Although Mow had no words for love and no conception of its significance, Tanar was able to gather from his remarks that this sentiment did not exist among the Buried People. A mother looked upon each child as a threat to her existence and a prophecy of death, with the result that she loathed children from birth; nor is this strange when the fact is considered that the men chose as the mothers of their children the women whom they particularly loathed and hated, since the custom of destroying a woman who had borne three children deterred them from mating with any female for whom they might have entertained any degree of liking. When not hunting or fishing the creatures squatted around upon their haunches staring stupidly and sullenly at the floor of their cavern. “I should think,” said Tanar to Mow, “that, confronted by such a life, you would welcome death in any form.” The Coripi shook his head. “I do not want to die,” he said. “Why?” demanded Tanar. “I do not know,” replied Mow. “I simply wish to live.” “Then I take it that you would like to escape from this cavern, if you could,” suggested Tanar. “Of course I should like to escape,” said Mow, “but if I try to escape and they catch me they will kill me.” “They are going to kill you anyway,” Tanar reminded him. “Yes, I never thought of that,” said Mow. “That is quite true; they are going to kill me anyhow.” “Could you escape?” asked Tanar. “I could if I had someone to help me,” said Mow. “This cavern is filled with men who will help you,” said Tanar. “The Coripies from the grotto of Xax will not help me,” said Mow, “because if they escape there is no place where they may go in safety. If Xax recaptures them they will be killed, and the same is true if the ruler of any other grotto captures them.” “But there are men from other grottoes here,” insisted Tanar, “and there are Jude and I.” Mow shook his head. “I would not save any of the Coripies. I hate them. They are all enemies from other grottoes.” “But you do not hate me,” said Tanar, “and I will help you, and so will Jude.” “I need but one,” said Mow, “but he must be very strong, stronger than you, stronger than Jude.” “How strong?” asked Tanar. “He must be able to lift my weight,” replied the Coripi. “Look then,” said Tanar, and seizing Mow he held him high above his head. When he had set him down upon the floor again the Coripi gazed at Tanar for some time. “You are, indeed, strong,” he said. “Then let us make our plans for escape,” said Tanar. “Just you and I,” said the Coripi. “We must take Jude with us,” insisted Tanar. Mow shrugged his shoulders. “It is all the same to me,” he said. “He is not a Coripi, and if we become hungry and cannot find other food we can eat him.” Tanar made no reply as he felt that it would be unwise to voice his disgust at this proposal and he was sure that he and Jude together could prevent the Coripi from succumbing to his lust for flesh.