Raggah came in, they would look here, of course, but she could get him no
further.
Benna’s odour was even more sickening in the hot confines of the closet, though
its door was almost completely open. She eased him down. He mumbled, ‘Spiders
… spiders.’
She put her mouth close to his ear. ‘Don’t talk loudly, Benna. The Raggah are
close by. Benna, what did you say about the spiders?’
‘Bites … bites,’ he murmured. ‘Hurt… the … the emerald … rich…!’
‘How’d you get in?’ she said. She put her hand close to his mouth to clamp down
on it if he should start to talk loudly.
“Wha…? Camel’s eye … bu…’
He stiffened, the heels of his feet striking the bottom of the closet door.
Masha pressed her hand down on his mouth. She was afraid that he might cry out
in his death agony. If this were it. And it was. He groaned, and then relaxed.
Masha took her hand away. A long sigh came from his open mouth.
She looked around the edge of the closet. Though it was dark outside, it was
brighter than the darkness in the house. She should be able to make out anyone
standing in the doorway. The noise the heels made could have attracted the
hunters. She saw no one, though it was possible that someone had already come in
and was against a wall. Listening for more noise.
She felt Benna’s pulse. He was dead or so close to it that it didn’t matter any
more. She rose and slowly pulled her dagger from the scabbard. Then she stepped
out, crouching, sure that the thudding of her heart could be heard in this still
room.
So unexpectedly and suddenly that a soft cry was forced from her, a whistle