The others listened, but detected no sound. The commander grunted.
“It came from that temple. Get your guns ready. We’re going in. If there’s trouble, shoot first.”
The four moved softly across the flat rock of the floor. Halfway to the door of the building Jimmy clutched Tony’s arm. He pointed, his face chalk-white.
“Look at that!”
Tony followed his brother’s gaze, as did the others. Far away were two structures connected by an arched span. Across this span figures were moving.
Figures with human bodies—but inhuman heads!
At the distance it was impossible to make out details, but it was plain that there was something definitely abnormal about the beings who walked across the span. They moved in stately file and were gone. Jimmy whispered:
“Remember what the priest said? The gods live in Alu!”
Tony thought of the Egyptian gods, men with the heads of beasts and birds and reptiles. Could some monstrous hybrids have survived in this cavern? He shrugged off the thought.
“Masks, Jimmy! Don’t be an idiot. Come on.”