I greeted her, she lifted her face, and I saw it set in dry, obdurate woe.

"I know what you are going to say," said she.

"Ben is trying again," I said. But when I looked back I could not see him: only the dust hanging reddish in the air, and the dry broken grasses. She looked with me, passively.

"He is there," I said. "Believe me."

"It is no use," she said. "I have tried so often."

"Are you going to sit here for the rest of time?"

She did not answer, but resumed her post, looking down, motionless. She seemed to herself a static weight, empty; to me she was like a whirlpool of danger. I could see myself, thinned and part transparent, could feel myself sway and lean - towards her, into her locked violences.

"Rilla," I said, "I have work to do."

"Of course," said she. "When do you ever say anything different?"

"Go and find Ben," I said.

I walked on. Long afterwards I looked around - I did not dare before, for fear I would turn and run back to her. Oh, I had known her, I had known her well. I knew what qualities were shut up there, prisoners of her despair. She was not looking at me. She had turned her head and was gazing out into the hazy plains where Ben was.

I left her.

I had lost my way. Memories of the last time were not helping me, could not - everything had changed. I was looking for the abode of the Giants. I did not want to see them because of the degeneration I knew I would find. But they were the quickest way to Taufiq. Taufiq's condition, as captive of the Enemy, must be - could be no other - an excess of self-esteem, pride, silliness. I could contact Taufiq through the equivalent qualities here. The Giants, then... I had to!