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caves。〃
At first she was inclined to be angry； for I saw her start。
Then her mood changed； and she said with a sigh：
〃Fate's Master！ Where does He dwell？〃
〃Here amongst other places；〃 said Bastin。 〃I'll soon explain
that to you。〃
〃I thank you；〃 she replied gravely。 〃But why have you not
explained it to Bickley？〃 Then waving her hand to show that she
wished for no answer； she went on：
〃Friends； would you wish to learn something of the history of
my people？〃
〃Very much；〃 said the irrepressible Bastin； 〃but I would rather
the lecture took place in the open air。〃
〃That is not possible；〃 she answered。 〃It must be here and now；
or not at all。 Come； stand by me。 Be silent and do not move。 I am
about to set loose forces that are dangerous if disturbed。〃
Chapter XVI
Visions of the Past
She led us to the back of the statue and pointed to each of us
where we should remain。 Then she took her place at right angles
to us； as a showman might do； and for a while stood immovable。
Watching her face； once more I saw it； and indeed all her body；
informed with that strange air of power； and noted that her eyes
flashed and that her hair grew even more brilliant than was
common； as though some abnormal strength were flowing through it
and her。 Presently she spoke； saying：
〃I shall show you first our people in the day of their glory。
Look in front of you。〃
We looked and by degrees the vast space of the apse before us
became alive with forms。 At first these were vague and shadowy；
not to be separated or distinguished。 Then they became so real
that until he was reproved by a kick； Tommy growled at them and
threatened to break out into one of his peals of barking。
A wonderful scene appeared。 There was a palace of white marble
and in front of it a great courtyard upon which the sun beat
vividly。 At the foot of the steps of the palace； beneath a silken
awning； sat a king enthroned； a crown upon his head and wearing
glorious robes。 In his hand was a jewelled sceptre。 He was a
noble…looking man of middle age and about him were gathered the
glittering officers of his court。 Fair women fanned him and to
right and left； but a little behind； sat other fair and jewelled
women who； I suppose； were his wives or daughters。
〃One of the Kings of the Children of Wisdom new…crowned；
receives the homage of the world；〃 said Yva。
As she spoke there appeared； walking in front of the throne one
by one； other kings； for all were crowned and bore sceptres。 At
the foot of the throne each of them kneeled and kissed the foot
of him who sat thereon； as he did so laying down his sceptre
which at a sign he lifted again and passed away。 Of these kings
there must have been quite fifty； men of all colours and of
various types； white men； black men； yellow men； red men。
Then came their ministers bearing gifts； apparently of gold and
jewels； which were piled on trays in front of the throne。 I
remember noting an incident。 An old fellow with a lame leg
stumbled and upset his tray； so that the contents rolled hither
and thither。 His attempts to recover them were ludicrous and
caused the monarch on the throne to relax from his dignity and
smile。 I mention this to show that what we witnessed was no set
scene but apparently a living piece of the past。 Had it been so
the absurdity of the bedizened old man tumbling down in the midst
of the gorgeous pageant would certainly have been omitted。
No； it must be life； real life； something that had happened；
and the same may be said of what followed。 For instance； there
was what we call a review。 Infantry marched； some of them armed
with swords and spears； though these I took to be an ornamental
bodyguard； and others with tubes like savage blowpipes of which I
could not guess the use。 There were no cannon； but carriages came
by loaded with bags that had spouts to them。 Probably these were
charged with poisonous gases。 There were some cavalry also；
mounted on a different stamp of horse from ours； thicker set and
nearer the ground； but with arched necks and fiery eyes and； I
should say； very strong。 These again； I take it； were ornamental。
Then came other men upon a long machine； slung in pairs in
armoured sacks； out of which only their heads and arms projected。
This machine； which resembled an elongated bicycle； went by at a
tremendous rate； though whence its motive power came did not
appear。 It carried twenty pairs of men； each of whom held in his
hand some small but doubtless deadly weapon； that in appearance
resembled an orange。 Other similar machines which followed
carried from forty to a hundred pairs of men。
The marvel of the piece； however； were the aircraft。 These came
by in great numbers。 Sometimes they flew in flocks like wild
geese； sometimes singly； sometimes in line and sometimes in
ordered squadrons； with outpost and officer ships and an exact
distance kept between craft and craft。 None of them seemed to be
very large or to carry more than four or five men； but they were
extraordinarily swift and as agile as swallows。 Moreover they
flew as birds do by beating their wings； but again we could not
guess whence came their motive power。
The review vanished； and next appeared a scene of festivity in
a huge； illuminated hall。 The Great King sat upon a dais and
behind him was that statue of Fate； or one very similar to it；
beneath which we stood。 Below him in the hall were the feasters
seated at long tables； clad in the various costumes of their
countries。 He rose and； turning； knelt before the statue of Fate。
Indeed he prostrated himself thrice in prayer。 Then taking his
seat again； he lifted a cup of wine and pledged that vast
company。 They drank back to him and prostrated themselves before
him as he had done before the image of Fate。 Only I noted that
certain men clad in sacerdotal garments not at all unlike those
which are worn in the Greek Church to…day； remained standing。
Now all this exhibition of terrestrial pomp faded。 The next
scene was simple； that of the death…bed of this same kingwe
knew him by his wizened features。 There he lay； terribly old and
dying。 Physicians； women； courtiers； all were there watching the
end。 The tableau vanished and in place of it appeared that of the
youthful successor amidst cheering crowds； with joy breaking
through the clouds of simulated grief upon his face。 It vanished
also。
〃Thus did great king succeed great king for ages upon ages；〃
said Yva。 〃There were eighty of them and the average of their
reigns was 700 years。 They ruled the earth as it was in those
days。 They gathered up learning； they wielded power； their wealth
was boundless。 They nurtured the arts； they discovered secrets。
They had intercourse with the stars； they were as gods。 But like
the gods they grew jealous。 They and their councillors became a
race apart who alone had the secret of long life。 The rest of the
world and the commonplace people about them suffered and died。
They of the Household of Wisdom lived on in pomp for generations
till the earth was mad with envy of them。
〃Fever and fewer grew the divine race of the Sons of Wisdom
since children are not given to the aged and to those of an
ancient； outworn blood。 Then the World said：
〃'They are great but they are not many； let us make an end of
them by numbers and take their place and power and drink of their
Life…water； that they will not give to us。 If myriads of us
perish by their arts； what does it matter； since we are
countless？' So the World made war upon the Sons of Wisdom。 See！〃
Again a picture formed。 The sky was full of aircraft which
rained down fire like flashes of lightning upon cities beneath。
From these cities leapt up other fires that destroyed the swift…
travelling things above； so that they fell in numbers like gnats
burned by a lamp。 Still more and more of them came till the
cities crumbled away and the flashes that darted from them ceased
to rush upwards。 The Sons of Wisdom were driven from the face of
the earth。
Again the scene changed。 Now it showed this subterranean hall
in which we stood。 There was pomp here； yet it was but a shadow
of that which had been in the earlier days upon the face of the
earth。 Courtiers moved about the palace and there were people in
the radiant streets and the houses； for most of them were
occupied； but rarely did the vision show children coming through
their gates。
Of a sudden this scene shifted。 Now we saw that same hall in
which we had visited Oro not an hour before。 There he sat； yes；
Oro himself； upon the dais beneath the overhanging marble shell。
Round him were some ancient councillors。 In the body of the hall
on either side of the dais were men in military array； guards
without doubt though their only weapon was a black rod not unlike
a ruler； if indeed it were a weapon and not a badge