Wagner returned from the guards and, finding that we were ready to
proceed, led us to the far corner of the platform, where we were joined
by Taurus. We then set off on a road that ran above the lower levels of
the canopy, made from jointed platforms that were attached to the
massive limbs of the trees, meeting the branches of the next tree half
way across, forming a continuous, snaking path far above the ground.
Traveling on those paths we made our way criss-crossingly to the west.
The walking was no more difficult than on the ground, for the boards
were firmly secured to the great branches, which were at least five or
six feet wide, and there were short rails as well.

After no more than half an hour of travel on the 'Treeway', we reached
another large platform in the center of a great tree which was very much
like the first one, excepting that the trunk of the tree came up through
its center and there was a door leading into the trunk. There were eight
guards on this platform, but they let us pass without more than a
friendly gesture, their scouts having, no doubt, seen us long before and
ascertained our identity and intentions. They seemed to have been
expecting the return of Wagner's group, though the addition of me they
appeared to eye curiously.

Wagner led us directly to the door, which opened into a set of circular
stairs that wound down the inside of the tree like the insides of an old
world lighthouse tower. The stairs descended further than the tree
ascended, wrapping around almost infinitely, at least to my wearied
senses, which were depleted of vividness by the treacherous toils of the
proceeding day. Down, down, down went the stairs, until at length we
reached the bottom and found ourselves in a cave, the stairs ending in a
small foyer area which opened out into the cave, it being delved into
the bedrock layer, indicating that we had indeed passed below the