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. "I couldn't disobey Zargheba. Oh, what shall I do? I shall be cursed by these heathen gods!"
"What do you think the priests will do to you if they find out you're an imposter?" he demanded.
At the thought her legs refused to support her, and she collapsed in a shuddering heap, clasping Conan's knees and mingling incoherent pleas for mercy and protection with piteous protestations of her innocence of any malign intention. It was a vivid change from her pose as the ancient princess, but not surprising. The fear that had nerved her then was now her undoing.
"Where is Zargheba?" he demanded. "Stop yammering, damn it, and answer me."
"Outside the palace," she whimpered, "watching for the priests."
"How many men with him?"
"None. We came alone."
"Ha!" It was much like the satisfied grunt of a hunting lion. "You must have left Keshia a few hours after I did. Did you climb the cliffs?"
She shook her head, too choked with tears to speak coherently. With an impatient imprecation he seized her slim shoulders and shook her until she gasped for breath.
"Will you quit that blubbering and answer me? How did you get into the valley?"
"Zargheba knew the secret way," she gasped. "The priest Gwarunga told him, and Thutmekri. On the south side of the valley there is a broad pool lying at the foot of the cliffs. There is a cave-mouth under the surface of the water that is not visible to the casual glance
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