I shot a glance behind.

They were in motion, advancing slowly, hesitatingly as yet--but I knew that soon that hesitation would pass; that they would sweep down upon us, engulf us.
"To the crevice," I shouted to Drake.

He paid no heed to me, nor did Ruth--their gaze fastened upon the swathed woman.
Ventnor's hand shot out, gripped my shoulder, halted me.

She had thrown up her head.

The cloudy METALLIC hair billowed as though wind had blown it.
From the lifted throat came a low, a vibrant cry; harmonious, weirdly disquieting, golden and sweet--and laden with the eery, minor wailings of the blue valley's night, the dragoned chamber.
Before the cry had ceased there poured with incredible swiftness out of the crevice score upon score of the metal things.