... _the smooth whiteness of Kolano's skin ... the Titian sheen of her hair ... the deep smouldering in those silvery eyes ... the curve of those carmine lips ... the curvedness of_-- This was the way he used to think of Roya! _Used_ to think of Roya-- Toka tensed abruptly. Through the dimness he saw the boudoir door slowly move. Who could have gotten into this suite without toppling the chairs he had balanced against the doors? Hand on Battle-ax, Toka lay motionless--ready to leap. The door moved slowly in. * * * * * _In the black court, the Sphere Of All Time shone on with a pale cold light...._ _Ophid's men, boys and dragons were massed around him as he stood atop a huge stalagmite stump. His features were contorted with insane rage, his snaky body quivering with it. His fanged mouth began to froth. His wild-eyed subjects snapped their heads up and down in approval. Ophid made a sweeping gesture and the fanatical Dragon Men began a frantic search for handy lengths of limestone shards--broken from the mighty columns...._ * * * * * The Big Brown came into view. The flowery jungle spread away, blending into silent shadows as twilight neared. Rok let his paddle trail. "Well, we're out--thanks to Toka." The implication pricked Roya. "He didn't have to stay!" "No," Rok considered sardonically, "Toka didn't have to marry Kolano--so we could get you and Elees out of that pit." Roya was silent a long moment. "Rok," she commanded, "whistle for that big slick-skin we saw around here the other day!" Rok's shrill blast cut away. A distant roar drifted back over the jungle. Rok whistled again. The distant roar answered--closer. "Head for the opposite shore!" Roya commanded. In moments the canoe was beached on the firm mud. Above the throbbing of the Big Brown came the distant crashing of trees and brush. Rok's whistle split again through the shadowy jungle. Roaring acknowledgement, The Big Snake was now so near the ground quaked with the rhythm of its coming. Old Ledo was peering into the canoe. "Hey--how did all these packs of berries get under the thwarts?" "Divide the packs among us," Roya commanded. The Big Snake burst from a stand of fern trees and tore straight for Roya. With a happy roar it slewed to a ground-gouging stop. Then, missing Toka, it whined plaintively. Roya held up her clenched left hand, raised its little finger and pointed to Elees. The Big Snake grunted. Roya raised the next finger and pointed to Old Ledo. The next finger was Rok, the next Roya herself. Each time the intently watching Big Snake understood. Roya raised her thumb. The Big Snake whined plaintively. Roya pointed in the direction of the underground river and sang a snatch of the choral that had enticed them in there. The Big Snake frowned.