wind directed their course straight toward
Poolingdred. From the position of the sun, Maskull judged their way to
lie due north. The sand was soft and powdery, very tiring to his naked
feet. The red glare dazed his eyes, and made him semi-blind. He was hot,
parched, and tormented with the craving to drink; his undertone of pain
emerged into full consciousness.

"I see my friends nowhere, and it is very queer."

"Yes, it is queer--if it is accidental," said Joiwind, with a peculiar
intonation.

"Exactly!" agreed Maskull. "If they had met with a mishap, their bodies
would still be there. It begins to look like a piece of bad work to me.
They must have gone on, and left me.... Well, I am here, and I must make
the best of it, I will trouble no more about them."

"I don't wish to speak ill of anyone," said Joiwind, "but my instinct
tells me that you are better away from those men. They did not come here
for your sake, but for their own."

They walked on for a long time. Maskull was beginning to feel faint.
She twined her magn lovingly around his waist, and a strong current of
confidence and well-being instantly coursed through his veins.

"Thanks, Joiwind! But am I not weakening you?"

"Yes," she replied, with a quick, thrilling glance. "But not much--and
it gives me great happiness."

Presently they met a fantastic little creature, the size of a new-born
lamb, waltzing along on three legs. Each leg in turn moved to the front,
and so the little monstrosity proceeded by means of a series of complete
rotations. It was vividly coloured, as though it had been dipped into
pots of bright blue and yellow paint. It looked up with small, shining
eyes, as they passed.

Joiwind nodded and smiled to it. "That's a personal friend of mine,
Maskull. Whenever I come this way, I see it. It's always waltzing, and
always in a hurry, but it never seems to get anywhere."

"It seems to me that life is so self-sufficient here that there is no
need for anyone to get anywhere. What I don't quite understand is how
you manage to pass your days without ennui."

"That's a strange word. It means, does it not, craving for excitement?"

"Something of the kind," said Maskull.

"That must be a disease brought on by rich food."

"But are you never dull?"

"How could we be? Our blood is quick and light and free, our flesh is
clean and unclogged, inside and out.... Before long I hope you will
understand what sort of question you have asked."