“He has gone there”, Kah whispered, “along the path of light. He has followed the Bright Ones, who do not return.”
“I do not understand you, Kah!” said Newton sharply. “Is the body of my friend in this buried place? What happened? Speak more clearly.”
“No, I have talked too much of forbidden things.” Kah raised up his spear.
“Go now! Go — for I have no wish to slay!”
“You cannot slay, Kah, for your spears will not fly this far. And the great one called Grag will be as a wall against your coming.”
Rapidly, under his breath, Newton spoke to the robot. “Keep them back, Grag! They can’t harm you, and it’ll leave us free to dig.”
Clanking ponderously down the slope, a terrifying gigantic form in the dusk, Grag advanced on the Vulcanians. And Newton cried aloud to Kah, “We will not leave this place until we have found our friend!”
Kah flung his spear. It fell short by no more than two paces but Newton did not stir. The Vulcanian drew back slowly before the oncoming Grag, who spread out his mighty arms and roared and made the ground tremble under his feet.
“The big ham!” whispered Otho. “He’s enjoying it.”
There was a wavering among the ranks of the natives. A ragged flight of spears pelted up the slope and some of the obsidian points splintered with a sharp ringing sound on Grag’s metallic body. Grag laughed a booming laugh. He picked up a slab of stone and broke it in his hands and flung the pieces at them.