### 322

The stairs are high and steep. You gasp for breath and force your aching legs to climb, for the Drakkarim are less than a dozen steps behind you. At the top of the tower, an open arch leads out on to a platform where a huge kettledrum stands. This is used by the tower guard to send messages to the other palace towers. A bleached hide is stretched across its surface and a black wooden beater hangs from the side.

If you wish to push the drum down the tower stairs, turn to 329.

If you prefer to ignore the drum and escape out on to the platform, turn to 387.

Text copyright © 1985 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1985 Gary Chalk.