Corpang wrinkled his forehead.  “A magnanimous female lover is new in my experience.”

Maskull put him aside with his hand, and said to Sullenbode, “Are you contemplating a sacrifice?”

She gazed at her feet, and smiled.  “What does it matter what my thoughts are?  Tell me, are you starting at once, or do you mean to rest first?  It’s a rough road to Adage.”

“What’s in your mind?” demanded Maskull.

“I will guide you a little.  When we reach the ridge between Sarclash and Adage, perhaps I shall turn back.”

“And then?”

“Then if the moon shines perhaps you will arrive before daybreak, but if it is dark it’s hardly likely.”

“That’s not what I meant.  What will become of you after we have parted company?”

“I shall return somewhere—­perhaps here.”

Maskull went close up to her, in order to study her face better.  “Shall you sink back into—­the old state?”

“No, Maskull, thank heaven.”

“Then how will you live?”

Sullenbode calmly removed the hand which he had placed on her arm.  There was a sort of swirling flame in her eyes.  “And who said I would go on living?”

Maskull blinked at her in bewilderment.  A few moments passed before he spoke again.  “You women are a sacrificing lot.  You know I can’t leave you like this.”

Their eyes met.  Neither withdrew them, and neither felt embarrassed.

“You will always be the most generous of men, Maskull.  Now let us go....  Corpang is a single-minded personage, and the least we others—­who aren’t so single-minded—­can do is to help him to his destination.  We mustn’t inquire whether the destination of single-minded men is as a rule worth arriving at.”

“If it is good for Maskull, it will be good for me.”

“Well, no vessel can hold more than its appointed measure.”

Corpang gave a wry smile.  “During your long sleep you appear to have picked up wisdom.”

“Yes, Corpang, I have met many men, and explored many minds.”

As they moved off, Maskull remembered Haunte.

“Can we not bury that poor fellow?”

“By this time tomorrow we shall need burial ourselves.  But I do not include Corpang.”

“We have no tools, so you must have your way.  You killed him, but I am the real murderer.  I stole his protecting light.”

“Surely that death is balanced by the life you have given me.”  They left the spot in the direction opposite to that by which the three men had arrived.  After a few steps, they came to green snow again.  At the same time the flat ground ended, and they started to traverse a steep, pathless mountain slope.  The snow and rocks glimmered, their own bodies shone; otherwise everything was dark.  The mists swirled around them, but Maskull had no more nightmares.  The breeze was cold, pure, and steady.  They walked in file, Sullenbode leading; her movements were slow and fascinating.  Corpang came last.  His stern eyes saw nothing ahead but an alluring girl and a half-infatuated man.