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Let's pull out of this creepy place, snarled the Cockney.
Take it easy, you two! said Nick Sloan. With a fortune here for the taking, we're not letting a few
difficulties rob us of it.
Shan Kar interrupted. There's one quick way to overcome that difficulty and that's to capture Kree and
Nsharra! That would dismay the Brotherhood and remove our own people's lingering doubts.
Chapter VI. DARING PLAN 32
The Valley Of Creation
Capture them? asked Van Voss, his colorless, expressionless eyes on the Humanite. Why not just kill
them?
That's out! snapped Nelson. We're not murderers.
And killing them would so infuriate the Brotherhood that they'd never surrender, added Shan Kar.
Sloan nodded. Besides, you said the old Guardian and his daughter know the safe way into that cavern where
the platinum is. No, we don't want to kill them.
Shan Kar continued rapidly, A few of us, only a handful, could penetrate Vruun secretly by night and seize
Kree and Nsharra. We could make Tark himself lead us secretly and safely into the city!
You mean that the wolf will do that if we threaten to kill him? Li Kin asked, his spectacled eyes wondering.
Shan Kar laughed mirthlessly. The Hairy One isn't afraid of death. But he doesn't want us to kill Barin, the
Guardian's son.
We'll offer him Barin's life if he guides us into Vruun, supposedly to liberate a Humanite prisoner. Tark may
accept.
It sounds to me like a cursedly complicated and dangerous plan, Sloan commented bluntly.
But if it succeeded, it would clear the way for a quick blitz against the whole Brotherhood, Nelson said
thoughtfully. I'll lead the attempt if the wolf can be talked into guiding us.
Have the guards bring Tark back in, Shan Kar told Diril.
The great wolf stalked back into the black hall, his chains held carefully taut by the sword-armed guards who
walked on either side of him.
Tark swept them with his gaze. Eric Nelson felt a chill, uncanny shock in meeting those eyes that were like
pools of cold green fire.
Shan Kar and the Humanites apparently found nothing strange in the scene. They were too accustomed to
contact and speech with the intelligent beasts of the Brotherhood.
You must choose now whether young Barin is to live or die, Shan Kar told Tark.
His lips did not move, Nelson saw. He was thinking to the wolf again, and Nelson and his companions were
picking up that thought through their thought-crowns. Tark's lips writhed back from great white fangs in a
soundless snarl. His answering thought came fiercely. A trick! You want nothing more than to kill both Barin
and myself!
That is quite true, Shan Kar coolly agreed. But even more than to kill you two we want something else.
His thought raced on. Hoik's brother, Jhanon, is a prisoner in Vruun, as you know. We wish to rescue him.
We'll give yours and Barin's lives for his freedom.
I have not authority to release Jhanon, Tark retorted. Only the Guardian can do that.
Chapter VI. DARING PLAN 33
The Valley Of Creation
But you could guide a few of us secretly into Vruun, so we could release Jhanon ourselves, pressed Shan
Kar. Do so, and Barin goes free.
Tark's thought came after a pause. If I did that it would be a direct disobedience of the Guardian's orders.
But if you don't, the Guardian's son will die! Shan Kar threatened. Nsharra sent you to watch over her
brother, didn't she? And you failed, Tark! How will you face her and report your failure?
Tark's green eyes narrowed. The wolf looked from one to the other of them, then back to Shan Kar.
You are right, his telepathic answer came finally. I will be committing a minor act of treachery against the
Brotherhood, but I must do it to prevent a worse thing happening.
Then this very night we go to Vruun! Shan Kar said swiftly. He pointed to Nelson. He and one of his
comrades go with us, Tark.
Tark's eyes flickered back to Nelson's face, and the green orbs were inscrutable in expression.
That is well, he answered. I promise to get you secretly and safely into Vruun.
When the guards had taken the great wolf away Nelson expressed his satisfaction. So far, so good! With the
wolf guiding us, we've a strong chance of getting hold of Kree and the girl.
Shan Kar looked at him with an ironical smile. You still underestimate Tark's resolution and cunning. He
knows that it's Kree and Nsharra we're really going after. He figures to lead us inside Vruun and then suddenly
turn on us and give the alarm.
Then why are you going in there with him, if you think that? exclaimed Sloan.
Shan Kar's smile hardened. Because, if all goes well, we'll outguess Tark. Once inside Vruun, we'll
overpower him before he can betray us!
Chapter VII. SECRET MISSION
Night brooded over Anshan, a velvety darkness that enwrapped the city's glassy towers and domes. Like
glimmering ghost-bubbles the fairy spherical structures caught and imaged the thousand stars that burned in
the blue-black sky.
Nelson turned from the open window out which he had been gazing and looked across the torchlit room at the
others.
The moon won't be up for hours, and that's good. With luck we can get in and out of Vrunn before it rises.
I wish that you were not going, murmured Li Kin, his bespectacled face troubled.
Lefty Wister had elected to accompany Nelson. He sat checking the service automatics which Nelson had
deemed more suitable than submachine-guns for this stealthy attempt. Van Voss sat watching with his pale,
expressionless eyes.
Chapter VII. SECRET MISSION 34
The Valley Of Creation
Nelson shrugged. It's risky but no more so than some of the things we pulled for old Yu Chi Chan. And if we
can capture Kree and his daughter we have a chance to clean up this business pronto.
Nick Sloan nodded agreement. But you watch yourself, Nelson. That cursed thinking wolf will have your
heart out if he gets the jump on you.
I want to be the one to kill that brute whenever the time comes! Lefty said venomously. The little Cockney
had chosen to be the one to accompany Nelson despite the fact that of them all he had the most superstitious
horror of the intelligent animals. It was almost as though he was drawn on the dangerous mission by a
fascination of hate.
Shan Kar and young Diril entered the room in full warrior dress of helmet, breastplate and sword-belt.
The Humanite's olive face was flushed with excitement, his black eyes eager. He held two of the
thought-crowns in his hand.
You're ready? he said to Nelson. Then we'll get Tark. But first put on the thought-crowns you two must
wear them constantly.
They went out and down the torchlit corridors with him, Li Kin looking mournfully after them from the
doorway. Shan Kar led them through the vaulted ways of the building to a torchlit passage that had sentries
posted in it. The doors here had massive wooden bars, set in crude, heavy metal hooks. This row of rooms had
been converted thus into a prison-wing.
Eric Nelson was struck again by the contrast between the primitive ways of the present inhabitants of L'Lan
and the marvelous, alien beauty and splendor of the ancient cities they inhabited. Truly these people had lost
the knowledge of their ancient forebears!
Shan Kar unbarred and opened a door. The great wolf Tark rose soundlessly inside, and looked at them with
inscrutable green eyes. Again, Nelson had the eery experience of hearing the wolf's projected thought through
the instrument of ancient science that he wore upon his head.
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