67

The dying man says, "The snake people live nearby, in a mountain of fire. We escaped over the walls, but if you mean them harm, listen—there is a hidden way in, below the walls and above the waterfall of fire. You can…"

The man tries to say more, then moans and goes limp. Therko runs his hand over the man's crude, infected tattoos, then closes his one remaining eye.

Convinced she has a path right to the tabulation chart, Control follows the clawed tracks early the next morning. She follows them right to another steep cliff face, its top hidden by smoke. Flying lizards circle lazily.

"No time to waste!" Control says. "We climb."