stowed them in their own former hiding place. Shouldering both firearms, she pointed to the
tunnel. "You go first, Ned. Maybe you can sniff our friends out."
The black Labrador trotted inside, accustoming himself to the flickering torchlit walls as he
relayed a message to Ben. "We're inside, Ben. Arnela's just flattened the entrance guards.
Where are you, mate, can you give me any help?"
The boy's thoughts answered him. "Ned, I'm sorry, but we haven't a clue about this place. I
can't direct you, pal. But if you hear a bear whining and moaning, you'll know we're
somewhere nearby. They've got the poor animal in a cell about three doors down from us.
Listen out for him."
The dog stopped, thought about Ben's suggestion, then came up with a solution of his own.
"The bear might fall silent—he doesn't know we're coming. Tell Karay to start singing and to
keep it up. Her voice is higher pitched, so I'll be able to hear it more easily."
Ben turned to the girl with his request. "Sing something, Karay, a nice long song with lots of
high notes."
She remained seated and replied moodily, "Who d'you think you're giving orders to, eh? My
mouth's too dry to sing. Besides, I've still got a splitting headache and I don't want to sing.
Huh, you can sing to yourself if you like!"
Dominic looked at Ben. "Why d'you want her to sing all of a sudden? Is there a special reason
for it?"
Ben made an awkward explanation to the facemaker. "I can feel that Ned's somewhere in these
caves, looking for us. I'll bet he's brought help, too. If he hears Karay's voice, it should help in
guiding him to us."
Karay stood up and hurried to the bars. "Well, why didn't you say so, Ben? How long shall I
sing?"
Ben shrugged. "For as long as it takes, I suppose. Anyhow, it'll save having to listen to our pal
Mr. Bear—the poor old fellow's moaning and whining is making me sad."
Karay began to sing.
"Don't love a soldier, my fair maid,
You'll have to follow his brigade,
Through the cold and muddy streams you'll wade,
Away across far countries.
Rub a dum dum dum, rub a dum dum dum,
That sound shall be your whole life's sum,
The fife and regimental drum,
Will rob you of your homeland.
And what will you be marching for,
When he leaves you to fight a war?
You'll sit about and grieve full sore,
To pray for his returning.
Rub a dum dum dum, rub a dum dum dum,
You'll grow to hate the beating drum,
When feet are bleeding cracked and numb,
Its sound will keep you marching.
Go choose a cook, a clerk or groom,
Or weaver who toils at the loom,
For he'll not tramp you to your doom,
Like that brave reckless soldier.
Rub a dum dum dum, rub a dum dum dum,
Why even army mules so dumb,
Would sooner hear a guitar's strum,
At home inside his stable!"
Karay stopped singing. She held up a finger for silence.
"What've you stopped for?" Ben queried.
Dominic edged up to the bars. "I hear it, some sort of chant. Sounds like a lot of people
coming this way!"
Ben joined his friends at the grille as the chant grew louder. The two brothers Rawth and
Ligran passed the junction at the corridor's end. By squinching his face sideways against the
bars, Ben could just see them from the corner of his eye. They were followed by a host of
Razan men and women. Gizal led the eerie chant, between beats from four gongs.
"Maguda ... Maguda!
The underworld rings to thy name.
Maguda ... Maguda!
Widespread thy fear and fame.
Razan, Razan, Razaaaaaan!"
This was repeated over and over in the same monotone as the entire clan marched by, in lines
three abreast. At the rear of the procession, twelve sturdy robbers bore a long trestle with the
body of Maguda set on her throne on top of it.
Karay watched in silent dread as the macabre cavalcade passed. "They must be taking
Maguda down to her tomb. Best place for the evil old hag, that's what I say!"
A message from Ned came to Ben. "Ahoy, mate, we're in a great big cavern, horrible place,
filled with coloured smoke and lots of huge strange statues. But there isn't a living soul to be
seen anywhere!"
Ben interrupted the dog's thoughts. "Good! You've come at just the right time. The Razan are
attending a funeral ceremony on the floor below this one. If you can get to us, we can break
free while the Razan are attending the ceremony in the lower caves. Hurry up, pal!"
The bear, who had been whining and moaning continually, now began howling and rattling its
neck chains.
Ned's thought winged its way to Ben. "Is someone blowing a horn down there? What's all that
racket I can hear?"
Ben answered with frantic speed. "It's the bear, he's started kicking up a right old row. His cell
is only three doors from ours. If you can find him, we're only yards away, mate!"
Ben clearly discerned the determination in his dog's reply. "Hang on, pal... We're coming!"
Ned tugged at Arnela's sleeve. Without a word she followed him at a rim—around the empty
throne dais, through the noxious clouds of multi-coloured smoke and into a downward-sloping
tunnel. She paused a moment, frowning. "Are those villains making a human sacrifice?
What're all those dreadful noises, Ned?"
The black Labrador tugged the goatherd's sleeve so hard that it ripped. She nodded furiously.
"Alright, alright! Lead on, boy, I'm following you!"
Together they pelted along the narrow, downsloping tunnel, taking a sharp left turn into the
prison corridor. Ben's voice rang out joyfully, as he heard their footsteps. "Ned, Ned. I knew
you'd find us!"
Arnela arrived at the cell's entrance, panting alongside the dog. "Hah, there ye are!"
Karay sobbed. "Oh, you made it, you're here at last!"
Ever the practical soul, Arnela silenced them. "Time for that later! Let's get you out of there!"
Dominic shook the bars frantically. "They took everything from us except our clothes. We
have nothing to work on the padlock with. And we vowed to free the bear if we got out. Just
listen to the poor beast howling!"
Arnela pushed him away from the bars. "Step back, young 'uns, leave this to me!"
Taking a musket from her shoulder, she bashed at the old padlock with great force—once,
twice! The tumblers of the ancient mechanism fractured under the impact, and the big padlock
fell open.
The bear had fallen silent; still chained to the wall, it was at the bars of its cell. Karay hurried
to it. Before anyone could shout out to warn her, she put her hand between the bars and
stroked its huge face. "Poor old fellow, we'll get you out." The big beast laid its head
sorrowfully against the girl's hand.
Arnela gasped in amazement. "Well, will ye look at that, a tame bear. Stay clear of this lock,
girl—and you, too, bear!" Again she raised the musket and crashed it down on the side of the
antiquated padlock. Once, twice... bang! —accidentally the rifle discharged, although the lock
broke open.
Dominic ran to the end of the corridor, calling back, "Hurry up! That shot will've given the
game away—they'll be after us in a moment!"
Ben spotted the wooden door on the opposite wall. It was the armoury cave where Maguda
had interviewed him. 'Arnela, look, this cave is full of gunpowder kegs!"