time Maskull got up of his own accord, and irreverently, and almost angrily, threw Crimtyphon's corpse over his shoulder again.
"How far do we have to go?" he asked in a surly tone.
"An hour's walk."
"Lead on."
"Still, this isn't the sacrifice I mean," said Tydomin quietly, as she went on in front.
Almost immediately they reached more difficult ground. They had to pass from peak to peak, as from island to island. In some cases they were able to stride or jump across, but in others they had to make use of rude bridges of fallen timber. It appeared to be a frequented path. Underneath were the black, impenetrable abysses - on the surface were the glaring sunshine, the gay, painted rocks, the chaotic tangle of strange plants. There were countless reptiles and insects. The latter were thicker built than those of Earth -consequently still more disgusting, and some of them were of enormous size. One monstrous insect, as large as a horse, stood right in the centre of their path without budging. It was armour-plated, had jaws like scimitars, and underneath its body was a forest of legs.
Tydomin gave one malignant look at it, and sent it crashing into the gulf.
'What have I to offer, except my life?" Maskull suddenly broke out.
"And what good is that? It won't bring that poor girl back into the world.""Sacrifice is not for utility. It's a penalty which we pay.""I know that."
"The point is whether you can go on enjoying life, after what has happened."She waited for Maskull to come even with her.
"Perhaps you imagine I'm not man enough - you imagine that because Iallowed poor Oceaxe to die for me - "
"She did die for you," said Tydomin, in a quiet, emphatic voice.
"That would be a second blunder of yours," returned Maskull, just as firmly. "I was not in love with Oceaxe, and I'm not in love with life.""Your life is not required."