Tydomin pulled at Spadevil’s arm. “Maskull has betrayed you, as he has so many others. Let us go.” He stood fast. “You have changed quickly, Maskull.” Maskull, without answering him, turned to Catice. “Why do men go on living in this soft, shameful world, when they can kill themselves?” “Pain is the native air of Surtur’s children. To what other air do you wish to escape?” “Surtur’s children? Is not Surtur Shaping?” “It is the greatest of lies. It is Shaping’s masterpiece.” “Answer, Maskull!” said Spadevil. “Do you repudiate right action?” “Leave me alone. Go back! I am not thinking of you, and your ideas. I wish you no harm.” The darkness came on fast. There was another prolonged silence. Catice threw away the flint, and picked up his staff. “The woman must return home,” he said. “She was persuaded here, and did not come freely. You, Spadevil, must die—backslider as you are!” Tydomin said quietly, “He has no power to enforce this. Are you going to allow the truth to fall to the ground, Spadevil?” “It will not perish by my death, but by my efforts to escape from death. Catice, I accept your judgment.” Tydomin smiled. “For my part, I am too tired to walk farther today, so I shall die with him.” Catice said to Maskull, “Prove your sincerity. Kill this man and his mistress, according to the laws of Hator.” “I can’t do that. I have travelled in friendship with them.” “You denied duty; and now you must do your duty,” said Spadevil, calmly stroking his beard. “Whatever law you accept, you must obey, without turning to right or left. Your law commands that we must be stoned; and it will soon be dark.” “Have you not even this amount of manhood?” exclaimed Tydomin. Maskull moved heavily. “Be my witness, Catice, that the thing was forced on me.” “Hator is looking on, and approving,” replied Catice. Maskull then went apart to the pile of boulders scattered by the side of the pool. He glanced about him, and selected two large fragments of rock, the heaviest that he thought he could carry. With these in his arms, he staggered back. He dropped them on the ground, and stood, recovering his breath. When he could speak again, he said, “I have a bad heart for the business. Is there no alternative? Sleep here tonight, Spadevil, and in the morning go back to where you have come from. No one shall harm you.” Spadevil’s ironic smile was lost in the gloom. “Shall I brood again, Maskull, for still another year, and after that come back to Sant with other truths? Come, waste no time, but choose the heavier stone for me, for I am stronger than Tydomin.” Maskull lifted one of the rocks, and stepped out four full paces. Spadevil confronted him, erect, and waited tranquilly. The huge stone hurtled through the air. Its flight looked like a dark shadow. It struck Spadevil full in the face, crushing his features, and breaking his neck. He died instantaneously. Tydomin looked away from the fallen man.