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Bickley that must have penetrated him like a searchlight。 Then he
opened the map of Europe and with his finger indicated Germany
and Austria…Hungary。 〃I know nothing of the peoples of these
lands；〃 he added； 〃but as you belong to one of them and are my
guests； I trust that yours may succeed in the war。〃
〃What way？〃 we asked with one voice。
〃Since Bickley is so clever； surely he should know better than
an illusion such as I。 All I can tell you is that I have learned
that there is war between this country and that；〃 and he pointed
to Great Britain and to Germany upon the map； 〃also between
others。〃
〃It is quite possible；〃 I said； remembering many things。 〃But
how do you know？〃
〃If I told you； Humphrey； Bickley would not believe； so I will
not tell。 Perhaps I saw it in that crystal； as did the
necromancers of the early world。 Or perhaps the crystal serves
some different purpose and I saw it otherwisewith my soul。 At
least what I say is true。〃
〃Then who will win？〃 asked Bastin。
〃I cannot read the future； Preacher。 If I could； should I ask
you to expound to me your religion which probably is of no more
worth than a score of others I have studied； just because it
tells of the future？ If I could read the future I should be a god
instead of only an earth…lord。〃
〃Your daughter called you a god and you said that you knew we
were coming to wake you up； which is reading the future；〃
answered Bastin。
〃Every father is a god to his daughter； or should be； also in
my day millions named me a god because I saw further and struck
harder than they could。 As for the rest； it came to me in a
vision。 Oh！ Bickley； if you were wiser than you think you are；
you would know that all things to come are born elsewhere and
travel hither like the light from stars。 Sometimes they come
faster before their day into a single mind； and that is what men
call prophecy。 But this is a gift which cannot be commanded； even
by me。 Also I did not know that you would come。 I knew only that
we should awaken and by the help of men； for if none had been
present at that destined hour we must have died for lack of
warmth and sustenance。〃
〃I deny your hypothesis in toto；〃 exclaimed Bickley； but nobody
paid any attention to him。
〃My father；〃 said Yva； rising and bowing before him with her
swan…like grace； 〃I have noted your commands。 But do you permit
that I show the temple to these strangers； also something of our
past？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 he said。 〃It will save much talk in a savage tongue
that is difficult to me。 But bring them here no more without my
command； save Bastin only。 When the sun is four hours high in the
upper world； let him come tomorrow to teach me； and afterwards if
so I desire。 Or if he wills； he can sleep here。〃
〃I think I would rather not；〃 said Bastin hurriedly。 〃I make no
pretense to being particular； but this place does not appeal to
me as a bedroom。 There are degrees in the pleasures of solitude
and； in short； I will not disturb your privacy at night。〃
Oro waved his hand and we departed down that awful and most
dreary hall。
〃I hope you will spend a pleasant time here； Bastin；〃 I said；
looking back from the doorway at its cold； illuminated vastness。
〃I don't expect to；〃 he answered； 〃but duty is duty； and if I
can drag that old sinner back from the pit that awaits him； it
will be worth doing。 Only I have my doubts about him。 To me he
seems to bear a strong family resemblance to Beelzebub； and he's
a bad companion week in and week out。〃
We went through the portico； Yva leading us； and passed the
fountain of Life…water； of which she cautioned us to drink no
more at present； and to prevent him from doing so； dragged Tommy
past it by his collar。 Bickley； however； lingered under the
pretence of making a further examination of the statue。 As I had
seen him emptying into his pocket the contents of a corked bottle
of quinine tabloids which he always carried with him； I guessed
very well that his object was to procure a sample of this water
for future analysis。 Of course I said nothing； and Yva and Bastin
took no note of what he was doing。
When we were clear of the palace； of which we had only seen one
hall； we walked across an open space made unutterably dreary by
the absence of any vegetation or other sign of life； towards a
huge building of glorious proportions that was constructed of
black stone or marble。 It is impossible for me to give any idea
of the frightful solemnity of this doomed edifice； for as I think
I have said； it alone had a roof； standing there in the midst of
that brilliant； unvarying and most unnatural illumination which
came from nowhere and yet was everywhere。 Thus； when one lifted a
foot； there it was between the sole of the boot and the floor； or
to express it better； the boot threw no shadow。 I think this
absence of shadows was perhaps the most terrifying circumstance
connected with that universal and pervading light。 Through it we
walked on to the temple。 We passed three courts； pillared all of
them； and came to the building which was larger than St。 Paul's
in London。 We entered through huge doors which still stood open；
and presently found ourselves beneath the towering dome。 There
were no windows； why should there be in a place that was full of
light？ There was no ornamentation； there was nothing except black
walls。 And yet the general effect was magnificent in its majestic
grace。
〃In this place；〃 said Yva； and her sweet voice went whispering
round the walls and the arching dome； 〃were buried the Kings of
the Sons of Wisdom。 They lie beneath； each in his sepulchre。 Its
entrance is yonder；〃 and she pointed to what seemed to be a
chapel on the right。 〃Would you wish to see them？〃
〃Somehow I don't care to；〃 said Bastin。 〃The place is dreary
enough as it is without the company of a lot of dead kings。〃
〃I should like to dissect one of them； but I suppose that would
not be allowed；〃 said Bickley。
〃No；〃 she answered。 〃I think that the Lord Oro would not wish
you to cut up his forefathers。〃
〃When you and he went to sleep； why did you not choose the
family vault？〃 asked Bastin。
〃Would you have found us there？〃 she queried by way of answer。
Then； understanding that the invitation was refused by general
consent； though personally I should have liked to accept it； and
have never ceased regretting that I did not； she moved towards a
colossal object which stood beneath the centre of the dome。
On a stepped base； not very different from that in the cave but
much larger； sat a figure； draped in a cloak on which was graved
a number of stars； doubtless to symbolise the heavens。 The
fastening of the cloak was shaped like the crescent moon； and the
foot…stool on which rested the figure's feet was fashioned to
suggest the orb of the sun。 This was of gold or some such metal；
the only spot of brightness in all that temple。 It was impossible
to say whether the figure were male or female； for the cloak
falling in long； straight folds hid its outlines。 Nor did the
head tell us； for the hair also was hidden beneath the mantle and
the face might have been that of either man or woman。 It was
terrible in its solemnity and calm； and its expression was as
remote and mystic as that of Buddha。 only more stern。 Also
without doubt it was blind； it was impossible to mistake the
sightlessness of those staring orbs。 Across the knees lay a naked
sword and beneath the cloak the arms were hidden。 In its complete
simplicity the thing was marvelous。
On either side upon the pedestal knelt a figure of the size of
life。 One was an old and withered man with death stamped upon his
face； the other was a beautiful； naked woman； her hands clasped
in the attitude of prayer and with vague terror written on her
vivid features。
Such was this glorious group of which the meaning could not be
mistaken。 It was Fate throned upon the sun； wearing the
constellations as his garment； armed with the sword of Destiny
and worshipped by Life and Death。 This interpretation I set out
to the others。
Yva knelt before the statue for a little while； bowing her head
in prayer； and really I felt inclined to follow her example；
though in the end I compromised； as did Bickley； by taking off my
hat； which； like the others； I still wore from force of habit；
though in this place none were needed。 Only Bastin remained
covered。
〃Behold the god of my people；〃 said Yva。 〃Have you no reverence
for it； O Bastin？〃
〃Not much；〃 he answered； 〃except as a work of art。 You see I
worship Fate's Master。 I might add that your god doesn't seem to
have done much for you； Lady Yva； as out of all your greatness
there's nothing left but two people and a lot of old walls and
caves。〃
At first she was inclined to be angry； for I saw her start。
Then her mood changed； and she said with a si