"I will go, Tanit-Zerga. I would rather die of thirst in the midst of
the desert than stay here. Let us start."
"Tut!" she said. "Not yet."
She showed me that the dizzy descent was in brilliant moonlight.
"Not yet. We must wait. They would see us. In an hour, the moon will
have circled behind the mountain. That will be the time."
She sat silent, her _haik_ wrapped completely about her dark little
figure. Was she praying? Perhaps.
Suddenly I no longer saw her. Darkness had crept in the window. The
moon had turned.
Tanit-Zerga's hand was on my arm. She drew me toward the abyss. I
tried not to tremble.
Everything below us was in shadow. In a low, firm voice, Tanit-Zerga
began to speak:
"Everything is ready. I have twisted the rope about the pillar. Here
is the slip-knot. Put it under your arms. Take this cushion. Keep it
pressed against your hurt shoulder.... A leather cushion.... It is
tightly stuffed. Keep face to the wall. It will protect you against
the bumping and scraping."
I was now master of myself, very calm. I sat down on the sill of the
window, my feet in the void. A breath of cool air from the peaks
refreshed me.