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 silenthe 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. Bearthe 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 rimaround 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 forceonce, 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, girland 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 awaythey’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!”
The big goatherd shook her head. “Don’t even think about exploding gunpowder around here, Ben. We’d bring the mountain down upon us all. Here, take my ice pick and loosen those staples holding the bear’s chains to the wall. I’ve got an idea.”
The wooden armoury door was held to the rock by thick leather hinges. These were attached to timber wedges, which formed the doorposts. Arnela whipped out a small hook-bladed knife. It was so sharp that it sheared through the leather as if it were butter. She caught the door as it collapsed outward. Carrying it into the passage, she walked downward until she found a place where the rough-hewn tunnel narrowed. That was where Arnela wedged the door. She listened for a moment before hastening back to her friends.