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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
"Now hold me up." the halfling said. Harold stood upon the
rangers hands and, with one hand of his own, held tight to the wall.
"Carefully, carefully." Even up so high the arch was out of reach and
in the dim light, out of sight as well. He'd have to climb.
The walls were old, the stone finely set, but cracks had formed
and what was nothing more than a groove or line between the blocks in
these giants eyes was hold enough for the halfling to use. He pulled
himself up by hand then found a foothold and pushed away from the rangers
grasp.
"Be careful." Harald called up to the halfling thief.
Harold looked down and stuck out his tongue, then went back to
work and climbed. Above the arch he hung on the wall with ease and pulled
a small iron spike from a loop set in his belt. It had an eyehole and
through it he strung a line of rope, thin and fine but strong, with a
supple feel that did not cut or pinch the hand. He had six such spikes
each held in place by a small loop along the inside of his belt. Harold
gave the spike he held a kiss then placed it against a line between two
blocks and said a word. "Zfiri" the spike whirred in his hand like some
captured bee and burrowed in between the stones.
The halfling let himself drop and gave both Gytha and his ranger
friend a start, they thought he'd slipped. The rope played down and Harold
pulled himself along the inside of the arch. It felt smooth, no sign of
holes or traps. He felt along its edge and at its apex he came across a
latch.
"Stand back." he hissed to the pair below, "back, go back a bit
down the hall."
"What is he up to?" Gytha asked, the ranger merely shrugged but
took a good step back.
Harold climbed above the arch and pulled out a long thin bar
shaped as an L. With slow care he slid the metal bar between the
stone and metal latch then with a twist the latch popped free and the
whole bottom of the arch swung loose. There must be hinges on the far
side, he thought, but a rattling shake nearly shook him from the
wall. A thick set of bars came rumbling down and sparked against the stone
floor, the room beyond was sealed
Gytha and Harald both jumped back, the bars crashed with a great
stuttering roar then smashed hard and loud, heavy iron meeting stone.
"What did you do?" Gytha yelled up at the thief.
"I thought as much." Harold said, then with a smug look glanced
down. "I knew there was a trap."
"That's just great." the ranger said his hopes of beer now dashed.
"Why did you have to trigger it!"
"Don't shout, " Harold moved across the upper wall till he found
his spike again. "XO" he said and the spike twirled out and lay still
within his hand. "I will be down in a moment."
Harald grabbed the thief as soon as he came near enough and placed
him on the ground like a kitten pulled from a tree.
"Watch your grip." Harold complained. "I'm no sack of ale to have
my innards all squeezed out."
"Sorry." the ranger said. "Now how are we going to get in there?"
"We are not." said Gytha. "We've spent more time here than we
have to spare."
* * *
(To Be Continued)