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Glew's voice had risen to a frenzy and he had begun shouting and wailing so loudly and rapidly Taran
could barely make out the words; but as he listened, Taran felt the blood drain from his heart, a chill held
and shook him as Glew babbled on.
"Glew," he cried, despair welling up in him, "what do you mean to do with us?"
"Please, please try to understand," returned Glew's voice. "It's my only chance. I'm sure it will work. I've
thought it over carefully ever, since I've been in this awful hole. I know I can brew the right potion; I have
all I need. Except one thing. One tiny little ingredient. It won't hurt you a bit; you won't feel a thing, I
swear it to you."
Taran gasped in horror. "You mean to kill one of us!"
There was a long silence. Finally Glew's voice reached the companions again; it sounded as though
Glew's feelings had been hurt. "You make it sound so--- so raw!"
"Great Belin," shouted Fflewddur, "let me get my hands on your scrawny neck and I'll makeyou sound
raw!"
There was another silence. "Please," said Glew faintly, "try to look at it from my side."
"Gladly," said Fflewddur. "Just push away that rock."
"Don't think it's easy for me," Glew went on. "I'm fond of all of you, Especially the little fuzzy one; and I
feel dreadful about the whole thing. But there's no chance anyone else will stop down here. You do
understand that, don't you? You aren't angry? I'd never forgive myself if you were.
"Even now," he added plaintively, "I don't know how I'll ever bring myself to pick out one of you. No,
no, I can't. I haven't the heart. Don't ask me to put myself through that torment. No, you shall decide
among you. That will be best all around.
"Believe me," Glew continued, "it will be worse for me than for you. But I'll shut my eyes, so I won't see
which one of you it is. Then, after it's over, we'll try to forget about it. We'll be the best of good
friends--- those of you remaining, that is. I'll lead you out of here, I promise. We'll find Llyan--- oh, it will
be good to see her again--- and all will be well.
"Don't go away," said Glew. "I'll get a few things ready. I won't keep you waiting."
"Glew, listen to me!" called Taran. "This is an evil deed you plan. Set us free!"
No answer came. The rock did not move.
"Dig, friends!" cried Fflewddur, drawing his sword. "Dig for your lives!"
Taran and Gurgi unsheathed their blades and, side by side attacked the ground beneath the ponderous
stone. With all their strength they thrust into the rocky, unyielding earth. Their swordpoints rang on the
pebbles, but try as they would they could barely scrape away more than a shallow hole. Prince Khun
sought to force his sword under the rock but succeeded only in snapping the point off the blade.
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Taran picked up the bauble. Bending to hands and knees, he scanned every portion of this prison,
hoping to find some crack or tiny opening the companions could enlarge. The walls rose sheer and
un-broken.
"He has trapped us well," said Taran, sinking to the ground. "There is but one way out. The way Glew
offers us."
"As I consider it," said Rhun, "he asked for only one of us. That would leave three to keep search-ing for
the Princess."
Taran was thoughtful for a moment. "For the first time," he said bitterly, "I believed I had guessed where
Magg meant to bring Eilonwy. To Caer Colur. It is the strongest clue we have gained. Now it is use-less
to us."
"Useless?" said Rhun. "Not at all. We need only do as Glew suggests, and the others can be on their
way."
"Do you expect that feeble worm to keep his word?" Fflewddur asked angrily. "I would trust him every
bit as much as I would trust Magg."
"Nevertheless," said Rhun, "we can't be sure until we try."
The companions fell silent at the Prince of Mona's words. Gurgi, who had crouched on the earth and
wrapped his woolly arms around his knees, stared wretchedly at Taran. "Gurgi will go," the creature
whispered faintly, though he trembled so much he could hardly speak. "Yes, yes, he will give his poor
tender head for broilings and boilings."
"Valiant Gurgi," murmured Taran. "Indeed I know you would give up your poor tender head." He patted
the frightened Gurgi. "But there is no question of that. We must stand together. If Glew wants a life, he
shall pay dearly for it."
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