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TAXILA'S CHILDREN<br />
Danyk shrugged.<br />
"What can I say to a blue-eyed Scarn who can command walls to dissolve in the name of<br />
an ancient Lynxe god?"<br />
"So - now I'm a blue-eyed Scarn again?"<br />
Danyk shook his head.<br />
"Steve Holt - To tell the truth, I don't know what you are!"<br />
CHAPTER 18<br />
"We're not going back the way we came."<br />
"Observant of you."<br />
They had completed the long walk to the edge of the forest. Danyk had been very quiet<br />
during the monotonous trudge to the outer wall and across the cleared expanse around the<br />
city. Steve had paused before they entered the trees. He took one last look at the walls, towers<br />
and pinnacles and wondered if he would ever see them again.<br />
Danyk was showing signs of impatience, Steve ignored him. The episode at the closed wall<br />
had in some way, given him the edge. Danyk's supreme aura of self assurance had wavered.<br />
Steve didn't know how he had made the wall open, or why he had invoked the name of their<br />
old god, but the outcome had been impressive. He took one last look at the city and<br />
surrendered to Danyk's mind urging. The man of Lynxe seemed eager to put as much distance<br />
as possible between himself and the scene of the blue-eyed Scarn's miracle. The way<br />
downward from the plateau was far easier than when they had struggled up the slope on the<br />
previous day. By the time they reached the brook Danyk seemed to have recovered his mental<br />
balance.<br />
Steve was treated to his first taste of Lynxe singing - at least, that was what he assumed it<br />
to be. He wasn't impressive but Danyk appeared to be enjoying himself. After a while it set<br />
Steve's teeth on edge.<br />
"Something hurting you?"<br />
The wailing stopped abruptly.<br />
"You don't like it? It's a song travellers sing when they are going home."<br />
"It sounds as if you've got your jock strap twisted!"<br />
There was a flash of puzzlement, probably the phrase lost something in the thought<br />
translation.<br />
"I asked you before - Why are we taking a different route?"<br />
"We took a detour to get here - we wanted to show you the temple - This way is more<br />
direct."<br />
They walked for four more hours and then made camp. Danyk chose a good spot, but he<br />
wasn't alone in his choice. He greeted a young couple who had unrolled their packs a little<br />
further down the trail. The young man was open faced and friendly, whilst the girl was small<br />
and quiet. Both of them were typical of the Lynxe, blond and lean. They eyed Steve with<br />
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