"Neither does she," said Lake O'Brien. "But that's the way it is, Ramey. And always has been." Tauthus of Cush was staring at them curiously. Now he said, "I do not quite understand, Lord Ramaíya. What are you going to do?" And Ramey Winters answered, "It is a two man job we face. Lake and I are both going...." CHAPTER XVII The Love of Lady Rakshasi In the period that ensued, Ramey had reason to be glad that Lake O'Brien _had_ insisted on accompanying him. True, the Lord Vibhishana had given him instructions for finding Ravana's chambers. Had Lanka been other than in a state of siege, Ramey could have reached his objective in simple fashion. But it had been impossible to take into account the constant stream of Videlians racing hither and thither through the corridors of the citadel ... the guards ... the messengers ... the armed companies marching to take their emergency battle-posts. More than once, Ramey and Lake were forced to take refuge in whatever places of concealment offered. More than once they were forced to desert entirely the path they had been following, choose a new route altogether toward their objective. And with each devious turning, Vibhishana's directions became more obscure and confused, until Ramey, at last, knew neither where Ravana's chambers lay nor, indeed, where he himself was! It was then that Lake O'Brien proved himself an indispensable ally. Educated in architecture, trained in the hard and practical school of active archeology, he displayed an almost psychic sense of location. With fine discernment he _reasoned_ his way through the tumultuous labyrinth which was Lanka. Up two levels--"_The Regent's quarters are always in mid-palace, Ramey_"--to a series of marble halls, left to that side of the citadel facing the ferry-ports--"_stands to reason his apartment would face the docks, you know_"--and finally, justifying the precepts of pure logic, into chambers more sumptuous than any Ramey had laid eyes on since he confronted Ravana in the throne-room. The passage was swift, but not entirely unimpeded. It was their good fortune, though, that such Videlians as they met along the way were either traveling in groups--in which case the clank of their accoutrement served as noisy warning, sending the two to cover--or were single guards, set to watch over a strategic doorway. And as is ever the case where strong walls lend a sense of false security, the guards had grown careless. This was an error for which two who fought paid with their lives. Three more were left gagged and bound in places where they would not easily be discovered. * * * * *