Beyond the Valley of Mist

A Stone Age people lived in caves beside a river that flows into a mysterious *Valley of Mist*. They worshipped fire. Priests ruled, and they sacrificed anyone who defied them to the Fire God.

When girls reach womanhood, they are required to go to the temple and submit to the priests nightly until they conceive. The priests tell them that they are being impregnated by God and, if they fail to conceive, they will be thrown into the pit of Fire.

Lela and Ador have just reached womanhood. Lela loves Zen and Ador loves Jok. They do not want to submit to the priests. Zen and Jok do not want to share the women they love. They all have been charged with defying the priests and they fear for their lives.

They try to escape by floating on a raft into the dreaded Valley of Mist. Soldiers pursue them until they float into the valley. No one has ever entered that valley and returned to tell what lies in its fog-shrouded depths.

As the raft floats into the valley, fog closes around them. They have entered a primeval jungle. They see giant reptiles, lions, and saber-toothed tigers. Foul-smelling steam rises from stagnant pools. Shudders of fear run through them.

The river has carried them into this terrible place. Perhaps, if they can survive long enough, it will carry them out, but what horrors lie beyond?