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together in this very place〃…Black Shark's hand indicated the spot where we sat…〃and warned them there were ill omens bubbling in the village cooking pot。 The odor was not right； he said； and when he poked into the pot with a stick； a two…headed seal pup came to the top。
〃How it got there； no one could say。 But they all agreed it could not have been placed in the pot by one of us； because who would wish such a thing on their own folk？ People were afraid and cried out for the Shaman to tell them what they must guard against。 He could not say； for the bad magic in that foul pot had confounded his powers of vision。 People fell to guessing what manner of ill to expect。 Some said it would be a fierce storm that would leap upon us。 Others said we should see to our weapons； for it could only mean an attack from our enemies…the Dalree… who dwell not many leagues from here。〃
Black Shark gave us a look of deep sincerity。 〃You should know you are most fortunate to have e to our shores；〃 he said。 〃The Dalree are evil folk who care nothing for a stranger's life。 They are fierce men and will not even honor those they have killed by eating their flesh。〃
Cassini coughed again。 It might have been a laugh。 I refilled Black Shark's shell； so he wouldn't notice any rudeness。
〃But it wasn't the Dalree we had to fear； although my grandmother said precautions were taken and offerings made。 The tide returned and departed many times over until even the Shaman had nearly forgotten the omen。 One morning； just before the sun drove the fog spirits from the beach； the village heard a loud thundering。 It was the storm； they thought； e at last。 Not the Dalree。 Everyone rushed out to shriek； wail； and whirl about as the Shaman had instructed。 This way； he said； the storm would believe its brother was attacking us； and would seek out others to make miserable。 Such as the Dalree。〃
Out of the corner of my eye； I saw Cassini nod in appreciation。 Rare approval from an Evocator of Orissa。 〃But there was not a cloud in sight； and my people soon realized the thunder was not the drumming of a storm。 And the sound didn't e from the sea； but from the land at our backs。〃
Black Shark gestured； and we all turned to look at the high bluffs beyond a stand of trees。 〃To the east；〃 he said； 〃just past those bluffs； there is a canyon。 An abyss with no known bottom。 And behind that canyon； there is a cliff so steep； that not even a devil could climb it。 From thence； my lords； came the sound。
〃The Shaman ordered the warriors to gird for a fight； and he sent a party of our bravest men to learn the nature of the threat。 When they came to the abyss； they saw no one about； and the thunder had ceased。 Everyone marveled at the mystery and made ready to return。 Before they could； alas； the drumming started up again。 They saw nothing at first； then one of them gave a shout and pointed to the cliff。 They saw metal flashing from atop that cliff。 The cliff； as I said； no man could climb。 But there were men there just the same…as that flash of metal will witness。 Men； and horses as well。〃
Janos leaned forward； brow furrowed in concentration； and I suddenly remembered the tale he had told of his own childhood encounter with ghostly horsemen。 Black Shark noticed。 〃You know of men like this？〃
〃I am not certain；〃 Janos said。 〃Were they armored？'
〃Yes； they were armored。 Both the men and the horses they sat astride。 The helms were oddly shaped； the witnesses said。 Like this 。。。〃 With a finger； Black Shark traced a high…roached helm in the air。 Exactly like the helms Janos had described。
〃What happened？〃 I asked。
〃Nothing at first；〃 Black Shark said。 〃They seemed to be just watching； or at least that is the way it was reported later。 Most of the men had sense to know sorcerers when they saw them； so they flung themselves on the ground and made abasement。 Then they fled before their presence could anger those mighty horsemen。 But； alas； one man was not so wise。 My grandmother said he was one of the older warriors； who was jealous of the success of the younger men。 Instead of abasing himself and fleeing…as would have been proper…he shouted a challenge。 One of the warriors looked at him； and he took insult and flung his spear。〃
Black Shark moaned at the folly。 〃The cliff was too high for this to be a threat；〃 he said； 〃but this was no obstacle to the gods who hate the Shore Folk。 The man's horse took fright and reared； and the sorcerer fell into the abyss； which was too deep for his panions to retrieve the corpse。 They rode off without giving him proper burial。 And his bones lie there to this day； a curse on all our lives。〃
Moved by his own tale； Black Shark sniffled； then drained his cup。 〃Our luck fled that day；〃 he continued。 〃All trade ceased； and only pirates； or Lycanthian thieves came to these shores。 And do you know…〃 He leaned closer； voice lowered for a heartfelt admission。 〃…terrible lies have been told about us。 And there are many who fear us because of those demon…whispered lies。〃
〃You don't say？〃 Janos answered； betraying not one sign of mockery。 〃Such gentle…natured folk as yourselves？〃
Black Shark nodded sadly； eyes red from drink。 〃It isn't right； but what can we do？ We have no luck。〃
〃What if we retrieved the remains of that warrior？〃 Janos asked。 〃You could build a shrine and bury his remains beneath that shrine to put the wizard's ghost to rest。〃
Black Shark's eyes welled with tears。 He was almost too moved to speak； but his nod was pitifully eloquent。 'That is what 。。。 we hoped 。。。〃 he choked。
Janos looked at me and then Cassini。 〃What do you say； my friends？ How can we deny these good people？〃
THE MOON HID its face that night as they led us through the forest。 It was unnaturally quiet。 We heard no buzz of flesh biters nor even the cough of a hunting direcat。 It was as if all the forest creatures had learned of our quest and were in hiding。 Black Shark and his men took us as far as the bluffs。 Then he begged our forgiveness and drew a whip of sea grass from a pouch。 He lashed us lightly with the whip； one by one； so any offense we mitted would not be blamed on the Shore People。 They slipped away into the night。 Cassini looked after them； an odd gleam in his eye。 〃The whipping will do no good；〃 he said； voice low； 〃if those wizards are powerful as he says。〃 He opened the pack he brought with him and drew out the things we had spent all day preparing。
'Then you give credence to his tale of the curse？〃 I asked。
〃I would be a fool if I didn't〃 was his only answer。 Janos grunted。 I knew he believed。 The description of the Watchers on horseback was too close to what he had witnessed as a child。 We stripped to the skin and blackened ourselves with charcoal dust so as to avoid any evil eye that might fall upon us。 Cassini whispered a spell to further trick any ghosts。 We slung the bundles of grass rope over our shoulders and climbed up the steep slope of the bluff。 I was proud of my rades that night。 Janos moved ahead； silent as a panther； marking the way。 Cassini followed； brave as you please； a gold disc held ready to turn back any spell hurled our way。 His long bout with seasickness and his general hateful…ness had made me forget； in our days at the gymnasium； Cassini had a well…earned reputation as a brave man。 As for me； I won't say I was brave； but merely too young and stupid to know fear。
Atop the bluff was a broad； rocky plain。 But instead of a jumble of boulders and sharp stones to test our feet； the ground under us seemed as smooth as wizard…cast glass。 The way became easy； and we moved at a faster pace。 We could barely see a hand before our face； but we could sense that great cliff Black Shark had described bulking near。 The gods must have smiled； for the moon suddenly brightened behind its cloudy veil； and we came to a jerky stop with the abyss yawning at our very feet。
〃We must be insane；〃 I whispered； 〃to attempt this at night。〃
〃Enter darkness from darkness；〃 Cassini whispered back。 〃That is the rule。〃
〃At any rate；〃 Janos said in a normal voice； that made us jump； 〃we'll soon settle the argument over whether a ghost can or cannot see at night。〃
〃Shush；〃 Cassini hissed。 〃He might hear。〃
〃I'd almost rather he did；〃 Janos said； 〃If we creep up on him； he's sure to think we're his enemy。〃 But this came as a whisper just the same。 Cassini motioned for the bulky pack I carried。 I upended it； and a thick bunch of dry weed tumbled out。 Cassini uncorked a flask he carried on a string tied about his naked hips and slowly poured a foul…smelling liquid on the weed。 He whispered an enchantment； and I saw something glow deep inside the mass of weed。 A flame flickered； and as it burst into a roaring flame； Cassini quickly kicked the whole mass over the side。
We watched it fall； but instead of diminishing from our view； the fire grew larger until it seemed to fill the rift from side to side。 Then it bounced； exploded into black； greasy smoke； and came to rest。 Apparently the abyss was not so bottomless after all。 I peered down。 My stomach gave a lurch； for bottomless or not； it was still a great distance。 Janos uncoiled his rope。 〃I'll go first；〃 he said； to my relief。
〃What if this isn't the right spot？〃 I asked。 Janos merely pointed。 Beyond the fire I saw my answer in a flash of metal。 It must be the warrior。
Going second was small consolation。 We had to tie all three ropes together； and it was still short by at least the height of three men。 But before I could ment； Janos looped our lifeline about a boulder and swung over the side。 He quickly slid down； reached the end； kicked away from the side； and dropped。 I heard him whisper a chant and saw the glow of light beads。 I followed； my hands slipping on the sweat Janos' grip had left。 It should have been easy。 I was skilled at such things； as I mentioned before； but I was no more than a third of the way down when hopelessness struck me。 I looked down； and suddenly the light on the canyon floor seemed immeasurably far。 The gap of three men's height suddenly became twenty； then a hundred。 The surface of the rope turned to slime； and I plunged down at a great speed。 I kicked out to slow my fall； but the rock my feet shattered into pebbles and dust。
Janos shouted； and his shout gave my fingers strength until they bit through the slime； and I came to a jolting stop。 My hands burned with the heat of the fall； and my body felt like it had been gripped by a great weight。 Then I realized my eyes were closed and opened them。 First I saw Cassini's face peering down； pale in the moonlight； eyes wide。 Oddly； his face did not seem that far away。 Then I looked down。 I was the same distance from the bottom as I had been before the fall。
〃It's only in your mind；〃 Janos called； anxiously。 〃A spell left by the warrior's friends。〃
I wanted to cry out： What do I do？ I am no sorcerer。 Cassini emptied a pouch over the side； and I saw the glitter of magic dust floating toward me。 Soon I will be safe； I thought； but as the dust descended I knew it would not reach me until it was too late。 The feeling of hopelessness caught at my gut again； and I felt my fingers slipping。 I heard a voice； just at my ear。 〃Amalric；〃 it whispered。 〃Do not fear。〃
〃Halab？〃 I cried； for I thought it was my brother。
〃Light as the air；〃 the voice said。 〃Quick as a falcon； on the hunt。〃
The helplessness fled； my fingers found their grip； and then the dust was falling across my shoulders。 I broke out of the spell like a drowning man kicking his way to air。 I swung down the rope as easily as a tree dweller。 At its bitter end I dropped the rest of the way and came lightly to my feet。 Janos put a hand on my shoulder。 〃Are you all right； Amalric？〃 he asked。 For a moment I thought his voice was the one that had whispered in my ear。 'Take a care；〃 Janos said。 〃Cassini's ing down。〃 And now there seemed to be no similarity at all。 I stepped aside as Cassini dropped beside us。 Now it didn't matter whose voice it was； for the spell was broken； and we were all safe on the floor of the bottomless abyss。 There was no time for self…congratulation； for the silence was broken by the splash of falling liquid。 A long moment later we heard another splash； then another。 The sound came from where the ancient warrior ha