"Do we strip?" asked Nightspore.
"Naturally," answered Krag, and he began to tear off his clothes with slow, uncouth movements.
"Why?" demanded Maskull, following, however, the example of the other two men.
Krag thumped his vast chest, which was covered with thick hairs, like an ape's. "Who knows what the Tormance fashions are like? We may sprout limbs - I don't say we shall.""A - ha!" exclaimed Maskull, pausing in the middle of his undressing.
Krag smote him on the back. "New pleasure organs possible, Maskull.
You like that?"
The three men stood as nature made them. Maskull's spirits rose fast, as the moment of departure drew near.
"A farewell drink to success!" cried Krag, seizing a bottle and breaking its head off between his fingers. There were no glasses, but he poured the amber - coloured wine into some cracked cups.
Perceiving that the others drank, Maskull tossed off his cupful. It was as if he had swallowed a draught of liquid electricity.... Krag dropped onto the floor and rolled around on his back, kicking his legs in the air. He tried to drag Maskull down on top of him, and a little horseplay went on between the two. Nightspore took no part in it, but walked to and fro, like a hungry caged animal.