Maskull went on drinking steadily, and said nothing for a time. "So
men and women here are hostile to each other, and love is unknown?"
he proceeded at last.

"That magic word.... Shall I tell you what love is, Maskull? Love
between male and female is impossible. When Maskull loves a woman,
it is Maskull's female ancestors who are loving her. But here in
this land the men are pure males. They have drawn nothing from the
female side."

"Where do the male stones come from?"

"Oh, they are not freaks. There must be whole beds of the stuff
somewhere. It is all that prevents the world from being a pure
female world. It would be one big mass of heavy sweetness, without
individual shapes."

"Yet this same sweetness is torturing to men?"

"The life of an absolute male is fierce. An excess of life is
dangerous to the body. How can it be anything else than torturing?"

Corpang now sat up suddenly, and addressed Haunte. "I remind you of
your promise to tell about Muspel."

Haunte regarded him with a malevolent smile. "Ha! The underground
man has come to life."

"Yes, tell us," put in Maskull carelessly.