He never found out whether it was Torella's desire to leave or his father's desire to expel her; so to keep him from fraternising with the lower-classed help. Lloyd's second love was removed from him and since that time he had never again engaged himself with thoughts of love and passion. He was deeply depressed and Boyce's voice was the welcomed hammer that shattered his flagonful of thoughts. "Have you ever wondered about the moon's perfection, Lloyd?" asked Boyce and Lloyd responded with a questioning mumble. "There are large holes on the moon and mountains, larger than any in Krolalin." Lloyd turned on his side, faced Boyce and reached for the eye-glass. He looked at the moon and agreed with what Boyce had said. Boyce continued. "It's strange how it looks so warm and beautiful by our own eyes, then so cold and empty with the telescope. The stars, also! They just hang there, each a sun like our own!" he finished and they both sighed. "It's truly beautiful!" Lloyd added. "Remember our studies, Lloyd? Wouldn't it be some life to sail between those worlds?" Lloyd expelled some air and he sounded in agreement. Soon, the men fell asleep and travelled the uncertain routes between the stars in search of those precious things that they had lost in their youth. Those harmonious dreams were fleeting, yet blessed moments of comfort given them by the love of God. CHAPTER SIXTEEN Morning saw the men eat little and collect their possessions, in their preparation to make their descent to the floor of the other side. Carefully, they hung off the edge and made their way, a hair and a-breath-at-a-time, until they reached the narrow ledge. Reaching the ledge didn't take the two men very long and they sat on it, with their legs dangling over its edge while they ate their breakfast. The rest of the way would be quicker and easier because, to their left the ledge soon became a wider path that gradually made its way down, coming out at the river, very near to where the cable was anchored. While they ate they watched a Kenttitian Eagle fly over them with a rider. It was heading south over the Dark Forest and they thought that it was Empal on his way back to Pomperaque. "Do you think it's him?" Boyce posted. "If it is, he'll be in Pomperaque by sun down." Lloyd replied. They didn't eat too much food for breakfast, conserving it for when they needed it most, after walking for several hours without a rest. They packed up their stuff and made their way slowly until the ledge became the path and there they quickened their pace, finding that they soon came down to the river, whose noisy roar grew stronger the nearer that they came to it. They sat down their packs and tested out the cable. Although it looked rusty and brittle, it still had seemed to support the weight of both of them. That was near the anchoring and Lloyd wondered how the middle and other side would hold out.