She also heard the rustling and squealing of rats as they searched for edibleportions and dogs growling or snarling as they chased the rats or fought eachother. And she glimpsed the swift shadows of running cats.

Like a cat, she sped down the street in a half-run, stopping at corners to lookaround them before venturing farther. When she was about a half-mile from herplace, she heard the pounding of feet ahead. She froze and tried to make herselflook like part of the wall.

2

At that moment the moon broke through the clouds.

It was almost a full moon. The light revealed her to any but a blind person. Shedarted across the street to the dark side and played wall again.

The slap of feet on the hard-packed dirt of the street came closer. Somewhereabove her, a baby began crying.

She pulled a long knife from a scabbard under her cloak and held the bladebehind her. Doubtless, the one running was a thief or else someone trying tooutrun a thief or mugger or muggers or perhaps a throat-slitter. If it was athief who was getting away from the site of the crime, she would be safe. He'dbe in no position to stop to see what he could get from her. If he was beingpursued, the pursuers might shift their attention to her.

If they saw her.

Suddenly, the pound of feet became louder. Around the corner came a tall youthdressed in a ragged tunic and breeches and shod with buskins. He stopped andclutched the corner and looked behind him. His breath rasped like a rusty gateswung back and forth by gusts of wind.

Somebody was after him. Should she wait here? He hadn't seen her, and perhapswhoever was chasing him would be so intent he or they wouldn't detect hereither.

The youth turned h'is face, and she gasped. His face was so swollen that shealmost didn't recognize him. But he was Benna nus-Katarz, who had come here from