### 197

The great barrel of the steam-cannon is pointing towards the ground. You hear the rumble of the gun’s pressure boilers building to a thunderous crescendo, and then the Bhanarian artillerymen fire their piece and send its explosive projectile deep into the earth. Repeatedly they reload and fire directly into the ground until a large crater is formed by their exploding shells. With the firing of the tenth shell you see a large mass of timber and shattered rock ejected from the crater, and your throat tightens with dread when you suddenly fathom the reason why they are firing their siege gun into the ground.

To continue, turn to 86.