.

He might, Tharn realized, be able to pass the man once without arousing
undue interest or suspicion. But should he attempt to retrace his steps
later on the guard would be almost certain to take some sort of action.
It was not that Tharn would be unable to handle the matter if that
should happen, but there was always the possibility that others might be
aroused by a warning cry.

Stooping, Tharn removed his sandals and, hugging the wall where shadows
lay deepest, began a slow, careful advance.

Thirty paces the guard took in each direction before executing a brisk
about face and retracing his steps. The leather soles of his sandals
made crisp clear rhythmical sounds against the stone underfoot. Each
time his measured pacing brought him toward Tharn, the cave lord
remained frozen, hugging the wall; when he wheeled and started back
Tharn raced lightly ahead, even while he counted off each step the
sentry took. On the twenty-ninth pace Tharn would freeze again, then
repeat the maneuver.

Finally the man of the caves reached the point where he dared go no
further. He was still fifty or sixty feet down the street and another
fifteen feet to one side. Hardly daring to breathe, he stood as
motionless as the wall at his back until the man finished the routine of
thirty paces toward him; then, as he wheeled and started back, Tharn
unslipped his bow with unthinkable swiftness, fitted an arrow to its
string. Mighty muscles rippled smoothly across that bronzed back as a
steady hand bent the stubborn wood, a single musical "twang" sounded
against the still air and flint-tipped death flickered for an
immeasurable instant between the two men.

True to its target flew Tharn's arrow, the sharp point striking squarely
at the juncture of neck and the skull's base. Wide flew the sentry's
arms and he fell soundlessly in a crumpled heap, the spear still tightly
clutched in one dead hand.

Even while the body was still falling Tharn was bounding toward the now
unguarded gate. Unbarring it, he drew the lifeless warrior out of sight
beyond, then closed the gate with his back.

* * * * *

Here at the wall's base was darkness, but a few steps beyond was a
moonfilled clearing dotted with carefully spaced bushes and an
occasional tree. A curving path of crushed rock led across cropped grass
and ended at a wide door of the palace itself.

Although the hour Tharn had alloted himself before entering the pal