C S Lewis: Space Trilogy
Ransom’s mind shied away from the problem; he was getting sleepy and thought he must be misunderstanding the sorn. “I think I must sleep, Augray,” he said. “And I do not know what you are saying. Perhaps, too, I do not come from what you call Thulcandra.” “We will both sleep presently,” said the sorn. “But first I will show you Thulcandra.” It rose and Ransom followed it into the back of the cave. Here he found a little recess and running up within it a winding stair. The steps, hewn for sorns, were too high for a man to climb with any comfort, but using hands and knees he managed to hobble up. The sorn preceded him. Ransom did not understand the light, which seemed to come from some small round object which the creature held in its hand. They went up a long way, almost as if they were climbing up the inside of a hollow mountain. At last, breathless, he found himself in a dark but warm chamber of rock, and heard the sorn saying: “She is still well above the southern horizon.” It d...