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dirge, a monosyllabic litany with a haunting, unnatural clarity; it was the chant of creatures cursed. |
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I had to get hold of myself. I was running out of time. If I was going to find a way of saving my highly cherished hide, a plan had to be developed and implemented fast. The whereabouts of both Gregory and Kelto were complete unknowns. There was no way of knowing what had happened to either them or Brenda; I could only hope against hope that each of them had found a way out. |
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It was an underground world without orientation. All my reference points were gone. East wasn't east, and down wasn't anything except an indication of the way the eroding waters had once flowed. Gregory and Kelto could be anywhere nowhopelessly lost, alive, dead, trapped. The possibilities were endless. |
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I was jolted out of my speculation by the single, loud, ominous thump of what sounded like an ancient drum. As the beat intensified, the battalion of prehistoric creatures became more restless. |
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Suddenly, one of the creatures stood up. He was larger than the rest and somehow different. A tissuelike glaze of proud flesh covered the upper half of his hideous, shapeless body. The beast lumbered from its hollow in the wall and staggered crookedly toward the altar. Along the way |
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