But already she was on the move again, creeping on hands and knees, farther and farther from the flagship.
Where was she going? Why had she broken out of the circle?
And what if the primitives should catch her?
The thought brought Jarl to his feet, shuddering.
Besides, with the thickening gloom down in the hold, perhaps this time he could get an answer to his questions.
With one last glance to chart the course that the girl might follow, he ran to the door and threw back the bolt; then slid out and felt his way down the black well that was the spiral stairway.
In seconds he was at the bulkhead door. Opening it a crack, he weighed his chances.
The crewmen still were busy with their tasks inside the network of defenses. The pools of shadow hung all-enshrouding. Flat on his belly, he wriggled forth and crept along the wall in the same direction he'd seen Ylana take.
Out here, once more he caught the cloying, sweetish scent of the hell-broth, mixed with smoke, and the knot in his belly tightened. The shadows loomed like grim reminders of the primitives' dark fury.
He moved faster.