Barrett said, "But, lookit here--why can't we just pull stakes off the island entirely? Leave him here to stew in his own gravy, throw a cordon around the lake and make sure he never gets off to pester nobody again--" Syd O'Brien shook his head. "That won't do either, Red. Tonlé Sap is too big a lake. Seventy miles long. It would take ten times as many men as we have at our command to maintain a guard about its borders. Sooner or later, Ravana and his soldiers would get away. And, besides--" He glanced at Vibhishana--"there's always the possibility he may succeed in fueling the Bow once more. This time effectively. And if he does, we're licked. Isn't that right?" "Unhappily," agreed the older man, "it is. No, our effort must be directed toward breaking the deadlock that now exists, somehow rooting him out of his lair." Ramey said, "This 'Sounding Tower' you spoke of, Kohrisan--what is it?" "The needle-which-speaks, my Lord." "The which?" "Kohrisan," explained Vibhishana, "has given it the name used by the natives. It is really a tower from the top-most chamber of which one can address the entire populace of Lanka in a normal voice, and have his message reach every ear in full, rolling tones. You have seen the talking idols of Chitrakuta?" "Seen 'em?" chuckled Red. "We was their voice!" * * * * * Ramey said, "I understand now. A sort of magnified 'whispering gallery,' eh? But, say--that gives me an idea! Lord Vibhishana, did not Thalakka often say that there were many who would rally to your cause if they knew you had been freed?" "Aye, even so, Ramaíya." "And I'll bet a hair," continued Ramey excitedly, "there are plenty of soldiers fighting for Ravana _right now_ who would lay down their arms if they knew who they were being forced to fight! They've been obeying him blindly simply because they don't know what's going on. If we could reach the Sounding Tower--" "--and tell them the truth--" broke in Vibhishana, "it would shatter the morale of his soldiers. Split them into separate camps. Create rebellion within his very ranks. Aye, Ramaíya, I believe you are right! It is a far stronger likelihood, at any rate, than that we can overwhelm the isle without losing much of our own man-power." "Then--" cried Ramey, rising eagerly, "why are we sitting here jabbering? There's a better place to talk from. Let's go! No--not all of us. You, my Lord Vibhishana, so the soldiers can hear your voice ... you, Red, and Kohrisan--" "--and me," added Syd O'Brien. "There's a chance we might meet up with Ravana on the way." CHAPTER XIX "A New Man" Like a needle of stone rising from the great, gaunt citadel of Lanka was the Sounding Tower. This saw Ramey before he and his companions deserted the open air and dipped once more into the castle itself, seeking the inner passage which led to the tower's base.