be thinking。〃 He turned to squint down the precipitous slope。 〃I fear you are right about one thing。 We are never to be leading horses down this grade。〃
〃And what would we do at the bottom； in any case？〃 Sludig growled。 Rain dribbled from his beard…braids。 〃That is no mud puddle！ This is an ocean！ Did your scrolls mention that？！〃
Binabik waggled his head angrily。 His hair hung in his eyes； pasted to his forehead by the rain。 〃Look up； Sludig； look up！ The sky is full of water； and it is all being dropped down on us； courtesy of our enemy。〃 He spat in disgust。 〃This is perhaps bee an ocean now； but a week ago it was a valley only； just as the scrolls say。〃 A worried look crossed his face。 〃I am wondering if Josua and the rest were caught in low ground！ Daughter of the Snows； what a thought！ If so； we might as well make our stand in this place…at the world's end； as you call it。 Thorn's journey will stop here。〃
Sludig flung himself down out of the saddle； skidding briefly in the mud。 He strode to the lead packhorse and detached the bundled length of the black sword。 He hefted it easily； carrying it back to Binabik m one hand。 〃Your 'living sword' seems eager for battle；〃 he said sourly。 'I am half…tempted to see what it can do； though it may turn anvil…heavy on me in midstroke。〃
〃No；〃 Binabik said shortly； 〃My people are not fond of running from a fight； but neither is it time for us to be singing Croohok death…songs and be going happily to glorious defeat。 Our quest is not yet given over。〃
Sludig glowered。 〃Then what do you say； troll？ Shall we fly to that far rock？〃
The little man hissed in frustration。 〃No； but first we can look for some other way for getting down。〃 He gestured at me river thundering past them； which disappeared down the steep wooded slope。 〃This is not the only waterway。 It could be that others will lead us down in a more gradual path to the valley。〃
〃And then what？〃 Sludig demanded。 〃Swim？〃
〃If necessary。〃 As Binabik spoke； the hunting cry of their pursuers rose again； setting the horses to milling and bumping in panic。 〃Take the horse； Sludig；〃 Binabik said。 〃There is still chance we may win free。〃
〃If so； you are a magical troll indeed。 I will name you a Sithi and you can live forever。〃
〃Do not joke here；〃 Binabik said。 〃Do not mock。〃 He slid from Qantaqa's back； then whispered something in the wolf's ear。 With a bound； she was away through the dripping vegetation； tracking eastward along the face of the slope。 Sludig and the troll followed as best they could； cutting a trail that the horses could follow。
Qantaqa； swift as a racing shadow now that the weight of her rider had been lifted from her back； soon found an angled traverse down the cliffside。 Despite the sticky； treacherous footing； they were able to make their way slowly down from the high promontory； gradually approaching the lowest edge of the forest； now the shore of a wind…tormented sea。
The forest did not e to a sudden ending； but rather disappeared into the rain…rippled water。 In some places the tops of submerged trees still protruded above the surface； little islands of rippling leaves。 Naked branches thrust up from the gray flood beside them like the hands of drowning men。
Sludig's horse pulled up just at the water's edge and the Rimmersman vaulted down to stand ankle…deep in muddy water。 〃I am not sure I see the improvement； troll；〃 he said； surveying the scene。 〃At least before we were on high ground。〃
〃Cut branches；〃 Binabik said； clambering through the mud toward him。 〃Long ones； as many as you can be finding。 We will build a raft。〃
〃You are mad！〃 Sludig snapped。
〃Perhaps。 But you are the strong one； so you must be the cutter。 I have rope in the packs for binding the limbs together； and I can do that。 Hurry！〃
Sludig snorted； but set himself to work。 Within moments his sword was smacking dully against wood。
〃If my axes had not been lost on this foolish quest；〃 he panted； 〃I could build you a whole longhouse in the time it will take me to chop a tree with this poor blade。〃
Binabik said nothing； intent on lashing together the rough spars Sludig had already knocked loose。 When he had finished with what was available； he went searching for loose wood。 He discovered another tributary nearby that dropped down into a narrow gulley before emptying at last into the greater flood。 A treasure trove of loose limbs had accumulated m the narrowest spot。 Binabik grabbed them up by the armful； hurrying back and forth between the river and the place where Sludig labored。
〃Qantaqa cannot swim so far；〃 Binabik grunted as he carried the last useful batch。 His eyes had drifted to the distant bulk of Sesuad'ra。 〃But I cannot be leaving her to find her own way。 There is no way for knowing how long this storm will last。 She might never find me again。〃 He dumped the wood； frowning； then bent to his knots once more； his fingers threading loops of slender cord around the damp wood。 〃I cannot make this raft big enough for all three； not and take that of our belongings which we must be saving。 There is no time。〃
〃Then we will take turns being in the water；〃 Sludig said。 He shuddered； staring at the rain…pocked flood。 〃Elysia； Mother of God； but I hate the thought of it。〃
〃Clever Sludig！ You are right。 We need only make it big enough for one of us to rest while the other two are swimming； and we will go into the water one after the other。〃 Binabik allowed himself a thin smile。 〃You Rimmersmen have not lost all your seagoing blood； I see。〃 As he redoubled his efforts； a furious groan rolled through the woods。 They looked up； startled； to see a massive white shape on the promontory only a few short furlongs away。
〃God curse them！〃 Sludig moaned； hacking frenziedly at a slender trunk。 〃Why do they pursue us！ Do they seek the sword？〃
Binabik shook his head。 〃Almost done；〃 he said。 〃Two more long ones I am needing。 〃
The white figure on the hillside above quickly became several figures； a pack of furious ghosts that raised their long arms against the storming sky。 The giants' voices rolled and boomed across the water； as though they threatened not just the puny creatures below； but the Stone of Farewell itself； squatting in serene insolence just beyond their reach。
〃Done；〃 Binabik said； tying the last knot。 〃Let us move it to the water。 If it is not floating； you will have that fight you so desire； Sludig。〃
It did float； once they had pushed it out past the tangle of drowned undergrowth。 Above the storm came the dull crackling of vegetation being smashed aside as the giants came pushing their way down the muddy hillside。 Sludig carefully tossed Thorn onto the damp logs。 Binabik hastened back to loot the saddlebags。 He dragged one leather sack over unopened； and hung it out to Sludig； who stood waist…deep in the murky water。 〃Those things are belonging to Simon；〃 the troll called。 〃They should not be lost。〃 Sludig shrugged； but pushed the bag on beside the wrapped sword。
〃What about the horses？〃 Sludig shouted。 The howl of their pursuers was growing louder。
〃What can we do？〃 Binabik said helplessly。 〃We must set them free！〃 He drew his knife and slashed the bridle…traces from Sludig's mount； then rapidly cut the belly…straps of the packhorses as well； so that their burdens slid down onto the muddy turf。
〃Hurry； troll！〃 Sludig cried。 〃They are very close！〃
Binabik looked around； his face screwed up in desperate thought。 He bent and rifled one last saddlebag； pulling a few articles out before pelting down the slope once more and out into the water。
〃Get on；〃 growled Sludig。
〃Qantaqa！〃 Binabik shouted。 〃e！〃
The wolf snarled as she turned to face the ruckus of the oning giants。 The horses were rushing in all directions； whinnying with fright。 Suddenly； Sludig's mount broke away through the trees toward the east and the others swiftly followed。 The giants were now quite plain； a few hundred paces up the hill and descending rapidly； their leathery black faces gaping as they howled their hunting song。 The Hunen carried great clubs which they whickered back and forth like hollow reeds； smashing a pathway throu