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her that as it would mean certain death for me to traverse Caspak without them,
I might as well take the chance of dying here in the cave with them, for there was
the other chance that we might find our way to liberty.
There came a time when Ajor could no longer walk, and then it was that I picked
her up in my arms and carried her. She begged me to leave her, saying that after
I found an exit, I could come back and get her; but she knew, and she knew that I
knew, that if ever I did leave her, I could never find her again. Yet she insisted.
Barely had I sufficient strength to take a score of steps at a time; then I would
have to sink down and rest for five to ten minutes. I don't know what force urged
me on and kept me going in the face of an absolute conviction that my efforts
were utterly futile. I counted us already as good as dead; but still I dragged
myself along until the time came that I could no longer rise, but could only crawl
along a few inches at a time, dragging Ajor beside me. Her sweet voice, now
almost inaudible from weakness, implored me to abandon her and save myself--
she seemed to think only of me. Of course I couldn't have left her there alone, no
matter how much I might have desired to do so; but the fact of the matter was
that I didn't desire to leave her. What I said to her then came very simply and
naturally to my lips. It couldn't very well have been otherwise, I imagine, for with
death so close, I doubt if people are much inclined to heroics. "I would rather not
get out at all, Ajor," I said to her, "than to get out without you." We were resting
against a rocky wall, and Ajor was leaning against me, her head on my breast. I
could feel her press closer to me, and one hand stroked my arm in a weak caress;
but she didn't say anything, nor were words necessary.
After a few minutes' more rest, we started on again upon our utterly hopeless
way; but I soon realized that I was weakening rapidly, and presently I was forced
to admit that I was through. "It's no use, Ajor," I said, "I've come as far as I can.
It may be that if I sleep, I can go on again after," but I knew that that was not
true, and that the end was near. "Yes, sleep," said Ajor. "We will sleep together--
forever."
She crept close to me as I lay on the hard floor and pillowed her head upon my
arm. With the little strength which remained to me, I drew her up until our lips
touched, and, then I whispered: "Good-bye!" I must have lost consciousness
almost immediately, for I recall nothing more until I suddenly awoke out of a
troubled sleep, during which I dreamed that I was drowning, to find the cave
lighted by what appeared to be diffused daylight, and a tiny trickle of water
running down the corridor and forming a puddle in the little depression in which
it chanced that Ajor and I lay. I turned my eyes quickly upon Ajor, fearful for
what the light might disclose; but she still breathed, though very faintly. Then I
searched about for an explanation of the light, and soon discovered that it came
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