I shrugged.
"This is my room right here," I said, "and I've a chicken and a bottleof wine on the way up. Let's do the diagnosis in here, and I'll split themeal with you."
He smiled.
"Best offer I've had all day," he said. "But let me stop back at myroom for some tools of the trade."
"All right. I'll walk you back, so I'll know the way in case I needit."
He nodded and turned. We headed up the hall.
Turning the corner, we moved from west to east, passing Flora'sapartments and moving in the direction of some of the better visitors'quarters. Luke halted before one room and reached into his pocket,presumably after the key. Then he halted.
"Uh, Corwin?" he said.
"What?" I responded.
"Those two big cobrashaped candle holders," he said, gesturing up thehall. "Bronze, I believe."
"Most likely. What of them?"
"I thought they were just hall decorations."
"That's what they are."
"The last time I looked at them, they kind of bracketed a smallpainting or tapestry," he said.
"My recollection, too," I said.
"Well, there seems to be a corridor between them now."
"No, that can't be. There's a proper hallway just a little beyond--" Ibegan.
Then I shut up because I knew. I began walking toward it.
"What's going on?" Luke asked.
"It's calling me," I said. "I've got to go and see what it wants."
"What is it?"
"The Hall of Mirrors. It comes and goes. It brings sometimes useful,sometimes ambiguous messages to the one it calls."
"Is it calling us both, or just you?" Luke said.
"Dunno," I replied. "I feel it calling me, as it has in the past.You're welcome to come with me. Maybe it has some goodies for you, too."