"Yes."

"But where will it take us?"

"Perhaps out of Threal altogether."

"It sounds to me more real than reality," said Corpang. "Tell me,
who is Surtur?"

"Surtur's world, or Muspel, we are told, is the original of which
this world is a distorted copy. Crystalman is life, but Surtur is
other than life."

"How do you know this?"

"It has sprung together somehow--from inspiration, from experience,
from conversation with the wise men of your planet. Every hour it
grows truer for me and takes a more definite shape."

Corpang stood up squarely, facing the three Figures with a harsh,
energetic countenance, stamped all over with resolution. "I believe
you, Maskull. No better proof is required than that. Thire is not
the highest; he is even in a certain sense the lowest. Nothing but
the thoroughly false and base could stoop to such deceits.... I am
coming with you--but don't play the traitor. These signs may be for
you, and not for me at all, and if you leave me--"

"I make no promises. I don't ask you to come with me. If you prefer
to stay in your little world, or if you have any doubts about it, you
had better not come."