"His path lay right across you see," answered Adin quickly. "We are looking for our path and are as likely to find it in the town as out of it," for Adin had got imbued with the spirit of the land and felt it mattered little that they should find their path at once; why need they worry?
But Iddo, though outwardly satisfied with this argument, was inwardly anxious. The thought of her mother would intrude upon her even in the midst of some pleasurable excitement, with which they were well provided in the town. It is true at times a kind of lethargy crept over her and she would laugh with the rest, as if she had not a care or trouble. But she began to wonder why it was that her enemies apparently left her alone. Her sword was very rusty and the rest of her armour dim, but Adin assured her that they were not needed in this place.
But Iddo was unhappy. She began to pine for the sight of the Radiant City and for travellers who were definitely walking there, and above all things she grew home sick for the conscious Presence of the King Himself.
It is true that she had not enjoyed much of His Presence at any time, for she had depended so much upon what her mother had told her of Him, that she had not sought earnestly enough to know Him herself. But now she began to long for Him, and looked eagerly at the faces of passers-by, hoping that she might find at least one who was bound for the Radiant City.
But again and again she was disappointed. The Land of Indifference was the most unlikely of any place to come across those who had made any definite decision to go to the Radiant City, and many whom she questioned had really not thought about the matter at all.
"The subject does not interest me," they said, looking at her eager upturned face with surprise. "We are here to enjoy ourselves, and have no time to think of such matters." Others would answer her questions with the words, "'Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.'"
Iddo began to wonder if she could possibly persuade Adin to leave the crowded town in search of their paths to the Radiant City. She felt she had not the courage to make the step alone, besides which she found Adin's companionship very attractive, and knew that unless she could take her friend with her she might never see her again. But Adin was far too engrossed with all she saw and heard to wish to leave her present quarters.
"There is plenty of time," she said, when Iddo timidly tried to persuade her that the only right and wise course to take was to leave the Land of Indifference. "Of course I suppose we shall eventually have to go, but I don't mean to go yet."
"I cannot feel at home here," sighed Iddo.
"Not at home?" cried Adin, "why what do you want? After all, you are not my sort, I fear. You are naturally dependent on others, and do not rejoice in your freedom. You should not have left your mother. I would try and find her if I were you, and then follow her step by step. You will never be happy if you don't," and Adin gave a somewhat scornful laugh.