‘You must realize this is madness! What he asks... if we accomplish what he desires us to do, we ourselves will be left with nothing but a dead wilderness.’
‘I am aware,’ the leader said, quietly, and muttered, ‘“. . . and borne upon the wynds of Estland Wayk were the sounds of ghosts of Man and beast alike . . . a host of wandering solitudes . . .”’
And as if in answer to The Laye Of Estland Wayk, they could see, in the distance, a small group of people; men, women, and children.
The three women had retraced their steps, returning through the transitional country, leaving behind trail and copse, arriving at last at the irrigation ditch and the hedge. It was now completely dark out; the night seemed to close in around them. Malina had the uncomfortable feeling that they were being followed, but was dogged by a maddening uncertainty. At last, Theuli snapped at her.
‘Malina, we can make much better time, travelling openly across-country! I cannot afford this dithering!’
Stung into silence and immobility, the young Pixie woman, too intimidated to even consider trying to reason with Theuli, wanted instead to please her, but couldn’t because of the risks. Deborah, fortunately, came to her defence.