249

Dodging around the limestone pillars, you enter a sloping defile. It is very steep and requires considerable effort, reducing your climb to a crawl.

Finally, you reach the top and pause for breath. The narrow pass opens on to an open plain of sun-baked rock and cracked stones, broken only by sparse lines of gullies and ravines.

You turn and look back along the pass. Shan has fallen far behind, having covered less than half the distance up the slope. To your horror and amazement, you see a creature enter the far end of the defile. It is the wounded Quoku, its body caked with black blood. The creature refuses to die! It creeps along painfully, drawing inexorably nearer to Shan who seems unaware of the danger below.

If you wish to shout a warning to Shan, turn to 282.

If you would prefer to hurry to his side, turn to 257.