I can't see you！〃
〃Qantaqa！〃 the troll shrieked。 〃Qantaqa sosa！〃
〃What's wrong！？〃 Miriamele was frantic。 〃What is it！〃
Binabik's words came in ragged bursts。 〃Get 。。。 torch！ Rope！ Sosa； Qantaqa！ The troll suddenly let out a cry of pain。 Miriamele kneeled in the opening； terrified and confused。 Something dreadful was happening…Binabik clearly needed her。 But he had told her to get the torch and the rope； and every instant she delayed might help doom the troll and Simon both。
Something huge pushed her aside； bowling her over as though she were an infant。 Qantaqa's gray hindquarters disappeared down the incline and into the shadows； a moment later the wolf's furious snarl rumbled up from the depths。 Miriamele turned and ran back toward the place where she had begun her fire； then stopped； remembering that the rest of their belongings were somewhere closer to Prester John's mound。 She looked around in desperation until she saw them lying on the far side of the half…circle of graves。
Panting； her hands shaking so badly that it was difficult even to hold the flint and steel in her hands； Miriamele worked frantically until the torch caught。 She grabbed a second brand； as she searched in desperation for rope； she set this torch alight with the first。
The rope was not among their belongings。 She let out a string of Meremund river…rider curses as she hurried back to the mound。
The coil of rope lay half…buried in the dirt Simon and the troll had excavated。 Miriamele wrapped it loosely about her so she could keep her hands free； then scrambled down into the barrow。
The inside of the grave was as strange as a dream。 Qantaqa's low growling filled the space like the hum of an angry beehive； but there was another sound； too…a strange； insistent piping。 At first； as her eyes became used to the darkness； the flickering torchlight showed her only the long； broad curve of Sea…Arrow and the sagging timbers jutting through the barrow's earthen roof like ribs。 Then she saw movement…Qantaqa's agitated tail and back legs； all that was visible of her past the stern of the boat。 The earth around the wolf was aboil with small dark shapes…rats？
〃Binabik！〃 she screamed。 〃Simon！〃
The troll's voice； when it came； was hoarse and tattered with fright。 〃No； run away！ This place is being 。。。 full of boghanik！ Run！〃
Terrified for her panions； Miriamele scrambled around the side of the boat。 Something small and chittering leaped down from the wale above her head； raking her face with its claws。 She shrieked and knocked it away； then pinned it to the ground with the torch。 For a horrifying instant she saw a wizened little manlike thing writhing beneath the burning brand； matted hair sizzling； sharp…toothed mouth stretched in a shrill of agony。 Miriamele screamed again； pulling the torch away as she
kicked the dying thing into the shadows。
Her pulse beating in her temples until she felt her head would burst； she forced her way forward。 Several more of the spidery things swarmed toward her； but she swiped at them with the twin torches and they danced back。 She was close enough now to touch Qantaqa； but felt no urge to do so： the wolf was hard at work； moving swiftly in the confined space； breaking necks and tearing small bodies。
〃Binabik！〃 she cried。 〃Simon！ I'm here！ e toward the light！〃
Her call brought another cluster of the cluttering terrors toward her。 She hit two with her torch； but the second almost pulled the brand from her grasp before it fell to the earth； squealing。 A moment later she saw a shadow above her and jumped back； raising the torch again。
〃It is me； Princess；〃 Binabik gasped。 He had climbed up onto Sea…Arrow's railing。 He stooped for a moment and vanished； then reemerged； only his eyes clearly visible in the blood and earth that smeared his face。 He thrust the butt of a long spear down for her to grasp。 'Take this。 Do not let them bee close！〃
She grasped the spear； then was forced to turn and sweep a half dozen of the things against the barrow wall。 She dropped one of the torches。 As she bent； another of the shriveled creatures pranced toward her； she speared it as a fisherman might。 It wriggled on the spearhead； slow to die。
〃Simon！〃 she shouted。 〃Where is he？〃 She picked up the second torch and held it toward Binabik； who had ducked down into the boat once more； and now stood with an ax clutched in his hands； a weapon nearly as long as the troll was tall。
〃I cannot be holding the torch；〃 Binabik said breathlessly。 〃Push it into the wall。〃 He raised the ax over his head and then jumped down beside her。
Miriamele did as he said； jamming the butt of the torch into the crumbling earth。
〃Hinik Aia！〃 Binabik shouted。 Qantaqa backed up； but the wolf seemed reluctant to disengage； she made several snarling rushes back toward the chirping creatures。 While she was engaged on one such sortie； another swarm of the things scurried around her。 Binabik swept several into bloody ruin with the ax and Miriamele fended off others with jabs of the spear。 Qantaqa finished her engagement and swept in to finish off the raiding party。 The rest of the cr