int name. But where is it?"

Krag grinned, showing his yellow teeth in the light of the street lamp.

"It is the residential suburb of Arcturus."

"What is he talking about, Nightspore?... Do you mean the star of that
name?" he went on, to Krag.

"Which you have in front of you at this very minute," said Krag, pointing
a thick finger toward the brightest star in the south-eastern sky.
"There you see Arcturus, and Tormance is its one inhabited planet."

Maskull looked at the heavy, gleaning star, and again at Krag. Then he
pulled out a pipe, and began to fill it.

"You must have cultivated a new form of humour, Krag."

"I am glad if I can amuse you, Maskull, if only for a few days."

"I meant to ask you--how do you know my name?"

"It would be odd if I didn't, seeing that I only came here on your
account. As a matter of fact, Nightspore and I are old friends."

Maskull paused with his suspended match. "You came here on my account?"

"Surely. On your account and Nightspore's. We three are to be fellow
travellers."

Maskull now lit his pipe and puffed away coolly for a few moments.

"I'm sorry, Krag, but I must assume you are mad."

Krag threw his head back, and gave a scraping laugh. "Am I mad,
Nightspore?"

"Has Surtur gone to Tormance?" ejaculated Nightspore in a strangled
voice, fixing his eyes on Krag's face.

"Yes, and he requires that we follow him at once."

Maskull's heart began to beat strangely. It all sounded to him like a
dream conversation.

"And since how long, Krag, have I been required to do things by a total
stranger.... Besides, who is this individual?"

"Krag's chief," said Nightspore, turning his head away.

"The riddle is too elaborate for me. I give up."

"You are looking for mysteries," said Krag, "so naturally you are
finding them. Try and simplify your ideas, my friend. The affair is
plain and serious."

Maskull stared hard at him and smoked rapidly.

"Where have you come from now?" demanded Nightspore suddenly.

"From the old observatory at Starkness.... Have you heard of the famous
Starkness Observatory, Maskull?"

"No. Where is it?"

"On the north-east coast of Scotland. Curious discoveries are made there
from time to time."

"As, for example, how to make voyages to the stars. So this Surtur turns
out to be an astronomer. And you too, presumably?"

Krag grinned again. "How long will it take you to wind up your affairs?
When can you be ready to start?"

"You