### 96

You command the angry serpent to ignore you and your companion and swim off along the waterway. The creature withdraws its head and slowly it blinks its green eyes. It hesitates, and you sense that its rudimentary mind is confused by your command. Although it does not obey your mental suggestion, you detect that it has momentarily lost its desire to attack.

‘Quick, Hulsta, follow me,’ you whisper. ‘Let us get away before it recovers its senses!’ You press your back against the rough wall of this underground conduit and edge your way around the menacing creature.

Turn to 329.