gotiate.

At the base they entered another wood. Here it was much denser, and they
had nothing but trees all around them. A clear brook rippled through the
heart of it; they followed its bank.

"It has occurred to me," said Maskull, addressing Gangnet, "that Alppain
may be my death. Is that so?"

"These trees don't fear Alppain, so why should you? Alppain is a
wonderful, life-bringing sun."

"The reason I ask is--I've seen its afterglow, and it produced such
violent sensations that a very little more would have proved too much."

"Because the forces were evenly balanced. When you see Alppain itself,
it will reign supreme, and there will be no more struggling of wills
inside you."

"And that, I may tell you beforehand, Maskull," said Krag, grinning, "is
Crystalman's trump card."

"How do you mean?"

"You'll see. You'll renounce the world so eagerly that you'll want to
stay in the world merely to enjoy your sensations."

Gangnet smiled. "Krag, you see, is hard to please. You must neither
enjoy, nor renounce. What are you to do?"

Maskull turned toward Krag. "It's very odd, but I don't understand your
creed even yet. Are you recommending suicide?"

Krag seemed to grow sallower and more repulsive every minute. "What,
because they have left off stroking you?" he exclaimed, laughing and
showing his discoloured teeth.

"Whoever you are, and whatever you want," said Maskull, "you seem very
certain of yourself."

"Yes, you would like me to blush and stammer like a booby, wouldn't you!
That would be an excellent way of destroying lies."

Gangnet glanced toward the foot of one of the trees. He stooped and
picked up two or three objects that resembled eggs.

"To eat?" asked Maskull, accepting the offered gift.

"Yes, eat them; you must be hungry. I want none myself, and one mustn't
insult Krag by offering him a pleasure--especially such a low pleasure."

Maskull knocked the ends off two of the eggs, and swallowed the liquid
contents. They tasted rather alcoholic. Krag snatched the remaining, egg
out of his hand and flung it against a tree trunk, where it broke and
stuck, a splash of slime.

"I don't wait to be asked, Gangnet.... Say, is there a filthier sight
than a smashed pleasure?"

Gangnet did not reply, but took Maskull's arm.

After they had alternately walked through forests and descended cliffs
and slopes for upward of two hours, the landscape altered. A steep
mountainside commenced and continued f