They eventually arrived at the shore of Bayleaf Lake.
The highly concentrated, poisonous salt prevented all microorganisms and algae from surviving. Thus, even in midsummer, one could never see the lush reeds and rippling green waters that usually surrounded a lake. The sea of grass that could be found everywhere else had withered away entirely along the lake shore.
Aside from a few blades of grass carried by the wind and some ladybugs, the water beneath their feet was as clear as a colossal crystal. They could clearly see the waves slightly distorting the sunlight, while shadows swayed gently across the snow-white sandy bed several yards below. Farther away, the surface of the lake resembled a finely polished silver mirror, reflecting the drifting clouds overhead. It was an emptiness rarely seen anywhere else.
"Is that the corpse of a Minotaur?" Richard pointed at several pieces of driftwood-like material floating on the lake. They were too far away, so he could barely make out their outlines.
"Throwing corpses into the lake prevents them from rotting and causing plagues," Sendak explained.
"Oh." Richard nodded in understanding.
Saltwater was extremely dense, so the corpses would float on the surface for a very long time, exposed to the wind and sun. As the days and years passed, salt would precipitate from the water and adhere to their surfaces, forming a snow-white shell of salt crystals. Only when the shell grew thick and heavy enough to drag the corpses to the lakebed would they find their final, eternal peace.
The entire process might take several years.
The dwarves had certainly gained an advantage in preventing epidemics by throwing their enemies' corpses into Bayleaf Lake, but Richard could not help suspecting that there was also an element of venting their anger. For any intelligent life-form, treating