For some time they followed a wide circular route around the camp which took them through increasingly wet ground. After they had jumped over several rancid-smelling ditches, Byroc stopped, wrinkling his nose in disgust. ‘This place has changed,’ he said. ‘And it stinks of His work. We must turn back.’
Hawklan looked down at the unpleasant mud clinging to his boots. It was black, with streaks of white running through it, and it was unlike anything he had ever seen before.
‘Let’s go a little further,’ he said. ‘It may be drier up ahead.’
Reluctantly Byroc agreed, and the party moved off again. They were soon brought to a halt, however, as they suddenly found themselves at the edge of a vast swamp-like area, flooded to a large extent by a black liquid. Several areas of tufted vegetation s
