Fires of Tohr 23

Darno and Dukar the Ratorian escape from the elephant paddocks of Tor on the back of an elephant. Because Tor Zannandorur profess ignorance as to how their friends escaped, Ataya, white queen of the yellow men, condemns them to slavery in the jewel pits.

Meanwhile Darno and Dukar have made their way over the city wall and into the jungle. Sought by Torian patrols, the two men make their way cautiously along a densely-shaddled path toward a moonlit clearing. As they step out of the deep shadow into the open, a huge black-mained lion charges Darno.

As the rushing jungle terror leaps forward, Ucarbrus is the Frenchman aside. You placed, Darno! Charging low, the giant ratorian drops to one knee in the path of the charging beast. Quickly, he digs the butt of the Torian war spear into the ground beside him.

Coolly, he studies the point to meet the hurtling chest. At the moment of the impact, the lunch goal rolls clear. All in the faction of a second, the goose beast impales itself from the spear point.

The great blade stands out behind the shoulders. The moment of its charge carries the land of the spot where Uka had known to moment before when it ruled snarling and roaring and savage agony, carrying the air with claws that place like knives in the moonlight.

Presently with the last gasping roar, the flashing talons jerking spasmodically, the great body stiffens and sinks quivering to the ground. Won't you, may that, that was Munyifik, or splendidly done Uka. I only altered what had come my turn to reciprocate.

I may be able to do it as cleanly and as bravely. It was nothing, my friend. Nothing. But the realization, we have a long way to go before we reach Roto. Yeah, yeah. But do you not think it best that we take to the trees until daylight?