Before him Croft's guide bowed. "Thy pardon, Magur, Priest of Zitu," he spoke, still in his stilted formal way. "But one comes carrying tablets inscribed with thy name. Even now he knelt in the Holy Place, so that I questioned--asking what he sought." Magur, high priest in Himyra, at least as Croft judged, took the tablets and scanned each leaf. As he read, his expression altered, grew at first well-nigh startled, and after that nothing short of amazed. In the end he waved the lay brother from the room and faced Croft alone. "Thou art called how?" he began. "Jasor of Nodhur--son of Sinon and Mellia of Nodhur," Croft replied. "Whom, Abbu writes, Zitu hath changed?" "Aye." "Thou comest to Himyra, why?" "To assist the State--to safeguard Tamarizia from the designs of Zollaria perhaps." "Hold!" Magur cried. "What know ye of Zollaria's plans?" "Zollaria desires Cathur and plots the downfall of Tamarizia, Priest of Zitu. Think that I bring no knowledge to my task?" "Yet, were you Jasor indeed, thou mightest know somewhat of Zollaria's plans to some extent," said the priest. "And Jasor was a dullard, as the schools of Scira will declare," Croft flashed back. "Let my works show whether I stand a fool or not." "Thy works?" Magur inquired. "Aye--those I shall do in Tamarizia's name. The first shall be one which shall span the desert twenty times as quickly as the sarpelca caravan--or drive a boat without sails or oars, or propel a carriage without any gnuppa, and so haul ten times the load." "Thou canst do this?" Magur laid the tablets on the lap of his robe and sat staring at the man who spoke such words. "Aye." "And what do you desire of me?" "An audience with Jadgor," Croft replied: "Since Aphur's king suspects the things Zollaria plans." Magur frowned. Croft's knowledge seemed to have swept him somewhat off his feet. For moments he sat without motion or sound. But after a time he raised his head. "To me Abbu seemeth right in this," he said. "In this Zitu's hand is. This thing shall be arranged." He clapped his hands. A brown-robed priest appeared. "Prepare my chariot for use," the high priest said. The other bowed and withdrew. Thereafter Magur sat through another period of silence ere he rose and, signing to Croft, led him through a passage to a small metal platform which, when Magur pulled on a slender cord, began to descend. Croft smiled. It was a primitive sort of elevator as he saw while they sank down a narrow shaft. He fancied it not unlike the ancient lifts employed in Nero's palace in Rome. But he made no comment as they reached the bottom of the shaft and emerged past double lines of bowing priests to the waiting chariot. Magur mounted and took the reins. Croft stepped into a place at his side. The gnuppas leaped forward at a word. They rumbled down the street and out upon the bridge. Croft had crossed it alone and on foot an hour before. Now he rode back in the car of Zitu's priest.