"Have you seen my friends?"

She scrutinised him quietly, before answering. "Did you not come
alone?"

"I came with two other men, in a machine. I must have lost
consciousness on arrival, and I haven't seen them since."

"That's very strange! No, I haven't seen them. They can't be here,
or we would have known it. My husband and I--"

"What is your name, and your husband's name?"

"Mine is Joiwind--my husband's is Panawe. We live a very long way
from here; still, it came to us both last night that you were lying
here insensible. We almost quarrelled about which of us should come
to you, but in the end I won." Here she laughed. "I won, because I
am the stronger-hearted of the two; he is the purer in perception."

"Thanks, Joiwind!" said Maskull simply.

The colors chased each other rapidly beneath her skin. "Oh, why do
you say that? What pleasure is greater than loving-kindness? I
rejoiced at the opportunity.... But now we must exchange blood."

"What is this?" he demanded, rather puzzled.

"It must be so. Your blood is far too thick and heavy for our world.
Until you have an infusion of mine, you will never get up."