United States or Western Sahara ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Luckily you are not looking at Alppain itself. It's invisible here. You would need to go at least as far as Ifdawn, to set eyes on it." "Why do you say 'luckily'?" "Because the agony caused by those opposing forces would perhaps be more than you could bear.... But I don't know." For the short distance that remained of their walk, Maskull was very thoughtful and uneasy. He understood nothing.
Maskull suddenly noticed a strange blue light glowing in the northern sky. It was from Alppain, but Alppain itself was behind the hills. While he was observing it, a peculiar wave of self-denial, of a disquieting nature, passed through him. He looked at Oceaxe, and it struck him for the first time that he was being unnecessarily brutal to her.
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?"
About twenty miles distant, as he judged, directly opposite him, a long, low island stood up from the sea, black and not distinguished in outline. It was Swaylone's Island. Maskull was less interested in that than in the blue sunset that glowed behind its back. Alppain had set, but the whole northern sky was plunged into the minor key by its afterlight.
"There are two sets of three primary colours here," said Corpang, "but as one of the colours blue is identical in both sets, altogether there are five primary colours." "Why two sets?" "Produced by the two suns. Branchspell produces blue, yellow, and red; Alppain, ulfire, blue, and jale." "It's remarkable that explanation has never occurred to me before."
To pass from island to island was hard work, the intervening spaces were so wide Tydomin, however, knew the way. The intense light, the violet-blue sky, the patches of vivid landscape, emerging from the white vapour-ocean, made a profound impression on Maskull's mind. The glow of Alppain was hidden by the huge mass of Disscourn, which loomed up straight in front of them.
Since the afterglow of Alppain affected him like this, he thought it more than likely that he would never be able to face that sun itself, and go on living. Still, some modification might happen to him that would make it possible. The sea tempted him. He made up his mind to bathe, and at once walked toward the shore.
"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."
He opened his eyes. The floating island was still faintly illuminated by Alppain. Krag was standing by his side, but Gangnet was no longer there. "What is this Ocean called?" asked Maskull, bringing out the words with difficulty. "Surtur's Ocean." Maskull nodded, and kept quiet for some time. He rested his face on his arm. "Where's Nightspore?" he asked suddenly.
The glorious sunshine, and the sparkling, brilliant sea then met his eyes again; and all melancholy was swept out of his mind. He continued as far as the seashore, and issuing out of the shadows of the forest, strolled on to the sands, and sat down in the full sunlight. The radiance of Alppain had long since disappeared.