Lenora turned in a circle, holding the lantern high. She didn’t see anyone coming. But now she could see that the hallway ended in an old stone wall, and that wall had four newer-looking metal doors in it. The doors began to slide open.

A robot emerged through each. These robots looked like spindly metal broomsticks on wheels, with two arms jutting out. At the ends of the arms were not hands but sharp swords. Worst of all were the bowler hats atop each robot’s head.

The robots advanced as Lenora greatly wished for a sword of her own.

The girl did not hesitate but flew to the attack. Lenora’s breath caught at the girl’s incredible speed as she dashed forward with balletic grace. With a high, sharp shout and a strike so swift that Lenora hardly saw it, her sword slashed and a robot was cut in two, its arms and bowler hat tumbling across the dusty floor.

The three remaining robots bore down on the girl, their six swords flashing as they struck at her again and again. Somehow she was managing to block them, backing up as the robots advanced. “Hurry!” she cried to Lenora, pointing at the arch into the labyrinth of King Minos of [C]rete.

Lenora fled through the arch, then stopped. Should she leave the girl alone? But what could Lenora do against robots with swords? She turned around anyway.

The armored girl had her back against a wall now as she fought. She seemed to know what Lenora was thinking, because she called out, “You must leave me, Lenora. Never fear, your friends are here to help you.” Then the girl gestured, and a solid metal gate crashed down across the archway, cutting Lenora off from the battle.

From the other side of the gate, Lenora could hear the crash and whir of a terrific fight. Lenora wondered how the girl could possibly combat the robots now, for without the lantern, she must be in complete darkness. But there was nothing to be done.

Lenora turned. Lantern light filled a long stone hallway. Corridors branched off in all directions. Take every right-hand turn, she thought. Placing her right hand on the wall, she ran forward, taking every right turn, never lifting her hand from the wall. Soon she came to a door above which was written the word CENTER. And there beyond it, her lantern light glinted off—

“Bendigeidfran!” Lenora cried joyfully, racing forward. “We have to go back and help that girl!”