"But where does the matter come from that imprisons these sparks?"

"When life dies, it becomes matter. Matter itself dies, but its
place is constantly taken by new matter."

"But if life comes from Faceny, how can it die at all?"

"Life is the thoughts of Faceny, and once these thoughts have left
his brain they are nothing--mere dying embers."

"This is a cheerless philosophy," said Maskull. "But who is Faceny
himself, then, and why does he think at all?"

Leehallfae gave another wrinkled smile. "That I'll explain too.
Faceny is of this nature. He faces Nothingness in all directions.
He has no back and no sides, but is all face; and this face is his
shape. It must necessarily be so, for nothing else can exist between
him and Nothingness. His face is all eyes, for he eternally
contemplates Nothingness. He draws his inspirations from it; in no
other way could he feel himself. For the same reason, phaens and
even men love to be in empty places and vast solitudes, for each one
is a little Faceny."

"That rings true," said Maskull.

"Thoughts flow perpetually from Faceny's face backward. Since his
face is on all sides, however, they flow into his interior. A
draught of thought thus continuously flows from Nothingness to the
inside of Faceny, which is the world. The thoughts become shapes,
and people the world. This outer world, therefore, which is lying