The light was perceptibly fading from Haunte's skin, as Maskull bent
over. The man was dead. His face was unrecognisable. The head had
been split from the top downward into two halves, streaming with
strange-coloured blood, as though it had received a terrible blow
from an axe.

"This couldn't be from the fall," said Maskull.

"No, Sullenbode did it."

Maskull turned quickly to look at the woman. She had resumed her
former attitude on the ground. The momentary intelligence had
vanished from her face, and she was again smiling.



Chapter 19

SULLENBODE

Sullenbode's naked skin glowed softly through the darkness, but the
clothed part of her person was invisible. Maskull watched her
senseless, smiling face, and shivered. Strange feelings ran through
his body.

Corpang spoke out of the night. "She looks like an evil spirit
filled with deadliness."

"It was like deliberately kissing lightning."