"You actually know some of them?"

"Oh yes! During one of my intervals of freedom I dwelled among them far below, in the Grottoes of the Growling Earth, where the hot magma surges and steams--a most wondrous and happy place! Wish that I were there now!"

"Why don't you return?"

"Nothing would please me more. But I am bound not to wander too far by my accursed master's accursed spell, and he is not in the habit of granting vacations."

"How unfortunate."

"Indeed."

We entered the lockers again and finished filling the ice chests.

"Now, thanks to you, I am finished ahead of schedule," the demon said, "and my accursed master will not summon me to another accursed task until he realizes that this one is finished. Therefore, I have a few minutes of freedom. If you would like, we will return to the heights where we can see for a great distance and I will attempt to give you directions for reaching the Grottoes of the Growling Earth--though their entrance lies on another continent."

"Show me the way," I said, and he soared upward.

I followed.

The instructions were complicated, but I set out immediately to follow them. I fled far to the northwest until I came to a great water heaving regularly toward the stars it imaged. There, unaccountably, I slowed. I knew that I had to cross it as the next stage of my journey, but I was drained of all will to begin. I drifted northward along the coastline, puzzled. What was it that was holding me back?

Finally, I sought full control of my nebulous person. I attempted to consider the situation in a totally rational manner. I saw no reason for hesitation. I ignored the strange lethargy which had taken hold of me. Forcing myself forward, I passed over a narrow, pebbly strand of beach and on out above the splashing swells.

I felt my new resolve waver almost immediately, yet I struggled to continue, to break through whatever odd barrier it was that had been raised against me.

It was then that I heard the voice, mixed in with the booming of the surf.

"Bell, or," it said. "Bell, or..."

And I listened and grew afraid.

"Bell, or," it repeated, "bell, or, bell, or, bell, or," over and over again.

I realized that some part of me had immediately understood something of what lay behind those utterances. And I knew they meant that I was defeated in my quest.

I summoned my last bit of will to oppose the force which held me, for here at last was something I might query.

"Why?" I hurled at the waves and the sky. "Why? What is it that you want of me?"

There was a moment of silence, and then the voice returned:

"Bell, or, bell, or..."

I felt defeat wash through me, a dark, cold thing like the waters below, as I saw that those strange words were to be my only answer.

Turning, I rushed back to the shore then fled southward, knowing I would have to look elsewhere for my answers. The words faded gradually wtthin my being. My thoughts became focussed upon Pol Detson.

Once I reached glowing Belken and the magic-infested city at its foot, I proceeded unerringly to the building and the room where Pol lay sleeping. How I achieved this with no real effort, I could not say, unless some bond had grown between us as a result of our association.

As I inspected the defenses he had reared, I heard him moan softly. I entered his sleeping mind and saw that he had passed beyond a door in his dreams into a place which both delighted and repelled him. I had never intervened in his affairs before, but I recalled that he had seemed to be relieved when awakened by the nameless sorcerer that last time he had dreamed such a dream, so I caused him to awaken.

He lay there for a long while, troubled, then drifted into a more peaceful slumber. I departed then to seek my demon acquaintance and see whether there was anything else I might learn.

I drifted over to the accursed master's quarters, but my friend was neither there nor in the vicinity. Then, faintly, I detected the glitteing trail such as had occurred behind us during the ice-hauling expeditions. I hurried to follow, as it had faded further even as I had considered it.

I sped along the skiey trail as rapidly as I could conduct myself. The distance proved to be great, but a slight brightening of the way indicated that I was gaining.

Many leagues farther to the south and the west, the trail arced downward toward a riverside town. It ended at a house which was vibrating and from which a series of crashing noises could be heard. I passed into the place and noted that blood was smeared everywhere--the walls, the floors, even the ceiling. My friend had hold of a male human whose limbs were broken and whose brains had been dashed out against the fireplace.

"Greetings! You're back so soon! Was there some problem with my directions?"

"No, but some force I do not understand prevented me from departing this continent."

"Strange."

The human flew across the room to crash against the far wall.

"Do you know what I think it is?"

"No. What?" I said.

"I believe you are under a spell that you do not even know about--bound in a particular way to some very special duty."

"I have no idea what it could be."

"Give me a hand with the entrails, will you? They should be strung about."

"Sure."

"Well, I think that you ought to find out what the thing is and discharge it. Maybe the accursed master who laid it on you is dead now or demented. In either case, you're very lucky. Once you've done whatever there is to be done, you'll be free."

"How do I find out what it is?"

"I guess that I am going to have to instruct you further in these matters. Since I am prepared to count you as a friend, I am going to tell you something in strictest confidence--my name. It is Galleran."

"That's a nice name," I said.

"It is more than just a word. It summarizes me when it is fully understood."

We finished the stringing and Galleran dismembered the body, passing me a leg and an arm.

"Do something artistic with these."

I hung one over a rafter and placed the other in a large kettle.

"Because I know my name I know all that there is to know about me," Galleran said. "You will, too, as you begin to understand it. Now, what you must do is discover your own name. When you learn that, it will also bring you knowledge of the task with which you have been charged."

"Really?"

"Certainly. It must follow."

Galleran placed the head upon the mantlepiece.

"How am I to find it out?" I asked.

"You must search your earliest memories--many times, perhaps. It is there, somewhere. When you find it you will know it. When you know it, you will know yourself. Then you can act."

"I will--try," I said.

Galleran proceeded to strew embers from the fireplace about the room.

"Help me to fen these to flame now, will you? It is always best to leave the place burning after your work is done."

"Surely."

As we strove to set the room to fire, I asked, "Why is it that your accursed master wanted this man destroyed?"

"One of them owed the other money, I believe, and did not wish to pay it. I forget which."

"Oh."

We waited about until we saw that we had a good blaze going. Then we rose into the night with the smoke and headed back toward Belken.

"Thank you for all that you have taught me this day," I said as we parted later, "Galleran."

"I am glad to be of help. I must admit that you have roused my curiosity--mightily. Let me know when you have learned your story, will you?"

"Yes," I said. "I will do that."

Galleran returned to the accursed master's quarters to report the completion of the assigned task. I rose into the air, heading toward a place high upon the western face of Belken. Earlier, on our ice-gathering expedition, I had noticed an opening there heading into the heart of the mountain, strange lights and vibrations all about it. I had grown very curious as to where it led and was determined to explore there. One never knows where one's name might lie.