said, nodding toward
the huts. "Ogrum sleep."

"Where prisoners?" Craig asked. He had to rephrase the question and
repeat it several times before the dawn man understood.

"In big cave," Guru said, understanding at last.

"Where big cave?" Craig asked.

"Big rock cave," Guru answered, pointing toward the large stone temple
that stood in the center of the city.

"Then that is where we are going," Craig said. "Come on."

Guru hung back. Craig sensed the dawn man's fear. "What's wrong?" he
asked.

"Monster that is always hungry in big cave," Guru answered.

"Ah," Craig said. The monster that is always hungry! The bright beast
that eats forever! A shiver passed through him as he remembered how Guru
had described whatever was in the cave. "What is the monster?" he
questioned.

But Guru either did not understand or could not explain, and Craig was
left with no knowledge of the nature of the monster. However he could
guess that the Ogrum regarded the thing in the temple as a god and
offered sacrifices to it, an impression which Guru confirmed.

"Tomorrow when sun goes," Guru said. "Ogrum feed one man to bright beast
that is always hungry. Next day when sun goes feed beast again. Keep up
until no one left to feed. Then go hunt more people."

Craig recognized the performance as an incredibly ancient ritual of
sacrifice to ensure the return of the sun. The Ogrum seemingly had no
real knowledge of the universe. Each night when the sun went down they
were not sure that it would rise again. To make certain the bright light
in the sky would return again, they offered a sacrifice to it.

"What do they do when they run out of captives?" he asked.

"Catch Ogrum, feed him to beast," the dawn man answered.

When they ran out of captives, the Ogrum sacrificed their own people!

"Well, we've still got to find out what is in that temple and where our
people are being held," Craig said grimly. "If Guru is afraid, Guru may
stay here. I will go alone."

Guru was afraid. There was no doubt about that. Craig did not criticize
the dawn man for being afraid. He regarded it as evidence of good, sound
sense. But, afraid or not, Guru went with him. Slipping like a pair of
ghosts through the rough paths that served as streets, they entered the
silent city. Guru was as noiseless as a shadow, and Craig, every sense
alert, moved as quietly as an Indian. The big American knew that from
any of the huts an Ogrum might emerge at any moment.