"Where?"
"At our destination.... Come! The sun's rising."As they started clambering down the pass side by side, Branchspell, huge and white, leaped fiercely into the sky. All the delicacy of the dawn vanished, and another vulgar day began. They passed some trees and plants, the leaves of which were all curled up, as if in sleep.
Maskull pointed them out to his companion.
"How is it the sunshine doesn't open them?""Branchspell is a second night to them. Their day is Alppain.""How long will it be before that sun rises?""Some time yet."
"Shall I live to see it, do you think"'
"Do you want to?"
"At one time I did, but now I'm indifferent.""Keep in that humour, and you'll do well. Once for all, there's nothing worth seeing on Tormance."After a few minutes Maskull said, "Why did we come here, then?""To follow Surtur."
"True. But where is he?"
"Closer at hand than you think, perhaps.""Do you know that he is regarded as a god here, Krag? ... There is supernatural fire, too, which I have been led to believe is somehow connected with him.... ? Why do you keep up the mystery? Who and what is Surtur?""Don't disturb yourself about that. You will never know.""Do you know?"
"I know," snarled Krag.
"The devil here is called Krag," went on Maskull, peering into his face.
"As long as pleasure is worshiped, Krag will always be the devil.""Here we are, talking face to face, two men together.... What am I to believe of you?""Believe your senses. The real devil is Crystalman."They continued descending the landslip. The sun's rays had grown insufferably hot. In front of them, down below in the far distance, Maskull saw water and land intermingled. It appeared that they were travelling toward a lake district.