Eventually it was Nish who asked the question. 'Where were you going?'

'I was on my way to the Well.'

'The Well?' he echoed.

'The Well of life and rebirth. The Well of fate. I was going to The Well of Echoes.'

'You were going to kill yourself?' Nish said sneeringly. 'How pathetic!'

The Matah sprang up, looking, for all her age, rather sprightly. 'How dare you thrust your twisted values on me, old human! You are not even my species.'

Nish backed away.

Tiaan shivered, for it was freezing. The Matah placed a hand against the wall and the glass slid closed. 'Alas, I cannot go now. Neither can I be in three places at once.' She paced across the hemispherical chamber. 'How came you here?' She addressed the question to Tiaan.

'I walked from Itsipitsi,' Tiaan replied. 'Before that, I sailed by iceboat upriver from the sea.'

'And you, artificer?' said the Matah.

'By balloon,' he said proudly. 'All the way from the manufactory near Tiksi. And it was my idea.'

'Balloon?'

'A gasbag ten spans high, filled with hot air from a stove.'

'Do you still have it?'

'It lies on the slope of the mountain, directly below us.'

'Take it back to warn your people.'

'I sent a skeet the day before yesterday.'

'It may not get there. Hurry! This is urgent, artificer.'

'I can't find the way out.'

Taking a piece of paper from her pocket, the Matah sketched swiftly. 'This point, here, is the stair behind you.'

'First I have to gather fuel,' said Nish. 'There are no trees where the balloon is hidden, only bushes. And the winds -'

'I'm sure you'll find a way. After all, it was your idea. Go at once!'

He did not move. He was still looking for a way to get Tiaan away. 'But -'

'Begone!' roared the Matah, 'or you shall feel real power.' She swept her hands together and more of those golden bubbles quivered there.