‘A rush to ill-considered judgement, you mean,’ retorted Tathenal. ‘Near children such as Ravast are incapable of understanding nuance in matters of the metaphysical. Lost on him, as well, is my gracious generosity in offering him a berth upon my vessel.’

‘I see no vessel,’ said Ravast. ‘I see trees, branches, leaves and roots.’

‘It is the superior mind that can observe this meanest material, and yet see in it a sharp-prowed monument to maritime majesty.’

‘They buried my axe,’ Ravast said, ‘fearing that it was all that remained of us. We came too late, alas, to see the wet stains of our wife’s tears, as she flung herself atop the rock-pile, tearing hair from her scalp in reams of grief and whatnot.’

‘I looked for but found no clumps of hair,’ Garelko said. ‘No, it’s far more likely that she has already taken young, all-too-handsome Hanako to her furs, and if her mighty will reveals the power she imagines it to possess, why, already she swells with illegitimate child. I see her, here in my mind’s eye, already sated and, curse that Hanako, satiated as well! The smugness of her glinting regard haunts me! The faint smile of womanly victory over us, in all those battles we never recognize, even as our blood drips. I see it, hovering like a knife above my heart, to make sudden blur towards my beleaguered manhood!’

‘That cut is years old, Garelko,’ Tathenal said. ‘An eel made lifeless by age, flopping no more.’

‘Ravast, come to my aid. Young and old must ally, and by stinging rebuke savage the one who possesses not enough of either. Tathenal, by all means build your boat, but we must leave you behind, and rush to the moment when we stumble upon our disloyal wife, as she thrashes in the arms of Hanako the adulterer. You and I, Ravast, we shall unveil the cuckold’s razor beak, and see in our wife’s wide eyes that first flowering of fear and dread! And then, with her dignity squirming beneath our heel, we shall grind her into misery and remorse, and so win a cornucopia of favours!’

‘Bright fruit and venomous nectar, more like,’ said Tathenal, sneering. ‘When I see you both flounder in deep waves, and hear your piteous cries, why, I will blithely sail past you both, and offer up the meanest flutter of fingers.’

‘When next you see me in your dreams,’ Ravast said, ‘observe as I rush to the flood, inviting every lungful of sweet water. Welcome my carcass, Tathenal, as it rolls to and fro, and be at ease, knowing I died happy.’

Garelko grunted. ‘Ravast, you’ve not been married long enough to have lifeless eyes. In perusing my reflection this morning, in the lake’s mirrored surface, I was shocked at the dullness of my own gaze.’

‘Our shock is long past,’ said Tathenal. ‘Yours is a gaze, Garelko, that can blunt a sword’s edge, and by wit you bludgeon us all. My poor humour reels bruised and struck senseless. So by all means, take the pup and be off, both of you!’