"Then you assert that Surtur is already there?"

"Surtur is where he is. He is a great traveller."

"Won't I see him?"

Krag went up to him and looked him in the eyes. "Don't forget that
you have asked for it, and wanted it. Few people in Tormance will
know more about him than you do, but your memory will be your worst
friend."

He led the way up a short iron ladder, mounting through a trap to the
flat roof above. When they were up, he switched on a small electric
torch.

Maskull beheld with awe the torpedo of crystal that was to convey
them through the whole breadth of visible space. It was forty feet
long, eight wide, and eight high; the tank containing the Arcturian
back rays was in front, the car behind. The nose of the torpedo was
directed toward the south-eastern sky. The whole machine rested upon
a flat platform, raised about four feet above the level of the roof,
so as to encounter no obstruction on starting its flight.

Krag flashed the light on to the door of the car, to enable them to
enter. Before doing so, Maskull gazed sternly once again at the
gigantic, far-distant star, which was to be their sun from now
onward. He frowned, shivered slightly, and got in beside Nightspore.
Krag clambered past them onto his pilot's seat. He threw the
flashlight through the open door, which was then carefully closed,