The man looked at me in astonishment. "I do not know where Sov is," he said, a little sullenly, I thought.
"Well, never mind," I told him; "he will be here presently; and in the meantime, open up the gate, for we shall want to hurry on as soon as he arrives."
"I cannot open the gate without orders from Sov," replied the sentry.
"You refuse to obey an ongyan?" I demanded in the most ferocious tones I could command.
"I have never seen you before," he parried. "How do I know you are an ongyan?"
I held out my hand with the ring of Moosko on the index finger. "Do you know what that is?" I demanded.
He examined it closely. "Yes, ongyan," he said fearfully, "I know."
"Then open the gate, and be quick about it," I snapped.
"Let us wait until Sov comes," he suggested. "There will be time enough then."