Thor stared toward a balcony four feet above the sun-baked floor of the
compound. A giant of an android, with bristling black beard matting his
red face was gesturing to three others who were bent and straining at
something between them.
When they moved, Thor saw it was the black urn.
"It is Aava," Karola whispered hoarsely. "The women told me of him. And
that is the Black Priest, the one they call Malgrim. He will move the
urn to face us. Aava will kill all, even his own men. What are men to
Aava?"
A scream of fear and fury tore from the throats of the fighters.
Shrilling above it was the frightened cry of the women.
[Illustration: _A scream of fear and fury tore from the throats of the
fighters._]