by then theyd been completely disoriented by their frantic , sightless running , so when they suddenly darted to a spot of lessened dimness and found themselves past the border of the woods with its trees relative cover and wholly at the mercy of the pouring ether milk , they were so taken aback by the mountains abrupt appearance its invisible summit blending with the tainted brown sky they simply stood and stared , oblivious to the coldness of their sodden , clinging garments .