"Surely it is," he said with a smile, though from happiness or humor I
could not tell. He went on soberly, saying: "The prophecy is concerning
the kinsman redeemer, one of the ancients sent by Onan, the Lord of the
Past, to redeem us from the destruction of this polluted world."

"What do you mean by 'one of the ancients'?" I interjected
questioningly.

"Exactly what I said," Wagner replied with a light hearted smile, "Let
me explain."

But before he could, we were interrupted by a violent scratching and
pounding at the door, along with some grunting voices which I could not
understand. The Canitaur's ears, which were quite large, though more
erect and postured than floppy, quickly rose to attention, and they had
spent not a moment listening when they uniformly chorused, "Zards," in a
hoarse whisper. My earlier fear, then mysterious but now understood,
returned in full force, and my face writhed in horror as I ejaculated
remorsely, "Then we are lost."

Wagner turned gravely towards me and said, "Perhaps, but there is still
hope. Come, follow me," and rising from his chair he led the way to the
furthest corner of the room. A primitive tapestry was hanging there, and
Wagner lifted it up while Bernibus and Taurus hit two hidden switches,
one being on either extremity of the room, to avoid discovery. That
unlocked the wall behind the tapestry. It opened along lines previously
concealed by the wood's grain and revealed a small cubbyhole built into
the wall, probably meant for its present use, concealment. Wagner led us
into it and no sooner was the door, or wall, latched again than the
Zards, having broken down the outside door by brute strength, flooded