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Buncan slung his duar across his back and grabbed each otter by the neck, using force instead of reason
to choke off their singing. I said that s enough. He indicated the two titanic figures. Let s go.
Clutching its ax, the ape was leaning over the canyon wall for a better look. As the edge crumbled
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beneath immense hands boulders crashed into the fields below, smashing fruit trees and threatening to
bounce into the village itself. Wailing Xi-Murogg dashed in all directions, not knowing what to do. The
riders who moments earlier had been intent on spitting Buncan and his friends were now desperately
trying to control their spooked mounts.
Whoa, said Squill as Buncan dragged him and his sister toward the waiting Snaugenhutt, I told you
those rocks looked like a monkey.
You did not, Neena objected vociferously.
Not now. Buncan shoved them halfway up the rhino s capacious back. As soon as he followed them
and before he was even settled in his seat, Viz chirped into the hairy ear he was holding.
Now, Snaug! Let s move!
With a nod and a snort the rhino turned and rumbled out of the village, heading at an inspired gallop for
the cleft in the canyon walls. No one tried to stop him. Once he got up to speed, nothing short of a
natural disaster could.
Only a terrified and completely frustrated Chi-churog took a swipe at them with his sword as they
hurtled past. The blade shattered on Snaugenhutt s armor. Their last view of the First Rider saw him
hopping up and down amidst the confusion of his panicked village, hurling imprecations in their wake.
A few rocks fell from the rim of the chasm as Snaugenhutt barreled through, but they missed the riders
on his back. Of the armed Xi-Murogg who normally guarded the way out there was no sign.
As they emerged into open desert Buncan allowed himself a sigh of relief. That s it. We did it, we made
it.
Snaugenhutt was slowing. Don t count your retirement money yet, human.
Off to their left the armored ape stood tapping his massive ax against an open palm the size of a small
plateau. The rising sun glinting off his red armor made him look as if he was on fire. Nearby, the
sword-wielding giant cat stood surveying the landscape, its pointed ears scraping the clouds. Moreover,
they were no longer alone. Snaugenhutt came to a halt. As far as they could see, perhaps a third of the
buttes and mesas of the Tamas were coming to life, each one revealing and releasing a different soldier
from some long-forgotten war of the titans. One by one they sloughed off their ancient shackles the way a
sleeping human might shed a cosmetic mudpack, rising to their feet and stretching mightily in the warming
sun. The noise of ton upon ton of cracking, crumbling, falling rock was deafcrumbling, falling rock was
deafd from side to side, searching. Which way?
Gragelouth cupped his hands to his mouth to make himself heard. Northwest, Snaugenhutt! Ever to the
northwest!
Viz pivoted on his perch atop the rhino s head. Why? The sloth shrugged. That is where we must go,
and under the circumstances it seems as good a way as any.
Viz nodded, relaying the instructions to Snaugenhutt. The rhino resumed his heavy-footed lope, heading
down a slope in the indicated direction.
As he jogged along, rock spilled from the butte on their immediate right. Something with three heads
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emerged, unlike anything Buncan had ever seen or heard described. Four legs supported the squat body,
and a barbed tail the size of an oceangoing ship whipped reflexively back and forth. Each hand held a
club the size of Clothahump s tree. Espying them, the monstrosity let out a bellow and reached down
with a third hand that blotted out the sun as it descended. Even though Snaugenhutt accelerated to his
maximum speed, Buncan saw there was no possibility of avoiding those immense fingers. They would
smash them flat or pluck them from the ground as easily as he would a flower. Gragelouth was mumbling
something under his breath, the otters held each other, Viz bravely elected to perish with his old friend,
and Buncan simply shut his eyes.
He felt something massive but controlled patting bun gently on the head. Opening his eyes, he saw that
the hand was similarly caressing his companions.
It withdrew, and the apparition straightened. Its subsequent bellowing could, with difficulty, be
comprehended.
FREE! FREE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE BEFORE TIME! The barbed tail lashed a gully in the
ground as the entity s three heads inclined to stare down at them. I WHO HAVE KNOWN
NOTHING BUT TIME NOW SAY THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIME WITH WHICH TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR SONG.
Squill grinned nonchalantly. Well, you know ow it is, guv. We just like to sing.
Yeah, e s a real altruist, me bro is. Buncan threw Neena a warning look. Naturally she ignored him.
All around them, as far as they could see, the liberated giants were embracing. Some were crying
pond-sized tears. Others clapped long-petrified acquaintances on the back, sending booming shock
waves rolling across the plain.
I wonder how many have come this way before and remarked on the outlines in the rocks, Gragelouth
murmured, never dreaming it was not then imaginations at work but their perception.
Since it was apparent they were not about to be crushed into paste, Snaugenhutt saw no harm in slowing
to a walk. Shielding his gaze against the rising sun, Buncan spoke to the specter.
What will you do now that you re free?
The three heads replied in chorus. WHY, RETURN TO WHERE WE CAME FROM, OF COURSE.
IF IT STILL EXISTS.
An utterly unexpected voice bellowed behind them. I ll loll you all. I am not afraid of anything, be it god
or mortal!
Squill turned in his seat. Well, I ll be double-buggered. Look who s comin .
Waving his sword defiantly above his head, Chi-churog, First Rider of the Xi-Murogg, was galloping in
pursuit, urging his nervous blindered mount onward while screaming defiance.
Illusions! they heard him howl. You have manufactured illusions to fool my people! You have
disturbed their minds, but you do not fool me! I will cut your heads off. I will have you roasted alive over
the cooking fires. I will . . .!
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The armored ape reached over and down. An enormous thumb descended. Chi-churog barely had time
to look up and emit a single startled squeak before he was turned into a dark smudge against the earth.
Bloody effective illusion, Neena observed demurely.
None of Chi-churog s fellow villagers seemed inclined to mimic their chiefs action. There was no sign of
any further pursuit.
Extending arms the length of rivers, the great creatures linked hands (and in one instance, tentacles)
across the Tamas. Ancient warriors of a forgotten titanic land, paralyzed gods of another place and time,
whatever they were, they suddenly began to ascend slowly heavenward. Final vestiges of their long
earthly imprisonment, a few clinging rocks and boulders tumbled from their sides, plunging to the ground
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