A Voyage to Arcturus

rawling on the ground, as he was unable to lift his body because of its intense weight. A numbing pain, which he could not identify with any region of his frame, acted from n

erance the size of a small plum, having a cavity in the middle, of which he could not feel the b

ad budded. It was as long as his arm, but

organs, his heart began to pump. Whatever might, or might not,

m. He went on shouting out, at irregular intervals — equally alarmed at the silence and at the sound of his own voice. Finally, as no ans

d dim shadows around him, bu

the upper sky rosy tints appeared. On earth, one would have said that day was

e sand was scarlet. The obscure shadows he had seen were bushes, wi

ady greater than that of the midday sun on earth. The heat, too, was intense, but Maskull welcomed it — it re

to see far. The mists had no more than partially dissolved, and all that he cou

ervous fright and, in doing so, tumbled over onto the sand. Looking up over

ove, warmth, kindness, tenderness, and intimacy. Such was the noble familiarity of that gaze, that he thought he knew her. After that, he recognised all the loveliness of her person. She was tall and slight. All her movements were as graceful as music. Her skin was not of a dead, opaque colour, like that of an earth beauty, but was opalescent; its hue was continually changing, with every thought and emotion, but none of these tints was vivid — all were delicat

feet, naked and helpless. She realised his plight, and put into his hands a garment that she had been

ou can put it o

ous of these words, yet

, and she helped him to master t

ble language. This time he discovered that the sense of what she

ormance?” he asked. As

ed him to sit down. “Yes

w reminded him of an April day, it was so fresh, nervous, and girlish. “I can now understa

hat is this organ?” he as

read one another’s thoughts. Still, speech i

that speech is given

ht, too. But I’m thinking o

seen my

tly, before answering. “

ne. I must have lost consciousness on

een them. They can’t be here, or we w

ame, and your h

ht that you were lying here insensible. We almost quarrelled about which of us should come to you, but in the en

ind!” said Ma

o you say that? What pleasure is greater than loving-kindness? I

” he demanded,

k and heavy for our world. Until you have

ke a complete ignoramus her

suppose it will pain me. B

d of hospitality t

for me?” asked Joiwind, ha

his world. I scarcely know where I am. . .

ained fog-charged. The desert of scarlet sand stretched in all directions, except one, where there was a sort of little oasi

thout any trace of nervousness, she made a careful,

g. “And if it were — a sacrifice that is no sacrifice —

er arm. It was not red blood,

“I have already been cut there.” He submi

a stream of pleasure entering his body through the incision. His old lightness and vigour began to return to him. After about five minutes a duel of kindness

expression than before, as if strang

is you

sku

come from, with

suitable for this world, Joiwind, but after all, that was

to be done. We must all help one another.

n her own veins the blood of a strange man from a strange planet.

we not all brothers and sisters?

t foolish if I say I hardly know? — I came with those two men. Perhaps

. . . These friends of yours must b

you. They came

t least must be a bad man, and yet if he is following Surtur

Surtur?” asked Mask

outside. “I see. . . . and yet I don’t see,” she said at last. “It is very difficult. . . . Your God is a dreadful Bein

is mean, Joiwind?

nt to

grand, a few holy men are reputed to have walk

mong us and converses with us. He is real and active — a

emanded Maskull, hard

may have an opportunity to sacrifice myself, and then

other world. But why do you

all him Shaping, and so do most

l. “Have you ever h

many names — which shows how much he occupies

came here with quite differ

e of his. Let us go and pray there, and then we’ll go on our way to Poolingdred.

at is Bl

day Branchspell’s rays are so hot that no o

l another name

ly we don’t take our names from you, Maskull. I don’t t

errible gust of scorching heat, like a blast from a furnace, struck Maskull’s head. He involuntarily looked up, but lowered his eyes again like lightning.

must be right enough about Blodsombre.” When he had somewhat r

t his brain

every hour’s daylight that yo

omehow I don’t feel so distressed

fficult to account for it; you have som

ter, if I stay here long enough? — I mean, will it lose its redness an

as we live, you will a

ean food

od, and drink

you manage to

ter is good water,” re

almost violet, sky. The circle of the horizon was far larger than on earth. On the skyline, at right angles to the direction in which they were walking, appeared a chain of mountains, apparently about forty miles d

e cup-shaped mountain

om there!” he excla

And that is where we

gle object of

y,

and noblest of all girls,” he said quietly, after a pause.

hues stained her cheeks in rapid transition. “Please don’t s

we possibly get th

. We think nothing of long distances here — we have so

, was moving across the sand in their direction. When it came near enough he perceived that it was not grass; there were no blades, but only purple roots. The roots were revolving, for each small plant in the whole patch, like the spokes of a rimless wheel. They

here. But what was peculiar about it was its colour. It was an entirely new colour — not a new shade or combination, but a new primary colour, as vivid as blue, red, or yellow, but quite different. When he inquired, she told him that it was known as “ulfire.” Presently he met with a second new colour. This she designat

l purple-coloured, covered the slopes and top. Maskull and Joiwind climbed up and through. Some hard fruit, bright

onous, or why don’t you

“We don’t eat living things. T

at, theoretically. But do you rea

thing else to live on, Masku

ould

llow creatures. So nothing is left to us but water, and a

on. He found that the fleshy knobs beneath his ears were in some novel fashion acquainting him with the inward properties of the fru

the questions h

r use is to enable us to understand and

do you derive fr

t being cruel and se

ruit away and

“Have I said too much? Have I been too familiar? Do you know why you think so? It’s b

h with his own was so moist and sensitive that it resembled another kind of kiss. He saw who it was that embraced him — a pale, beautiful girl. Yet, oddly enough, he experienced

o arms on his shoulders and penetrated

ered. “Without that what can I ev

dicating her tentacle. “By means of it what we love already w

like o

guard most jealous

d to the zenith. On descending the other side of the little hills, Maskull looked anxiously for traces of Nightspore and Krag, but with

as of red sand. In the very middle shot up a tall, stately tree, with a black trunk and branches, and tran

bottom, Joiwind took him

tently. “Is this the s

r woman who wishes to invoke Shaping must ta

ll. “Your unspotted praye

o you w

wered Maskull, in

to Maskull’s mouth. “You must drink too.” He obeyed. She then stood erect, clo

heavy blood. He wishes to be pure. Let him know the meaning of love, let him live for others. D

ned with tear

, appeared a large circle of dazzlingly white pillars. For some minutes they flickered to and fro bet

haping?” asked Maskull

is. It is a

that be,

will do so, because it must. What you and I are now doing i

in the world don’t originate from nothing. God and Devil mus

must fi

u say?” asked Mas

f evil and misery —

revent Joiwind from learning his relationsh

me?” she demanded, looking at hi

, evil seems so remote, one can scar

y men are corrupt. Panawe, my husband, has travelled, and he has told me things I would almost rather

ke to meet y

are going

ether she had any children, but was afra

ere? Is not the whole world full of lovely chi

five distinct notes. It was not a bird, but had a balloon-shaped

— perhaps all the more for its grotesqueness. But if I had children of my own

Wouldn’t it be as well,” he went on, “since we’ve got to walk through that sun-b

sh, but every tearing off of a leaf would be a wound in

rpose, but tell me — weren’t these ver

f a certain animal, but they have

icity,” remarked Maskull meditati

y now without further ceremony be

their way to lie due north. The sand was soft and powdery, very tiring to his naked feet. The red glare dazed his eyes, and made h

s nowhere, and i

s accidental,” said Joiwind

re. It begins to look like a piece of bad work to me. They must have gone on, and left me.

y instinct tells me that you are better away from those men

. She twined her magn lovingly around his waist, and a strong curre

d! But am I not

thrilling glance. “But not much

ved to the front, and so the little monstrosity proceeded by means of a series of complete rotations. It was vividly coloured,

ne, Maskull. Whenever I come this way, I see it. It’s always wal

re is no need for anyone to get anywhere. What I don’t quite

It means, does it not,

f the kind,”

disease brought

you nev

esh is clean and unclogged, inside and out. . . . Before long I

easant hissing sound. It differed, however, from a fountain in this respect — that the water of which it was composed did not return to the ground but w

ing brook, which came down from the direction of the mountains. The explanation of the phenomenon was evidentl

drink,” sa

ch her thirst until she had seen him drink. He found the water heavy, but bubbling with gas. He drank copiously. It affected his palate in a new way — with the purity and

n see by the colour. At Poolingdred it is crystal clear. But we would be ung

ffect every part of his body with unequal intensities. His ears awakened; the atmosphere was full of murmurs, the sands hummed, even the sun’s rays had a sound of their own — a kind of faint Aeolian harp. Subtle, puzzling perfumes assailed his nostrils. His palate lingered over the memory of the gnawl water. All the pores of his skin were tickled and soothed by hitherto unperceived

ey approached the sedgy margin of a dark g

a dark rock, waiting f