"What is that for?" She did not answer. After waiting a minute, she repeated the call. Maskull now saw a large bird detach itself from the top of one of the precipices, and sail slowly down toward them.
It was followed by two others. The flight of these birds was exceedingly slow and clumsy.
"What are they?" he asked.
She still returned no answer, but smiled rather peculiarly and sat down beside him. Before many minutes he was able to distinguish the shapes and colors of the flying monsters. They were not birds, but creatures with long, snakelike bodies, and ten reptilian legs apiece, terminating in fins which acted as wings. The bodies were of bright blue, the legs and fins were yellow. They were flying, without haste, but in a somewhat ominous fashion, straight toward them. He could make out a long, thin spike projecting from each of the heads.
"They are shrowks," explained Oceaxe at last. "If you want to know their intention, I'll tell you. To make a meal of us. First of all their spikes will pierce us, and then their mouths, which are really suckers, will drain us dry of blood - pretty thoroughly too; there are no half measures with shrowks. They are toothless beasts, so don't eat flesh.""As you show such admirable sangfroid," said Maskull dryly, "I take it there's no particular danger."Nevertheless he instinctively tried to get on to his feet and failed.
A new form of paralysis was chaining him to the ground.
"Are you trying to get up?" asked Oceaxe smoothly.
"Well, yes, but those cursed reptiles seem to be nailing me down to the rock with their wills. May I ask if you had any special object in view in waking them up?""I assure you the danger is quite real, Maskull. Instead of talking and asking questions, you had much better see what you can do with your will.""I seem to have no will, unfortunately."