24 Return (1/2)
As soon as the old dwarf said the last word, he pushed Daneel, and incredibly, there was a group of the dwarves waiting behind him to catch him before he hit the floor. Hoisted on their shoulders like the three men who had been turned into dwarves before, a flicker of panic went through him as he wondered whether he was being taken for the same purpose… but it soon vanished when they went further inside and turned left, into a carefully hidden crack in the walls.
It was dark, but the dwarves seemed to know their way. They soon deposited him in front of a wooden platform that was lit by a single, flickering torch. As if they had done it many times before, each of them took up positions around a wheel and grunted as they made it turn, causing the platform to lurch, and then begin to move up.
That was when Daneel finally looked up and saw that there was a long tunnel above him. The platform had no railing to hold onto, so he had to sit down to be stable. Still, the power being applied to the elevator system methodically by the dwarves made it so that the platform moved evenly, and as he finally began to calm down, he suddenly realized that there was a weight near his chest.
Pulling it out, he saw, with surprise, that it was a slab of cured meat, bigger than his hand. He studied it, wondering how it had gotten there and what animal it belonged to, but then, as its salted smell wafted into his nostrils, he closed his eyes and sank his teeth into the stringy meat.
It was heaven. After eating gruel for so long, the taste of such a luxury was incredible. He munched on the morsel he had bitten away for a long time, forgetting everything that had happened until then, losing himself in this feast that he had thought he would not have a chance to enjoy.
When he swallowed, he looked down at what was left and was about to take another bite, but on second thought, he put it back where he had found it.
'That… was awesome! I don't know about anything else they've said, but they really know how to cook, and they have food! As for all their claims… well, I'm not dumb, now. I've already been betrayed once… so I should make sure that it doesn't happen again!'
Recalling the pain and fear that had gone through him when Xander's plan had been revealed, he decided that he would not let such a thing happen again.
'Weak links. I had no choice, so I couldn't do anything about them… but from now on, no matter what plan I make, there should be no weak links that will lead back to me. After all… I have no connection to this place! My real purpose is to find my past, and for that, I should carry out the missions of the system. From just the way I feel whenever I say that word, I know that it means so much to me… and I feel a longing to find out what it is. To find out what those images mean, to find out who those people are. So, Daneel, from now on… be careful, you dumb fuck!'
The horrific images of becoming a husk under the arms of the succubus if Xander hadn't been stopped were enough for him to imbibe these thoughts deep, deep into his mind. He felt himself change, slowly, and even though it had happened due to such a close shave… something told him that was a good thing.
”Come on! Quickly!”
A whisper interrupted his thoughts. He had been looking at the wooden floor of the platform and thinking until now, so when he looked up, he was surprised to see that a passage had appeared where before there had only been an unbroken wall of rock. In it stood a dwarf holding a fist-sized crystal for illumination, and seeing his urgent face, Daneel rushed forward.
They hurried down a small tunnel that was reminiscent of the one he had entered to reach the city of dwarves. Soon, though, sound started to reach them. Sounds of people sitting, standing up, and eating.
”Are we near the dining area?”
”Shh!”
Being shushed by the dwarf, Daneel sullenly closed his mouth and just followed, while thinking about what to do next.
He knew the answer right away.
��That damn Xander! Yes, I just told myself that I should focus on doing what the system asks… but still, his accomplice shouldn't get away! What if she tries to betray me, too? I don't know whether I can kill her… but at least, I want to find out whether what the giant was saying was true!'
He had already decided that he should take what anyone said in this place with a pinch of salt, but at least in this, he was confident that he would be able to find out the truth soon enough.
A few seconds later, they came upon a narrow exit that Daneel could hardly get through. The dwarf made him leave, first, and as soon as he entered the passageway beyond, the little man said, ”Don't forget your task. This is where we part. We will be watching.”
He turned around to leave, but Daneel spoke quickly, suddenly seeing an opportunity.