"This is hopeless," he muttered. He looked up at the sky. The faint outline of a star shone through the haze. He hadn't seen a star since the night he had discovered the blue light more than three years ago, and for the first time in months he felt a twinge of homesickness.

"Yonk?"

"You asked me not to talk, master."

"Forget about that. Are your hands tied in the front or back?"

"They are tied in the front, master. That is how that Samatin coward was able to drag me along behind his mount. And, you know, I think he enjoyed it too. I heard him laughing."

"Listen to me. I'm going to tell you how the latch on your cage works. Put your hands through the bars and feel for a round wooden wheel."

"I have it, master."

"Turn the wheel to your left."

"I am trying. It will not turn. Something is holding it."

"Feel for a wooden peg in the face of the wheel. Pull it straight out."

"It still will not move, master."

"Rock the wheel back and forth. And pull harder, Yonk. Sarbo and I are counting on you."

Mark heard the cage gate snap open. "Good work, Yonk. Now jump down and lower my cage."

"Master, I am not very good with heights. What if break my leg or worse, what if I fall on mya""

"Jump!"

"Yes, master."

Mark heard him hit the ground with a thud. "Are you all right?"

"Yes. Although I am not sure that you really care how I am, considering that I told you I did not like heights and a" "

"Find the rope that holds my cage. When you do, let it out slowly."

"I found-it, master," Yonk whispered. "But it is difficult to undo it with my hands tied together."

Mark's cage lurched downward. He closed his eyes and prepared for the crash.

It didn't come. The cage jerked to a stop. Mark opened his eyes to find himself suspended a few inches above the ground.

"Good work, Yonk. Now open my cage. Yonk?"

"I am up here, master."

Mark looked up. High in the tree, dangling from the end of the rope, was Yonk. He was holding on with both hands.

"Get down here, Yonk. I need you."

"But, master, it is a very long way to fall. Even farther than the last time."

"Yonk, if you don't get down here and unlock my cage someone will find us like this. And I hear the Samatin enjoy cooked Tsook. They say the younger the victim the more tender the meat."

There was another thud. This time it was accompanied by a soft groan.

"Do not worry, master. I am fine." Yonk's face appeared in front of Mark's cage. The boy turned the wheel and pulled out the peg, and the door sprang open.

"Reach in my pouch, Yonk, and find my small knife. Cut me loose and I will do the same for you."

Yonk found the knife and sawed at the strap until Mark was able to break it. "See, master. Did I not tell you that you would find me very useful?"

"You told me. Now quit talking and get your hands over here."

chapter 44.

"But, master, does it not make more sense to steal back our animals and escape while we still have a chance? You raised our cages back into the tree. They will not discover we are gone for quite some time."

"Hand me that bowl of dirt, Yonk."

"That is exactly what I was saying, master. Here you are hiding behind bushes, sifting through dirt and grinding charred sticks to powder when we could be halfway to Listra by now. It was a very risky thing for you to send me back to the tunnel. I was very lucky the guard was away. And why did you have me do it? To escape? No. To collect dirt. I am sure there will be plenty of dirt in Listra, master. I will help you get all you want. Why do we not go?"

"I will not leave Sarbo. This may be the only way for the Samatin to know I mean business. Hand me that other bowl and spread that rag out beside it."

Yonk did what he was told, then sighed and sat down beside Mark. "Master, when they come for us will you do me a favor?"

Mark didn't answer. He continued working, frantically trying to remember how many parts of each ingredient were necessary.

"I would like for you to end my life quickly before they get a chance to cook me. I do not think it would be at all pleasant to be boiled."

"Clean out my pouch, Yonk. You are in charge of keeping track of my things. For now I need to store some of the powder in it. I will keep the rest folded inside this cloth."

Carefully Mark scooped up what he hoped was close to the recipe for the explosive powder and filled his pouch. Then he stood up. "Come, Yonk. The show's about to begin."

It was early morning. The two crept around the rim of the old volcano close to the village. It was quiet. Nothing moved. Mark motioned for Yonk to go for the mounts and then made his way to the hut where the Samatin had taken Sarbo.

There was no guard. Apparently they thought Sarbo was too badly wounded to be a threat.

Mark ducked inside. "Sarbo? Are you here?"

"Of course I am here, infant. What took you so long?"

Mark smiled. Sarbo was lying perfectly still on the floor. "Can you walk?"

"I think so. Help me up."

Leaning on Mark, Sarbo took a wobbly step.

"We must hurry. It will be full daylight soon and they will be looking for us," Mark said.

He half carried Sarbo out the door and across the grounds to the edge of the village, where Yonk was waiting with the beasts and his mount.

Master Sarbo. See, you were wrong about me. I have been of great help to you. Look, I found Master Kakon's weapons and have even stolen this extra sword and crossbow. First I a" "

"Not now, Yonk." Mark pushed past him. "Help me get him on his mount."

Sarbo was so weak he nearly fell. "Hold him on, Yonk." Mark took the reins and led the animals back toward the tunnel.

A guard was pacing back and forth in front of the opening.

Mark whispered to Yonk, "I'm going to create a diversion. When the guard leaves his post, take Sarbo and the beasts and hurry through the tunnel. I will join you as soon as I can. If I don't come, go on without me. I entrust Sarbo to your care."

Before Yonk could ask any questions Mark slipped away into the darkness.

In minutes a loud explosion ripped the night apart and the guard ran to investigate. Yonk, Sarbo and the beasts disappeared into the tunnel.

The Samatin village sprang to life. Mark crawled to his feet and brushed at his singed eyebrows. His mixture had been more potent than he'd expected. He had poured only a small amount on the ground and tossed a burning stick into it, hoping the sparks would attract the guard's attention. At first nothing had happened. Then it had suddenly caught fire. The force of the explosion was so great it had blown him backward.

Mark ran to the tunnel. He tripped and fell on the slippery rocks as he made his way through the darkness.

There were shouting and the sound of running feet behind him. The Samatin were in the tunnel too, and they were coming fast.

Mark could see light ahead. Hurriedly he dumped out the contents of the rag, then struck his fire rocks together and lit the end of a dry stick he was carrying in his belt. He stepped back and tossed the stick, then turned and leaped into a run.

The explosion was deafening. The walls of the tunnel crumbled. Rock fragments flew everywhere. The blast blew white smoke out of the tunnel and Mark along with it. When he landed he could hear the screams of the men back in the tunnel.

"Master! We are here!" Yonk led the beasts up to him.

Sarbo raised his head. "Well done, Kakon. Well done."

chapter 45.

"Are you sure about this, Sarbo?" Mark looked down at his friend. He was lying behind his mount on a pole stretcher they had hastily put together.

Sarbo smiled weakly. His face had lost most of its color. "I am sure, Kakon. I am going back to our village to die. The runt will take me. I will have a fine warrior's burial and they will sing many songs about my bravery."

"You are too mean and ornery to die, Sarbo. But I do think that the village is the best place for you. They will tend your wound and soon you will be back to your old annoying self. "

"Annoying? Why, if I was not about to die, I would a" "

"I know." Mark knelt by the stretcher. "You would teach me to respect my betters. Here." He took off his claw necklace and put it around Sarbo's neck. "I want you to have this. You have been a true friend, Sarbo. No one could ask for better."

Mark stood and turned to Yonk. "Take good care of him. Follow the directions I have given you. If you get him safely back to the village you will be given your freedom."

"I will do as you ask, master. You can count on me."

"I know I can. And Yonk, if you should meet a girl by the name of Megaan in the village ... tell her ..."

"Yes, master?"

"Never mind. You'd better get going. And be careful. There could be other tribes out there."

Mark watched them go until they were only tiny specks on the horizon. He already missed them. His trip to Listra was going to be a lonely one.

Sarbo had given him directions to the ferry that would take him across the great river. After that it was only a few more miles to the Merkon's stronghold.

He would have liked to have the a.s.surance of Sarbo's sword and his vast fighting experience, but even more than that, Sarbo's friendship. Even Yonk's unending chatter would be better than silence.

Mark shrugged the feeling off and sat up straight on his mount. He had been alone before and had survived.

The red Death Sand gradually faded into a soft red dust that grew mostly cactus. Mark let his animal pick its way through the th.o.r.n.y plants.

Sarbo had told him there would be no water here. But if he cut the tops off the larger cactus plants he could find a bitter liquid that would see him through until he reached the river.

Mark stopped only twice to drink. He didn't eat because he was in a hurry and didn't want to take the time to hunt. His mount's flanks were drawing up from exertion and the lack of water. The animal's steps became slower and slower. Finally Mark got off and led the beast until nightfall.

The moonlight gave the night sky an odd yellow glow. Mark stopped to rest. Soon he would continue, hoping to reach the river by morning.

He tied the beast and snuggled down in the warm soft dirt. His mind replayed the events of the previous weeks.

The Merkon had told him of a shaman in Trisad who did not exist. Then they had been attacked on the way to find the imaginary shaman, and the Merkon had been taken captive. Bounty hunters had been offered a reward for Mark's capture. Why? None of it made any sense.

He thought back to Pet, the old man in Trisad who said he was a keeper of knowledge. The stories he had told about the blood sick and the terrible destruction made Mark shudder.

The people had been changed by some catastrophe. They were strange in custom and appearance.

Well, not all of them. Mark drifted off to sleep thinking about how pretty one of them was, especially when she was upset with him.

When he was finished in Listra he would go back and see her one last time before he returned to the dark jungle.

chapter 46.