«Was it two-headed?» Terry asked. Anxiety made him hyperventilate. «I didn't get all that good a look at it before it struck. Do you think it's poisonous?»

«It isn't attacking your central nervous system, Terry,» Lara said, «at least not yet. We'll get you back down to the village and find a doctor. I know a few things about medicine. I can treat you when we get to the car.»

The mountain rumbled ominously, shivering beneath their feet. Lara glanced up at the swirling white mists. Above them, spiderweb cracks appeared in the snow and began to widen.

Gerald swore, renewed his grip on Terry and started sprinting along the thin, winding trail. «It's going to come down.»

Terry gritted his teeth against the pain radiating up from his ankle. «I can't believe this is happening. I feel sick.»

Lara kept her eyes on the mountain behind them as they raced, dragging Terry every step of the way. «Faster. Keep moving.»

The ground shifted and rolled and small fans of snow slid in artful patterns toward the slope below them. The sight was dazzling, hypnotic even. Gerald shook his head several times and looked at Lara puzzled, slowing down to look around at the undulating snow. «Lara? I can't remember what happened. Where are we?»

«We're about to be creamed by an avalanche, Gerald,» Lara warned. «Terry's hurt and we've got to run like hell. Now move it!»

She put every ounce of compulsion and command into her voice that she could muster on the run. Fortunately both men obeyed, concentrating on getting down the steep slope as quickly as they could and asking no more questions. The safeguards protecting the cave were not only lethal, but they confused and disoriented any traveler stumbling across them. The warning system usually was enough to make people so uneasy they left the area, but once triggered, the safeguards fought to erase memories or even kill to protect the entrance to the cave.