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presence of a Being Supernatural。 Doubtless the surroundings
heightened this impression。 What were these mighty edifices in
the bowels of the world？ When came this wondrous； all…pervading
and translucent light； whereof we could see no origin？ Whither
had vanished those who had reared and inhabited them？ How did it
happen that of them all； this man； if he were a man； and this
lovely woman at my side； who； if I might trust my senses and
instincts； was certainly a woman； alone survived of their
departed multitudes？
The thing was crushing。 I looked at Bickley for encouragement；
but got none； for he only shook his head。 Even Bastin； now that
the first effects of the Life…water had departed； seemed
overwhelmed； and muttered something about the halls of Hades。
Only the little dog Tommy remained quite cheerful。 He trotted
down the hall； jumped on to the dais and sat himself comfortably
at the feet of its occupant。
〃I greet you；〃 Oro said in his slow； resonant voice。 〃Daughter；
lead these strangers to me； I would speak with them。〃
Chapter XV
Oro in His House
We climbed on to the dais by some marble steps； and sat
ourselves down in four curious chairs of metal that were more or
less copied from that which served Oro as a throne； at least the
arms ended in graven heads of snakes。 These chairs were so
comfortable that I concluded the seats were fixed on springs；
also we noticed that they were beautifully polished。
〃I wonder how they keep everything so clean；〃 said Bastin as we
mounted the dais。 〃In this big place it must take a lot of
housemaids； though I don't see any。 But perhaps there is no dust
here。〃
I shrugged my shoulders while we seated ourselves； the Lady Yva
and I on Oro's right； Bickley and Bastin on his left； as he
indicated by pointing with his finger。
〃What say you of this city？〃 Oro asked after a while of me。
〃We do not know what to say；〃 I replied。 〃It amazes us。 In our
world there is nothing like to it。〃
〃Perchance there will be in the future when the nations grow
more skilled in the arts of war；〃 said Oro darkly。
〃Be pleased； Lord Oro；〃 I went on； 〃if it is your will； to tell
us why the people who built this place chose to live in the
bowels of the earth instead of upon its surface。〃
〃They did not choose； it was forced upon them；〃 was the answer。
〃This is a city of refuge that they occupied in time of war； not
because they hated the sun。 In time of peace and before the
Barbarians dared to attack them； they dwelt in the city Pani
which signifies Above。 You may have noted some of its remaining
ruins on the mount and throughout the island。 The rest of them
are now beneath the sea。 But when trouble came and the foe rained
fire on them from the air； they retreated to this town； Nyo；
which signifies Beneath。〃
〃And then？〃
〃And then they died。 The Water of Life may prolong life； but it
cannot make women bear children。 That they will only do beneath
the blue of heaven； not deep in the belly of the world where
Nature never designed that they should dwell。 How would the
voices of children sound in such halls as these？ Tell me； you；
Bickley； who are a physician。〃
〃I cannot。 I cannot imagine children in such a place； and if
born here they would die；〃 said Bickley。
Oro nodded。
〃They did die； and if they went above to Pani they were
murdered。 So soon the habit of birth was lost and the Sons of
Wisdom perished one by one。 Yes； they who ruled the world and by
tens of thousands of years of toil had gathered into their bosoms
all the secrets of the world； perished； till only a few； and
among them I and this daughter of mine； were left。〃
〃And then？〃
〃Then； Humphrey； having power so to do； I did what long I had
threatened； and unchained the forces that work at the world's
heart； and destroyed them who were my enemies and evil； so that
they perished by millions； and with them all their works。
Afterwards we slept； leaving the others； our subjects who had not
the secret of this Sleep； to die； as doubtless they did in the
course of Nature or by the hand of the foe。 The rest you know。〃
〃Can such a thing happen again？〃 asked Bickley in a voice that
did not hide his disbelief。
〃Why do you question me； Bickley； you who believe nothing of
what I tell you； and therefore make wrath？ Still I will say this；
that what I caused to happen I can cause once moreonly once； I
thinkas perchance you shall learn before all is done。 Now；
since you do not believe； I will tell you no more of our
mysteries； no； not whence this light comes nor what are the
properties of the Water of Life； both of which you long to know；
nor how to preserve the vital spark of Being in the grave of
dreamless sleep； like a live jewel in a casket of dead stone； nor
aught else。 As to these matters； Daughter； I bid you also to be
silent； since Bickley mocks at us。 Yes； with all this around him；
he who saw us rise from the coffins； still mocks at us in his
heart。 Therefore let him； this little man of a little day； when
his few years are done go to the tomb in ignorance； and his
companions with him； they who might have been as wise as I am。〃
Thus Oro spoke in a voice of icy rage； his deep eyes glowing
like coals。 Hearing him I cursed Bickley in my heart for I was
sure that once spoken； his decree was like to that of the Medes
and Persians and could not be altered。 Bickley； however； was not
in the least dismayed。 Indeed he argued the point。 He told Oro
straight out that he would not believe in the impossible until it
had been shown to him to be possible； and that the law of Nature
never had been and never could be violated。 It was no answer； he
said； to show him wonders without explaining their cause； since
all that he seemed to see might be but mental illusions produced
he knew not how。
Oro listened patiently； then answered：
〃Good。 So be it； they are illusions。 I am an illusion； those
savages who died upon the rock will tell you so。 This fair woman
before you is an illusion； Humphrey； I am sure； knows it as you
will also before you have done with her。 These halls are
illusions。 Live on in your illusions； O little man of science；
who because you see the face of things； think that you know the
body and the heart； and can read the soul at work within。 You are
a worthy child of tens of thousands of your breed who were before
you and are now forgotten。〃
Bickley looked up to answer； then changed his mind and was
silent； thinking further argument dangerous； and Oro went on：
〃Now I differ from you； Bickley； in this way。 I who have more
wisdom in my finger…point than you with all the physicians of
your world added to you； have in your brains and bodies； yet
desire to learn from those who can give me knowledge。 I
understand from your words to my daughter that you； Bastin； teach
a faith that is new to me； and that this faith tells of life
eternal for the children of earth。 Is it so？〃
〃It is；〃 said Bastin eagerly。 〃I will set out〃
Oro cut him short with a wave of the hand。
〃Not now in the presence of Bickley who doubtless disbelieves
your faith； as he does all else； holding it with justice or
without； to be but another illusion。 Yet you shall teach me and
on it I will form my own judgment。〃
〃I shall be delighted；〃 said Bastin。 Then a doubt struck him；
and he added： 〃But why do you wish to learn？ Not that you may
make a mock of my religion； is it？〃
〃I mock at no man's belief； because I think that what men
believe is truefor them。 I will tell you why I wish to hear of
yours； since I never hide the truth。 I who am so wise and old；
yet must die； though that time may be far away； still I must die；
for such is the lot of man born of woman。 And I do not desire to
die。 Therefore I shall rejoice to learn of any faith that
promises to the children of earth a life eternal beyond the
earth。 Tomorrow you shall begin to teach me。 Now leave me；
Strangers； for I have much to do；〃 and he waved his hand towards
the table。
We rose and bowed； wondering what he could have to do down in
this luminous hole； he who had been for so many thousands of
years out of touch with the world。 It occurred to me； however；
that during this long period he might have got in touch with
other worlds； indeed he looked like it。
〃Wait；〃 he said； 〃I have something to tell you。 I have been
studying this book of writings； or world pictures；〃 and he
pointed to my atlas which； as I now observed for the first time；
was also lying upon the table。 〃It interests me much。 Your
country is small； very small。 When I caused it to be raised up I
think that it was larger； but since then that seas have flowed
in。〃
Here Bickley groaned aloud。
〃This one is much greater；〃 went on Oro； casting a glance at
Bickley that must have penetrated him like a searchlight。 Then he