"Turn around," directed Corpang.

Maskull looked around quickly. Leehallfae's body had disappeared.

"What does this mean--what has happened?"

"The body has returned to whence it came. There was nowhere here for
it to be, so it has vanished. No burial will be required."

"Was the phaen an illusion, then?"

"In no sense."

"Well, explain quickly, then, what has taken place. I seem to be
going mad."

"There's nothing unintelligible in it, if you'll only listen calmly.
The phaen belonged, body and soul, to the outside, visible world--to
Faceny. This underworld is not Faceny's world, but Thire's, and
Faceny's creatures cannot breathe its atmosphere. As this applies
not only to whole bodies, but even to the last particles of bodies,
the phaen has dissolved into Nothingness."

"But don't you and I belong to the outside world too?"

"We belong to all three worlds."

"What three worlds--what do you mean?"

"There are three worlds," said Corpang composedly. "The first is