U-Van been a true and dependable warrior. Could it be--?" he glanced
piercingly at Ghek. "Thou hast a strange head that misfits thy body,
fellow," he cried. "Our legends tell us of those ancient creatures that
placed hallucinations upon the mind of their fellows. If thou be such
then maybe U-Van suffered from thy forbidden powers. If thou be such
O-Tar will know well how to deal with thee." He wheeled about and
motioned his warriors to follow him.

"Wait!" cried Ghek. "Unless I am to be starved, send me food."

"You have had food," replied the warrior.

"Am I to be fed but once a day?" asked Ghek. "I require food oftener
than that. Send me food."

"You shall have food," replied the officer. "None may say that the
prisoners of Manator are ill-fed. Just are the laws of Manator," and he
departed.

No sooner had the sounds of their passing died away in the distance
than Ghek clambered from the shoulders of his rykor, and scurried to
the burrow where he had hidden the key. Fetching it he unlocked the
fetter from about the creature's ankle, locked it empty and carried the
key farther down into the burrow. Then he returned to his place upon
his brainless servitor. After a while he heard footsteps approaching,
whereupon he rose and passed into another corridor from that down which
he knew the warrior was coming. Here he waited out of sight, listening.
He heard the man enter the chamber and halt. He heard a muttered
exclamation, followed by the jangle of metal dishes as a salver was
slammed upon a table; then rapidly retreating footsteps, which quickly
died away in the distance.

Ghek lost no time in returning to the chamber, recovering the key,
relocking the rykor to his chain. Then he replaced the key in the
burrow and squatting on the table beside his headless body, directed
its hands toward the food. While the rykor ate Ghek sat listening for
the scraping sandals and clattering arms that he knew soon would come.
Nor had he long to wait. Ghek scrambled to the shoulders of his rykor
as he heard them coming. Again it was the officer who had been summoned
by U-Van and with him were three warriors. The one directly behind him
was evidently the same who had brought the food, for his eyes went wide
when he saw Ghek sitting at the table and he looked very foolish as the
dwar turned his stern glance upon him.

"It is even as I said," he cried. "He was not here when I brought his
food."

"But he is here now," said the office