e than half
protest.

"Where _they_ are concerned, one may expect many evil wonders."

"We've got to get that devil!" Dalgard was determined on that. Though
to run down, through this maze of deserted city, an enraged
snake-devil--above all, a snake-devil which appeared to have some
reasoning powers--was not a prospect to arouse any emotion except grim
devotion to duty.

"It goes for help."

Dalgard, startled, stared at his companion. Sssuri was still by the
grille, watching that archway through which the devil had disappeared.

"What kind of help?" For a moment Dalgard pictured the monster
returning at the head of a regiment of its kind, able to tear out this
grille and get at their soft-fleshed enemies behind it.

"Safety--protection," Sssuri told him. "And I think that the place to
which it now flees is one we should know."

"Those Others?" The sun had not clouded, it still streamed down in the
torrid heat of early afternoon, warm on their heads and shoulders. Yet
Dalgard felt as chill as if some autumn wind had laid its lash across
the small of his back.

"_They_ are not here. But they have been--and it is possible that they
return. The devil goes to where it expects to find them."

Sssuri was already on his way, running about the arena's curve to
reach the point above the archway through which the snake-devil had
raced. Dalgard padded after him, bow in hand. He trusted Sssuri
implicitly when it came to tracking. If the merman said that the
snake-devil had a definite goal in view, he was right. But the scout
was still a little bemused by a monster who was able to have any goal
except the hunting and devouring of meat. Either the one who fled was
a freak among its kind or--There were several possibilities which
could answer that "or," and none of them were very pleasant to
consider.

They reached the section above the archway and climbed the tiers of
seat benches to the top of the wall. Only to see no exit below them.
In fact nothing but a wide sweep of crushed brown tangle which had
once been vegetation. It was apparent that there was no door below.

Sssuri sped down again. He climbed the grille and was on his way to
the sand when Dalgard caught up with him. Together they ventured into
the underground passage which the snake-devil had chosen.

The stench of the lair was thick about them. Dalgard coughed, sickened
by the foul odor. He was reluctant to advance. But, to his growing
relief, he discovered