lark and a pile of wax cherries on it. You wouldn't want to be seen dead in it on a dark night,
eh? Come on, Ben, try and remember the good times, the funny bits."
Whether wading chest deep in powdery snow, scrambling over loose shale and protruding
rocks or avoiding patches of sheet ice, the faithful dog never once ceased trying to break the
spell pervading Ben's mind.
25
LIGRAN RAZAN AND HIS ELDER BROTHER Rawth unlocked the long, barred cell door
and entered. They stared at the three young people, all locked in their own blood-chilling
trances, unable to speak, move or communicate with one another.
Ligran chuckled at the sight. "Sweet dreams, eh? I wouldn't like t'be in the middle of a nap
like the one they're takin', not for ten bags o' gold!" He kicked Dominic's foot lightly.
Rawth cautioned him. "Careful, ye might break their spell!" Ligran scoffed at his brother.
"Our wicked old sister's the only one who can do that. Look at this." Kneeling, he popped one
of Dominic's eyes open wider. The facemaker was still staring straight ahead in a trance.
Ligran shrugged. "See, he doesn't even know we're here." He let the lid drop.
Rawth grabbed one of Ben's arms. "Stop playin' around an' let's get this one to Maguda."
Ligran helped his brother to lift the drugged boy; they bore him out of the cell and relocked it.
Draping Ben's arms about their shoulders, they towed him off down the corridor, his feet
limply scraping the ground.
The bear gave a low moan as they passed its cell. Ligran stopped briefly. He kicked the bars
and snarled in at the wretched animal. "D'ye want me to go an' get my whip? I'll give ye
some-thin' to moan about!"
The creature fell silent, its sad, dark eyes dull and moist.
The brothers halted at a cave that had a wooden door. It was unlocked. Rawth kicked it twice.
The voice that came from within was that of their sister.
"Bring him in."
The cave served as the armoury to the robber clan. Maguda Razan was seated on her litter,
this balanced on four small kegs of gunpowder. There were other kegs stacked there, plus an
array of flintlock muskets and rifles, pikes, spears and various odd-looking weapons piled
against the walls.
Maguda indicated a length of cord lying nearby. "Bind his hands behind and sit him on the
floor."
Rawth performed the task, lowering Ben into a sitting position with his back propped against
two casks of gunpowder. He and Ligran stood awaiting further orders.
Maguda's long nails rattled together as she shook a hand dismissively. "Begone now, both of
ye. Come back with my litter bearers in an hour. Wait! Ligran, pour some of this into the
lad."
Ligran took the goblet from his sister. He tilted Ben's head back and trickled some of the
potion between the boy's lips. Ben swallowed and coughed.
Maguda held up her hand. "Enough, that should bring him to his senses."
Rawth tried to sound helpful. "Do ye want us to stay around, in case he tries anything—"
He wilted under Maguda's scornful glance. "What need have I of fools? Get out, both o' ye!"
They retreated, closing the door behind them. Maguda peered closely at Ben. His head was
lolling from side to side, and his lips were moving slightly. Slowly his eyes opened. He stared
wildly around, a note of panic in his voice. "Where are my two friends— what have you done
with them?"
Maguda closed her eyes until they were mere slits. "Thy friends are still alive and locked up
safe . . ."—she paused for effect—"... for the moment."
Ben attempted to sound reasonable, knowing he was in the presence of a wicked and vengeful
enemy. "We mean you no harm . . . why are you keeping us prisoner like this? Please release
my friends at least, let them go."
The old crone shook with silent mirth. "Brave young liar. Ye came here to rescue my
grandson, but, alas, the Adamo that folk knew is gone. He is dead to me forever."
Ben sat up straighten "He is dead?"
Maguda pointed at herself. "Not by my hand, but by his own stubborn choosing. I will speak
no more of him. Ye want me to grant freedom to thee and thy friends. I can do that, but on
one condition that only ye can fulfil, boy."
Ben leaned forward eagerly, hope rising with him. "Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Maguda paused awhile, her fingernails tapping the litter. "I know thou art a strange boy, my
omens told me so. Many things has thou seen in a great period of years, far longer than thy
appearance can tell to ordinary folk. But I am Maguda Razan, no ordinary person. The thing is
this: If I gazed deep into thine eyes, what would I behold, tell me?"
Ben answered as truthfully as he could without giving away too much. "Marm, I have little
control over what others see in my eyes. Maybe people see in them just what they wish to."
Maguda scoffed. "Fortunetellers and charlatans say such things to stupid peasants. Thy words
do not fool me. I wish to see what thine eyes really hold. Fate, future, knowledge ... whatever
'tis, I must know. But beware, if I see sights not unto my liking, 'twill go badly for thee, boy!"
Ben knew it was a chance he had to take. All he could do was go along with Maguda's
request. He was afraid for himself, but more so for his two friends, and it was painfully
obvious that Maguda was not one to make idle threats. He cast a swift glance at the evil old
woman as she sat awaiting his decision. Some inner instinct told him that she was
apprehensive. Usually she would be in her great cavern surrounded by guards. Why had she
chosen to see him in private? Was she scared of what she would see in his eyes? Did she not
want others to see her weakness? Was Maguda Razan really so powerful and invincible?
Ben decided to take the chance and find out. "I hope what you see in my eyes is to your
liking, marm. I'm ready for you to look into them."
Maguda faced him, closed her own eyes tightly and began muttering incantations in a weird
ancient language. Her hands caressed a skull that was on the litter at her side.
Ben sat, resigned to his fate, waiting for her to finish the strange ritual. Without any prior
warning, images began invading his mind. He knew it could be nobody but Ned—the dog's
communication was so strong, it cut through everything. Ben could not push the images to the
back of his mind.
The eyes of Maguda Razan suddenly opened wide, staring at him, boring into his
consciousness. She hissed as her hands rose like two long-taloned claws above her head.
"Now we shall see. Look deep into mine eyes, boy, give thyself up to my powers!"
Ben met her hypnotic gaze but was surprised to find that he felt nothing. It was merely like
staring at an unpleasant old hag.
He smiled at the recollections Ned was sending him.
Maguda Razan blinked then, and her hands dropped slightly. "What is this foolishness? I see
thee dancing about in some far forest, smiting thyself and leaping like a mad child. No, wait! I
see the fair at Veron now ... a stupid woman on a prancing horse, chased by a dog! Art thou
making mock of me, boy? Dost thou think Maguda Razan is to be made fun of?"
Ben had difficulty keeping a straight face, but he intoned dully, as if hypnotised, "Look deeper
and you shall see."
He concentrated his thoughts upon the Flying Dutchman. In the teeth of a roaring hurricane
off the coast of Tierra del Fuego, amid icy waves and tattered rigging, the face of Captain