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g Ben knew； she was with him； holding his hand and smiling； asking him where he wanted to go next。。。
。。。 and next he would wake up to darkness； and the groans of someone else bound down in magical punishment nearby。
Oh yes； he would be allowed to see her again someday。 On the battlefield； as the tormenting voices told him。 And after the battle if he still lived （maybe after he'd watched her die） he'd be allowed his drink； allowed to joke and bellow with his rades； to fall down drunk； gradually to forget that once he had been someone else。
While he was actually drilling or marching； lucid moments were allowed to him more often。 And in these moments Ben was able to swear solemnly to himself that he would never fight for the Blue Temple。 But even as he swore he feared the pulsions that were being put upon him； that would leave him no real choice when the time came。 He might once have sworn that he would never endure the kind of existence that he was enduring now。 When the time es； you'll fight all right。 Or die； and you won't want to die。 Who had said that to him； the sergeant？ And truthfully life was precious； even now。
Then without warning there arrived a day and an hour when the mists of magical pulsion were wiped away。 Ben was sleeping； then he was awake； and in a moment it was as if those mists had never been； even though when he opened his eyes the cave and the barracks area of the punishment pany were still as hideously real as ever。
Ben was allowed to stand up from his bed as his own man again。 Two sober Whitehands were standing nearby； holding torches； so that he had to squint in unaccustomed light。 Also nearby there crouched a large； gray warbeast； a catlike creature bigger than a man； who hummed an intelligent warning growl at Ben。
Another figure； human； stood beside the beast。 It was real also； someone Ben had never seen in dreams。
Not Ariane who had e for him this time。
Radulescu。
〃Ben of Purkinje； we meet again。 Keep quiet！〃
The mand at the end was really unnecessary。 Seeing this； and smiling faintly； the officer made a gesture。 One of the Whitehands moved off obediently with his torch； showing Ben which way to go。 Ben followed automatically； thinking as he moved that Radulescu looked good； looked fit and healthy； his small beard neatly trimmed； his clothes and his body clean。 Before Radulescu fell into step just behind him； Ben had time to see that there was a sword … the same sword he had once tried to draw； just outside the cave？ … at the officer's belt。 And he was wearing what looked like the same officer's cloak of gold and blue； though it was dry now and the hood was lowered。 Despite all greater considerations； Ben instantly felt the contrast with the way that he himself felt and smelled and must appear。
He was quite clearheaded now； in control of his own body and his own thoughts。 But with the warbeast sniffing at his heels as he walked； he was really no freer than before。 Unless he wanted to decide to end things quickly now； before Radulescu's interrogation and revenge could start … but no； it was unlikely that the beast would kill him quickly； unless it were ordered to do so。 Warbeasts were intelligent enough to handle fine gradations of mand。
They had walked for only a hundred meters when； to Ben's faint surprise； they came upon Mitspieler and Doon； looking as shabby as Ben felt； also under guard and apparently waiting for the arrival of Ben and Radulescu。 Here another warbeast and two more Whitehands were in attendance。 There was enough torchlight now for Ben to see； at some distance ahead； the great curve of the cave's ceiling ing down to make a wall。 It looked like the same place where they had been captured … but then； the different sides of this cave might look much alike。
Ben came up to where the others were and obeyed an order to halt。 Now he saw with a shock of mixed feelings that Mark and Ariane were waiting nearby also； sitting in what had been the shadow of an empty bed and was now torchlight。 They looked up as if they were glad to see him； but said nothing。 Ben saw in Mark's familiar eye that there was some news … something important； but not to be told now。 For right now； only a warning to play dumb。
And there； sitting in another shadow； were Dmitry； yes； and Daghur and Willem too。 Ben thought that he understood now。 All the members of Doon's party were being transferred to some special lockup。 Their break…in had been relatively successful； and he； Ben； was involved in it； and now the priests were going to conduct an investigation into the whole mess。
Right now； he couldn't help weling as a relief anything that took him out of basic training。
What was happening now？ Ben looked round； and realized that Radulescu was in the process of dismissing the Whitehands； all four of them evidently。
〃I can manage well enough from here on。 I have the beasts。〃
One of the pale attendants looked worried。 〃But sir。。。〃
〃You heard my order。〃
〃Yes sir。〃
The warbeasts no longer looked ready to pounce on Ben immediately。 He risked a cautious step； that brought him close enough to Ariane to whisper to her。 〃Are you all right？〃
〃Right enough；〃 she whispered back。 He thought her tone was somewhat sprightlier than it had a right to be； as if she possessed some encouraging secret。 Or； he supposed； she might still be drugged。
She added： 〃How are you？〃 The way she asked the question indicated that she cared about the answer。
Ben thought about how he was。 He felt of his unkempt beard； brushed back his filthy hair。 He was a mess； hungry and weary； but basically he still felt able to function。 〃By Ardneh； how long have we been here？〃
〃Many days。〃 Still her voice was lively。
〃How many？〃 She picked up the real meaning of his question。 〃No； it's been days only； not months or years。 It could
have been that。 It would have been； except。。。〃
Ariane let it trail away there； but not unhappily。 Smiling faintly； she looked up past Ben。 Radulescu； a torch in one hand； was approaching； while behind him the four Whitehands and their other torches were receding into darkness； going back toward the central cave。
Radulescu with a gesture made his two warbeasts lie down and relax。 Grinning crookedly at Ariane； he pointed at Ben and said： 〃Here he is。〃
〃Thank you；〃 she answered calmly； and got to her feet； brushing mechanically at her filthy trousers as if to dust them off。 〃Now I am ready to go on。〃
For Ben； the last to be set free； there were still some moments of confusion。 He didn't really understand what was happening until Doon； after a quick talk with Radulescu； had begun to harangue the others again in his old fiery way：
〃You all look so astonished！ Why？ Did you think I was dim enough to e seeking treasure in a place like this without being able to expect help along the way？ I'd have had to be as stupid as the rest of you to take a chance like that。 The colonel here's been planning with me for more than a year now on how to rob the treasury。 He's able to get in by himself； of course； but not to get away again with a proper load。〃
As Doon spoke； he squatted down and began to unwrap a large bundle that Ben only now took notice of。 It had been lying at Radulescu's feet。 There were weapons in it … Ben observed dully； and backpacks； and headlamps too。 People began to crowd around to help themselves。
Ben took a step forward； and Radulescu was standing just in front of him with a Sword。。。 unbelievably； the officer was handing Dragonslicer back to him。
Radulescu said： 〃I'd not part from this so readily； you understand； if I didn't know there's even better down below。 And you and I are rades； partners now。〃 It almost sounded as if Radulescu himself believed the words。 〃We are in this enterprise together。〃
〃Aye。〃 Ben swallowed。 〃It seems we are。 I had no wish to hurt you； that time； throwing you into the cave and down the stairs。 It was just that I had to get away。〃
The officer nodded。 〃I must concede that； the necessity of it from your viewpoint； I mean。 Well； I hold no grudge。〃 But it was still an officer speaking to an enlisted man； thought Ben； there had been no offer to shake hands。
Doon； looking large and whole again with Wayfinder back in his grip； was trying out its powers。 He conferred briefly with Mitspieler … getting； Ben supposed； confirmation that this was the genuine article that he now held； and not another phantom。
Then the Baron approached Radulescu； and with something of his old testiness wanted to know why Radulescu hadn't warned him about the step…trap in the maze。 〃I lost a man there； and it came near pitching me into the underworld； in more ways than one。 I can understand about the password for the magicsealing； it would have been changed； and you had no chance to give me the new one。 But that step。。。〃
Radulescu waved an authoritative hand。 〃I would have cautioned you on all the traps； of course； could we have held our final meeting as we planned。 But I've spent most of the last three months in what amounted to house arrest。 I had no hope of getting word out to you。 It would have been suicide to try。〃
Doon nodded。 〃That's what I hoped。 I mean； that nothing worse had happened to you。 When the big man here told me the name of the officer he'd thrown down into the upper cave； well。。。 but even then I couldn't think of giving the attempt up。 Not really。〃
〃I didn't suppose you would。 I wasn't really terribly surprised to find you where you were just now。〃
Suddenly Doon was looking more sharply at Radulescu。 〃What're you supposed to be doing down here now？〃
The other chuckled。 〃Why； I'm thinking up new ways to protect the treasure； naturally。 The Chairman told me to spend some time down here and study the problem thoroughly。 He has proven to his own satisfaction； after lengthy investigation； that Ben of Purkinje here and I are not involved in any robbery plot together … ergo； I am not involved in any robbery plot at all； and am therefore the most freshly proven innocent of all his trusted lieutenants。 Ergo again； I am the one to be trusted with this job。 Hyrcanus wants results； he has virtually put me on probation until I can think up some real improvements for the security system。 Maybe I'll leave a list for him when we depart。〃 Now it was Radulescu's turn to ask a sudden pointed question。 〃Do you have some means of hauling away the treasure？ Did you bring a ship？〃 ；
〃There's a vessel； magically concealed； standing by for us … I hope。〃 Doon glanced toward Mitspieler。 〃Nay； I'm sure it will be there。 But if we have to haul the gold on our backs all the way up from the lowest level； back through the six sealings； I don't know how much。。。 〃
Radulescu smiled mysteriously。 〃As to that； we may be able to find some better way； when we get down below。〃
Ben； wondering what that might mean； exchanged a look with Mark。 But they could hear no more of the dialogue。 The co…leaders had turned away； to conduct the next part in muffled privacy。
Ben sighed。 He noted how Dmitry and his father were glaring at each other。 And how Willem and Daghur； giggling together about something； sat waiting to be told what to do next so they could try to make a joke of it。
Chapter 15
Armed again； with headlamps glowing and the two warbeasts loping peacefully alongside； the party pushed on。 Mark was sure now that they were retracing the path that had previously led to capture。 They were moving quickly。 Divided into small groups； they were united at least in the wish to leave this level of the cave before Benambra or someone else awoke to the fact that they were again escaping。 Radulescu had said that there was a good place to rest not far past the entrance to the next lower level； they would reach it soon； and before entering the area where the demon was usually encountered。
Mark； in hurried conversation with Ben and Ariane； soon learned that their experience in captivity had been much like his own： drug… and sorcery…induced drill and marching。 Looking back on their capture； they discussed what they might have done to avoid it； but could e up with no