? ? ? ? "Unconsciousness comes quickly at this altitude," she said quietly. "Unless you are inviting death for us all you had best drop, and that quickly."
? ? ? ? There was no fear in her voice. It was as one might say: "You had better carry an umbrella. It is going to rain."
? ? ? ? I dropped the vessel quickly to a lower level. Nor was I a moment too soon. The girl had swooned.
? ? ? ? The black, too, was unconscious, while I, myself, retained my senses, I think, only by sheer will. The one on whom all responsibility rests is apt to endure the most.
? ? ? ? We were swinging along low above the foothills of the Otz. It was comparatively warm and there was plenty of air for our starved lungs, so I was not surprised to see the black open his eyes, and a moment later the girl also.
? ? ? ? "It was a close call," she said.
? ? ? ? "It has taught me two things though," I replied.
? ? ? ? "What?"
? ? ? ? "That even Phaidor, daughter of the Master of Life and Death, is mortal," I said smiling.
? ? ? ? "There is immortality only in Issus," she replied. "And Issus is for the race of therns alone.
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