Angus wet his lips. He scowled, trying to find words. He mumbled, "I've been sentenced to die for attempting to kill the Diktor of Karr. He's an evil man."
"What is evil, my son? Is a man bad because he opposes your will?"
Angus growled, "He's a curse to his race. He sends disease and death on his people when they disobey him. He keeps improvement from them. He makes them slaves when they might be gods."
"That is your belief. What says the Book of Nard?"
Moana whispered, "The Book of Nard is lost, High One."
Stasor was silent a long time. He said, finally, "The Book must be found. In it are the secrets of the Elder Race. Go to the City of the Ancients. There you will find the Book."
"No one today knows where the City is, either. It is lost, with all the secrets of the Elder Race."
"The City lies across the Car Carolan Sea, through the Land of Living Flame. Go there."
The lips closed. The eyelids shut. Swiftly the old face faded into nothingness. The blackness came and pressed around them.
Angus turned slowly, as in a dream. Still in that dreamlike trance he found himself staring at three tall, cowled forms that stood like sentinels.