‘

Birkin looked at her in a white fury.

‘What do you want to feel unbounded for?’ he said sarcastically. ‘You don’t want to BE unbounded.’

Hermione recoiled in offence.

‘Yes, but one does have that limitless feeling,’ said Gerald. ‘It’s like getting on top of the mountain and seeing the Pacific.’

‘Silent upon a peak in Dariayn,’ murmured the Italian, lifting her face for a moment from her book.

‘Not necessarily in Dariayn,’ said Gerald, while Ursula began to laugh.

Hermione waited for the dust to settle, and then she said, untouched: