But he saw with surprise that in place of a breve on her forehead, she possessed another eye. All three were closed. The colour of her skin in the crimson glow he could not distinguish.
He touched her gently with his hand. She awoke calmly and looked up at him without stirring a muscle. All three eyes stared at him; but the two lower ones were dull and vacant - mere carriers of vision.
The middle, upper one alone expressed her inner nature. Its haughty, unflinching glare had yet something seductive and alluring in it.
Maskull felt a challenge in that look of lordly, feminine will, and his manner instinctively stiffened.
She sat up.
"Can you speak my language?" he asked. "I wouldn't put such a question, but others have been able to.""Why should you imagine that I can't read your mind? Is it so extremely complex?"She spoke in a rich, lingering, musical voice, which delighted him to listen to.
"No, but you have no breve."
"Well, but haven't I a sorb, which is better?" And she pointed to the eye on her brow.
"What is your name?"
"Oceaxe."
"And where do you come from?"
"Ifdawn."
These contemptuous replies began to irritate him, and yet the mere sound of her voice was fascinating.
"I am going there tomorrow," he remarked.
She laughed, as if against her will, but made no comment.
"My name is Maskull," he went on. "I am a stranger - from another world.""So I should judge, from your absurd appearance.""Perhaps it would be as well to say at once," said Maskull bluntly, "are we, or are we not, to be friends?"She yawned and stretched her arms, without rising. "Why should we be friends? If I thought you were a man, I might accept you as a lover.""You must look elsewhere for that."
"So be it, Maskull! Now go away, and leave me in peace."She dropped her head again to the ground, but did not at on close her eyes.