Empyrean nodded. ‘Where?’ ‘Ahead of us.’ Other eagles joined them, sweeping down out of the sky in slow circles. Raphael could see the white line of surf breaking over the bleak shore back of which rose low hills covered with dark firs. They flew on rapidly and came in a few moments to the head of a little bay where a sluggish river emptied into the sea. At the mouth of the river was a stone landing from which led a straight white road. ‘Look! Look!’ yelled Raphael. Alongside the jetty lay a huge silver submarine with a gangplank leading from the conning tower to the jetty. Deserted, it slept like an ocean monster, gently rubbing against the pier head, while little waves creamed against its shimmering sides. There was no movement, no sign of life anywhere. Only the sun glistening on silver steel decks. Without lighting they flew inland, following the river and the road which led away from the coast. After a time mountains appeared on the horizon, the river disappeared in low hills, and only the slender road wound westward. They rose slowly higher and higher as the mountains pushed up into the sky. It was like flying, Raphael thought, over a rumpled comforter on a gigantic bed. Clouds gathered about them, masses of cold, moist vapor shutting out the earth below, smothering the mountains in their soft folds, shutting them off into another world with the sun and the blue sky. At signal from Empyrean, all the eagles dove through the clouds and, swooping in a great circle, lit on top of a mountain which overhung a broad valley that stretched westward as far as Raphael could see. Through the center of this valley flowed a broad river. All the eagles gathered about Empyrean. ‘Does the Sorcerer live down there?’ asked Raphael, pointing. The eagle nodded: ‘To the west, there is a great city called Mechana.’ The boy said nothing for a moment. He could make out distant lakes like pools of melted lead. Almost at his feet the road they had been following wormed through the mountain range and disappeared into the forest. It was cold on the mountain. In spite of his feather suit, Raphael shivered. ‘Does that road lead to Mechana?’ he asked. ‘Yes,’ answered the bird. Raphael felt a sudden desire to run, to feel the earth under his feet, to smell the clean forest smell. Flying was fun, but.... ‘Empyrean, would it be all right if I ran along the road a little way to get warm?’ begged the boy. ‘I’m frozen.’ The eagle nodded. ‘Follow the road,’ he ordered curtly, ‘and when you reach the outskirts of the city, wait for me. I shall join you there.’ Raphael scrambled eagerly down the mountain to the road. Then, because the sun was warm and the air crisp, he called upon the powers of the antelope, and leapt forward in easy, tireless strides.