'But wait. We do not need the clock. Whatever the hour, however near to noon, it is the General himself we need, for only he can hold the army back.' The others paused beside him and turned, only to swing back again at once, called away from the prospect of the distant war by the immediate imperative of a scream. It was the scream of a woman and it came from within the tent itself. The gaudy portal stood a little way ahead and Tom reached it first, even as the terrible sound was repeated. There was a guard on duty, but he had swung round at the sound and was too busy looking inwards to see the three men coming up behind him - let alone to stop them. They simply charged him down and tore into the silken confines within. The atrium of the tent was split into several chambers, floored with carpets, walled with cloth of gold and well stocked with servants who, like the guard, stood gaping. A third scream guided Tom like Theseus through the scented maze and he first tore into the inner sanctum and skidded to a halt.
