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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.
He realised that he was on a foreign planet. But he was not stirred or uplifted by the knowledge; he was conscious only of moral ideas. Looking backward, he saw the plain, which for several miles past had been without vegetation, stretching back away to Disscourn.
Maskull asked no questions about it; but in turning to address her, his eyes had rested on the rapidly receding Wombflash Forest, and he continued to stare at that. They had travelled about eight miles, and now he could better estimate the enormous height of the trees. Overtopping them, far away, he saw Sant; and he fancied, but was not quite sure, that he could distinguish Disscourn as well.
In front of them the scenery sloped downward a long succession of mountain islands in a sea of clouds. Behind them the bright, stupendous crags of Disscourn loomed up for a thousand feet or more. Maskull's eyes were red, and his face looked stupid; he was still holding the woman by the arm. She made no attempt to speak, or to get away. She seemed perfectly gentle and composed.
"Let us start," said Maskull. "The luck I've had so far is nothing to brag about." Blodsombre was over when they set off; it was early afternoon, but the heat seemed more stifling than ever. They made no more pretence at conversation; both were buried in their own painful thoughts. The land fell away from Disscourn in all other directions, but toward Sant there was a gentle, persistent rise.
Oceaxe called out aloud to Maskull, "Will you come with me now to Disscourn?" "If you wish," returned Maskull. "Go first, Oceaxe. I must question your friend about Crimtyphon's death. I won't keep him." "Why don't you question me, rather?" demanded Oceaxe, looking up sharply. Tydomin gave the shadow of a smile. "We know each other too well." "Play no tricks!" said Oceaxe, and she turned to go.
A trifork, similar to the one Maskull had seen on Disscourn, but smaller, had been stuck in the mud close by his hand. They stopped by the side of the pond, and waited. Immediately he became aware of their presence, the man set down his other leg, and waded out of the water toward them, picking up his trifork in doing so. "This is not Maulger, but Catice," said Spadevil.
"Unfortunately you are right." Another pause ensued. "It's no use standing here," said Tydomin. "Nothing can be done. You must come with me." "Come with you? Where to?" "To Disscourn. There's a burning lake on the far side of it. He always wished to be cast there after death. We can do that after Blodsombre in the meantime we must take him home." "You're a callous, heartless woman.
"There's nothing left to do, except mourn the dead. You won't grudge me that last office?" "Do you want to stay here?" demanded Oceaxe suspiciously. "Yes, Oceaxe dear, I wish to be alone." "Then what is to become of us?" "I thought that you and your lover what is his name?" "Maskull." "I thought that perhaps you two would go to Disscourn, and spend Blodsombre at my home."
Tydomin recovered her self-possession. About three-quarters of an hour later they worked around the second corner, and entered into full view of the north aspect of Disscourn. A hundred yards lower down the slope on which they were walking, the mountain ended abruptly in a chasm.
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