They had arrived at the foot of the long mound. There were three large irregular stones there, forming a low cave. Nanny Ogg ducked under the lintel into the fusty and somewhat ammonia-scented darkness.
“About here'd do,” she said. “Got a match?”
The sulphurous glow revealed a flat rock with a crude drawing scratched on it. Ochre had been rubbed into the lines. They showed a figure of an owl-eyed man wearing an animal skin and horns.
In the flickering light he seemed to dance.
There was a runic inscription underneath.
“Anyone ever worked out what that says?” said Casanunda.
Nanny Ogg nodded.
“It's a variant of Oggham,” she said. “Basically, it means 'I've Got a Great Big Tonker.'”
“Oggham?” said the dwarf.
“My family has been in these, how shall I put it, in these parts for a very long time,” said Nanny.
“Knowing you is a real education, Mrs. Ogg,” said Casanunda.
“Everyone says that. Just shove the crowbar down the side of the stone, will you? I've always wanted an excuse to go down there.”
“What is down there?”
“Well, it leads into Lancre Caves. They run everywhere, I've heard. Even up to Copperhead. There's supposed to be an entrance in the castle, but I've never found it. But mainly they lead to the world of the elves.”
“I thought the Dancers led to the world of the elves?”
“This is the other world of the elves.”
“I thought they only had one.”
“They don't talk about this one.”
“And you want to go into it?”
“Yes.”
“You want to find elves?”
“That's right. Now, are you going to stand here all night, or are you going to crowbar that stone?” She gave him a nudge. “There's gold down there, you know.”
“Oh, yes, thanks very much,” said Casanunda sarcastically. “That's speciesist, that is. Just because I am . . . vertically disadvantaged, you're trying to get round me with gold, yes? Dwarfs are just a lot of appetites on legs, that's what you think. Hah!”
Nanny sighed.
“Oh, all right,” she said. “Tell you what. . . when we get back home, I'll bake you some proper dwarf bread, how about that?”
Casanunda's face split into a disbelieving grin.
“Real dwarf bread?”
“Yes. I reckon I've still got the recipe, and anyway it's been weeks since I emptied out the cat box.”[40]
“Well, all right-.”
Casanunda rammed one end of the crowbar under the stone and pulled on it with dwarfish strength. After a moment's resistance the stone swung up.