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kaldane. "I seek the woman, Tara of Helium. Where is she? If you value your life

speak quickly and speak the truth."

If he valued his life! It was a truth that Ghek had but just learned. He thought

quickly. After all, a great brain is not without its uses. Perhaps here lay escape

from the sentence of Luud.

You are of her kind?" he asked. "You come to rescue her?"

Yes."

Listen, then. I have befriended her, and because of this I am to die. If I help you

to liberate her, will you take me with you?"

Gahan of Gathol eyed the weird creature from crown to foot--the perfect body, the

grotesque head, the expressionless face. Among such as these had the beautiful

daughter of Helium been held captive for days and weeks.

If she lives and is unharmed," he said, "I will take you with us."

When they took her from me she was alive and unharmed," replied Ghek. "I

cannot say what has befallen her since. Luud sent for her."

"Who is Luud? Where is he? Lead me to him." Gahan spoke quickly in tones

vibrant with authority.

"Come, then," said Ghek, leading the way from the apartment and down a

stairway toward the underground burrows of the kaldanes. "Luud is my king. I

will take you to his chambers."

Hasten!" urged Gahan.

"Sheathe your sword," warned Ghek, "so that should we pass others of my kind I

may say to them that you are a new prisoner with some likelihood of winning

their belief."

Gahan did as he was bid, but warning the kaldane that his hand was ever ready

at his dagger's hilt.

"You need have no fear of treachery," said Ghek "My only hope of life lies in you."

"And if you fail me," Gahan admonished him, "I can promise you as sure a death

as even your king might guarantee you."

Ghek made no reply, but moved rapidly through the winding subterranean

corridors until Gahan began to realize how truly was he in the hands of this

strange monster. If the fellow should prove false it would profit Gahan nothing to

The Chessmen of Mars