For the short distance that remained of their walk, Maskull was very
thoughtful and uneasy. He understood nothing. Whatever object his
eye chanced to rest on changed immediately into a puzzle. The
silence and stillness of the mountain peak seemed brooding,
mysterious, and waiting. Panawe gave him a friendly, anxious look,
and without further delay led the way down a little track, which
traversed the side of the mountain and terminated in the mouth of a
cave.

This cave was the home of Panawe and Joiwind. It was dark inside.
The host took a shell and, filling it with liquid from a well,
carelessly sprinkled the sandy floor of the interior. A greenish,
phosphorescent light gradually spread to the furthest limits of the
cavern, and continued to illuminate it for the whole time they were
there. There was no furniture. Some dried, fernlike leaves served
for couches.

The moment she got in, Joiwind fell down in exhaustion. Her husband
tended her with calm concern. He bathed her face, put drink to her
lips, energised her with his magn, and finally laid her down to
sleep. At the sight of the noble woman thus suffering on his
account, Maskull was distressed.

Panawe, however, endeavoured to reassure him. "It's quite true this
has been a very long, hard double journey, but for the future it will
lighten all her other journeys for her.... Such is the nature of
sacrifice."

"I can't conceive how I have walked so far in a morning," said
Maskull, "and she has been twice the distance."