“It is named the ‘breve.’ By means of it we read one another’s thoughts. Still, speech is better, for then the heart can be read too.”
He smiled. “They say that speech is given us to deceive others.”
“One can deceive with thought, too. But I’m thinking of the best, not the worst.”
“Have you seen my friends?”
She scrutinised him quietly, before answering. “Did you not come alone?”
“I came with two other men, in a machine. I must have lost consciousness on arrival, and I haven’t seen them since.”
“That’s very strange! No, I haven’t seen them. They can’t be here, or we would have known it. My husband and I—”
“What is your name, and your husband’s name?”
“Mine is Joiwind—my husband’s is Panawe. We live a very long way from here; still, it came to us both last night that you were lying here insensible. We almost quarrelled about which of us should come to you, but in the end I won.” Here she laughed. “I won, because I am the stronger-hearted of the two; he is the purer in perception.”
“Thanks, Joiwind!” said Maskull simply.