Part 13 (2/2)
Conan swae upon which he could stand, Elashi+ in tow He set the woman upon her feet Tull arrived a moment later ”What happened?” he asked
”I know not,” Conan replied, ”nor do I care Let us find a path away fro-shrouded water just behind theood idea from a man who probably has less brain than a turnip”
Conan spun about, his sword pointing into the fog That voice he knew it fronized it first ”Lalo!”
Indeed As he watched, Conan saw the cursed e fro and wade toward them Had it only been a few days? It see here?” Elashi+ asked
”I thought I would drop in and surprise you,” Lalo said, ”although I a surprises your apelike corinned his perpetual grin, and even Conan had to return a smile
”I shall explain and introduce you to Tull later,” Conan said ”At theclears”
”Co ever clear for you?”
Elashi+ laughed, and that surprised Conan not in the least These two should marry She would be more than a match for the straw-haired fellow
Deek and Wikkell proceeded in their silken boat, butslowly They arrived in the vicinity of the confrontation between their respective mistress and master, nay-ical fog began to clear fro rapidly upon a raft made of what looked like two dozen of Deek's brothers and Rey directing hisdock toward the nearest shoreline
”I wonder what happened here”
Deek could not speak in the boat, but his curiosity was no less than Wikkell's He waved his tail in agitation
”I agree,” Wikkell said ”Best we not get too close They don't see us, and I for one would prefer to keep it that way Let us find a cove or small bay and lay low”
Wikkell turned the slanced over his shoulder ”Not that it er,” he said, ”but I do not see the people ere sent to fetch I wonder if they have escaped? We ation
”You're right We are coht induce those three to help us They seem very lucky, and it would not hurt to have them on our side”
If we happen to run into theht
”If we happen to run into the to think a lot alike This ht well be the start of a beautiful friendshi+p-assuh to enjoy it Fifteen Tull's i dry land was to flee back toward the place where they had been captured Conan was of a different mind
”The wizard will expect that,” he said ”Better we should proceed in the opposite direction”
Lalo agreed ”Despite your appearance to the contrary, that is actually very clever”
Conan shook his head Lalo's curse could turn even a compliment into an insult
The four of the to be well away before the cover evaporated
Not five minutes later, another series of tunnels branched off to their right Tull turned to Conan ”What do you think?” he asked
”You're asking him?” Lalo said to Tull ”There must be more than a bit of slack in your wits, old man”
Tull reached for his knife
”Wait,” Elashi+ said, catching Tull's arround if he does not curb his tongue,” Tull said
”He cannot help insulting you-that is his curse”
Tull considered this ”Really? What a strange thing to inflict upon someone”
”Not to interrupt this discussion,” Conan said, ”but we are apt to suffer much worse if we stand around and allow ourselves te be retaken by the wizard”
”Aye,” Tull said ”So which way?”
”That one,” Conan said, pointing at the nearest tunnel He glanced at Elashi+ to see if she planned to gainsay that, but for once the wo Lalo
Into the tunnel they fled After twenty ht-hand fork and continued on Shortly the narrow pipe blossomed out into a wide, low-roofed chae, pillow-shaped stones The four sat upon one of these stones to catch their breath
”Perhaps one of you nit brains would be so good as to explain what is going on here,” Lalo said
Elashi+ looked at Conan ”I think he means you,” she said
”You are so much better ords,” Conan told her ”You tell him”
”Very well” Elashi+ explained their adventures of the last few days Tull added backgroundbattle between the witch and the wizard When they were done, Elashi+ asked Lalo how he had come to be there
”As it happened, I wore thin ly daughter once too often and he showed erous route, feeling I had not e-the dead watchbeast and the Hars-keel'sbeen at theh the area without incident until the ground opened beneath ht certain ineon a dock practically right in ine,” Conan said His voice was dry
”Well, anyhat has that tiny mind of yours come up with for a way out of here?”
Curse or no curse, if Lalo kept talking that way, Conan doubted if he could h, and said, ”At first we ht to find a way out, to escape”
”At first?” Elashi+ and Tull echoed in unison