off its dias. Then, with the remainder of his strength, dropped
it squarely on top of whomever was under the skins. There was a muted
clunk followed by silence.

Fearfully Builder stood there for a moment catching his breath and
listening for anyone coming. All was quiet except the pounding of his
heart.

As fast as he could make his arms and hands work he rolled up the body in
the skins and painfully hoisted it over one shoulder. With his other hand
he reached down and picked Thor up by one of its arms, then, staggering
under the load, he started back the way he had come.

Except for a greyish streak in the east, it was still dark. He stumbled
and fell several times before reaching his dwelling, but he was confident
that he had left no tracks. Every night, even this late in the winter, the
ground froze solid.

Back inside his shed, still in the dark, Builder unrolled his burden and
listened for any heartbeat. There was none. As he rolled the body up
again, something clattered to the floor. It was a crutch. Quickly he felt
for his victim's legs; one was missing. Of all the people he had to
kill--Morge! Thougor's right hand man.

He realized he had to get rid of the body before daylight and fast!
Already more grey was lining the eastern horizon.

He didn't know whether he had the strength to do it or not, but he had to
get Morge up to the dam and into one of the unfilled molds. For the time
being he would have to hide Thor someplace inside here. He couldn't carry
both of them up to the dam.

He rolled the idol up in another set of skins and placed it under the head
of his sleeping pile. Then, picking up his other bundle once more, he
started for the dam.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon when Builder finally stumbled
back into his dwelling and into bed.

All that day, he lay there, body on fire with fever, and heart pounding
like a drum. He was almost certain he would soon die. "It was just as
well," a little corner of his consciousness said. At least he would be
missing all the frenzied excitement of Thor's disappearance along with
Morge.

But it looked as though he had failed after all. In spite of removing the
god, now he was dying--and the dam still unfinished.

The day dragged on and on and he didn't die.

After waking up in late afternoon he felt better. He ate a handful of nuts
and figs washed down with a little herb tea. Then as night crept over the
sky, he tottered down to the vi