### 312

Slowly you swim towards a pair of large boulders that rest half-buried in the muddy shallows of the north bank. Here you break through the waist-deep water behind the nearest rock and press yourself against its cool, smooth surface as you fight to catch your breath. Blinking the water from your eyes, you look across the lake to see the Vazhag scouring the south shore. They search beneath the bridge, passing within a few paces of where you were hanging only minutes before. Disappointedly, they report their lack of findings to their Cenerese commander before clambering back on to the platform.

The Cener and the remaining Vazhag cross the bridge. They stop just long enough to open the Tzarg cage and drag out one of the croaking creatures. Then the cage door is slammed shut, locked, and briskly the party march away along the south passage.

For a full minute you remain immobile until you are sure that the enemy have gone. Then you pull yourself up on to the bridge and, without looking back, you enter the north tunnel.

Turn to 306.

Text copyright © 1990 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1990 Brian Williams.