There was little else in the wallet except cash, so I placed the remaining cards on the stone, took a photo of both them and our stranger, and shot both off to Stane with a quick note to see what he could uncover.
"Well," said Jak, "he's only got a couple of numbers in his address book, and his last call came from a blocked number. I don't suppose we can take the risk and call it back?"
"And let whoever is behind this know we have his Razan? Not a good idea."
Jak flicked through other screens. "They're going to know something went on, anyway. I mean, you knocked him out."
"True." I hesitated, awareness suddenly prickling across my senses.
And suddenly remembered the Razan's last words. Yes, I've released them.
I spun around. The stones' circle was complete again, and its fading glow did little to light the immediate darkness. The pillars had fallen completely silent. There was no escape that way—not unless we could get the gate open again.
A low growl reverberated around the darkness, raising the hackles along the back of my neck.
"What the hell was that?" Jak's voice was filled with trepidation as he studied the tunnel behind us.
"That"—I grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the northern end of the stones—"is a hellhound. We need to get out of here—fast!"
We reached the northern entrance and stopped. The runes didn't react to our presence. They just continued to glow that same sickly color.
"Now what?" Jak's voice was grim and there was fear in his eyes.
"I don't know."
I remembered the gesture the Razan had made when he'd reentered the cavern, and repeated it as best I could. Nothing happened. The runes continued to glow ominously.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!