Kalis. She screamed once--more in
bewilderment than pain, as though a favorite cat had suddenly clawed her.
She must have been dead before she fell, and the last Kali clung to her
bosom and spread its copper-wires about her face. It emitted one weak
purr--then it stopped purring and moving forever.

Grim Hagen's Lorens who had been clinging to the hedges now came forward
triumphantly. Strength came back to Gunnar and Odin. The attackers had
cleared the stairway again. And once more Gunnar and Odin threw them back.

By now both Ato and Maya had swung their shattered little armies over to
the subway entrance.

Hagen had retreated from the dais. Meeting the advancing Lorens, he led
them forward.

Those on the stairway retreated as they saw that they were no longer
against two warriors.

Gunnar rested his sword against his leg and reached out with huge arms
and pulled Ato and Odin toward him. "Down there," he pointed toward the
stairway. "There is plenty of room to fight, and those who have been coming
up don't seem to be so strong. Force your way down there and make another
stand. Make a barricade if you can. Up here you will soon be surrounded."

"But Grim Hagen will be at our heels--" Odin protested.

Gunnar laughed deep in his throat. "Oh, no. The stairway is narrow. A
strong man could hold the entrance for some time--perhaps a long, long
time. And Gunnar is strong. To get at you, Grim Hagen would either have
to go down this stairway or take another entrance. These entrances, are
few and far apart."

"Go with Maya, Ato," Odin said, "and I will stay here with Gunnar."

"No. The entrance is narrow. You would be in the way," Gunnar protested.
"Now, go! Oh, but the valkyries will be busy tonight!"

* * * * *

Ato and Odin led the rush down the stairs. There were only a dozen men
below and they had already tired of warfare. Three fell and the others
rushed off into the shadows.

Ato's and Maya's fighters tumbled after them. There were only a few of the
old people and children left.

Now they found themselves in a huge room which was filled with benches and
small machines. It was evidently a wood-working shop. The room was lit by
several of the high-flaring cressets of stone. It was rectangular, about
the size of a football field. They were fortunate that there was no heavy
machinery left here. From each side, dim-lighted tunnels led off into the
distance. While Odin and the stro