### 260

Much of the porous rock that surrounds the slab has been eroded by wind and sand. Holes have appeared through which you can see into the cairn. It is hollow. Curiosity and the need for better shelter prompt you to try to dislodge the slab and, after much effort, you pull it free, leaving an opening the size of a trapdoor in the side of the mound.

Inside the gloomy interior you discover a large, metallic statue lying horizontally on a bed of clear, crystalline sand. You try to perceive some detail but the shape is shrouded in near darkness.

If you possess a Kalte Firesphere, a Lantern, or a Torch and Tinderbox, and wish to illuminate this dark interior, turn to 177.

If you do not possess any of the above items, or if you do not wish to make use of them, turn to 334.