Hoik shrugged big shoulders. "We Humanites are not a government yet. We're a faction that seceded from the rest of L'Lan. Shan Kar and I and Diril and old Jurnak have been the leaders."
The two called Diril and Jurnak, a thoughtful-looking younger man and a bearded oldster, were waiting for them outside the room and went with them through the curving glass corridors.
The place was all of black glass. But not ordinary glass. That, Nelson knew, could not have supported such stresses and strains. This city was of an unknown material. A miracle-city, a city that might have come from another planet, hidden here in deepest Asia and inhabited by a semi-civilized people! It didn't make sense.
Hoik paused, Nelson and the others with him, at the entrance of a spacious hall like the heart of a huge black pearl. But here too dust dimmed the gracious curves, the furniture was primitive.
"What's Shan Kar doing?" demanded Nick Sloan as they looked into the hall.
"He's still talking with Tark," said Hoik.
Eric Nelson felt a shock of astonishment as he looked at the strange scene in the dusty glimmering glass hall.
Near the far wall of the room, secured by a heavy throat-chain to a massive staple in the wall, crouched the giant wolf Tark. Shan Kar sat in front of the wolf, looking silently down into the brooding, smoldering green eyes of the beast.
"Talking? But no one is saying anything!" exclaimed Lefty Wister, his thin face puckered puzzledly.
"It's supposed to be telepathy, I guess," said Sloan, jeering. "The same as he claimed to use with that eagle."