ngest soldiers guarded, Ato and his people
shoved benches, tables and chairs to the four tunnels and set them afire.
There were still quite a number of benches left, and some of these were
stacked close together into one corner of the room, making a sort of rude
balcony that looked down upon the littered floor. More benches and machines
were left. These were made into a barricade a few yards in front of the
balcony.

All was done now that could be done. So Odin rushed back to the stairway
to help Gunnar. But his heart sank as he stood at the foot of the stairs.
Up there was nothing but swirling, violet flame. Some liquid was burning
furiously at the entrance-way, and blazing rivulets were pouring down the
steps. There was no way to go through those flames. There was now no way
to go around. Gunnar, if he lived at all, must fight alone. And Odin's
eyes filled with tears as he cursed himself for deserting his old comrade.

* * * * *

The attackers were almost upon Gunnar before the last of Maya's rag-tag
army had gone down the stairs. There were high bannisters around the
entrance-way. These afforded plenty of protection to his back and flanks
unless someone scaled them, which he doubted. One of the heavy cressets was
burning nearby. It seemed to be no more than a huge, open lamp. Standing
upon a circular base about three feet across, the twelve-inch stem went up
nearly eight feet and then flared out into a tulip-shaped bowl that was
filled with flickering violet fire. Bending low, Gunnar grasped the bottom
of the stem and moved it a little closer to the stairway entrance. It
took all of his strength, but it moved, complaining as it slid along the
flagging. Now he was almost under it. The light was in his opponents'
faces, and it gave a little added protection to his left side.

Gunnar braced himself, his long blade high over his shoulder, both hands
locked to the long carved haft.

"Grim Hagen," he called mockingly. "Here we are at the edge of the stars.
Just you and I left on top of this world. Just you and I of the two crews
that sailed from Opal. The mad gods have made bonfires of the suns.
Ragnarok has come and passed. I have no quarrel with these people, Grim
Hagen. Come forward now and let the two of us end what should have been
ended long ago--"

* * * * *

Grim Hagen silenced his men and screamed back: "Gunnar, what I say now I
have said before.