noon
His mood was one of tragic loss , the defeat of an enterprise that his hopes had undertaken , to seize victory on the apex of the world , to walk all his days only just outside the edge of Paradise , for no less than that his hopes and his first love promised each other ; and then he walked despairing in small rain . In this mood Fate had led him to solemn old oaks standing huge among shadows ; and the grandeur of their grey grip on the earth that had been theirs for centuries was akin to the grandeur of the high hopes he had had , and his despair was somehow soothed by the shadows . And then the impudent birds seemed to say `` Hope again . '' They walked for miles into the forest and lit a fire before noon , for Rodriguez had left Lowlight very early . And by it Morano cooked bacon again and dried his master 's cloak . They ate the bacon and sat by the fire till all their clothes were dry , and when the flames from the great logs fell and only embers glowed they sat there still , with hands spread to the warmth of the embers ; for to those who wander a fire is food and rest and comfort . Only as the embers turned grey did they throw earth over their fire and continue their journey .