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a past。 that thus so wonderfully lived again。
Of this consecrated hour I say no more。 Let each picture it as
he will。 A glory as of heaven fell upon us and in it we dwelt a
space。
〃Beloved；〃 she whispered at length in a voice that was choked
as though with tears； 〃if it chances that we should be separated
again for a little while； you will not grieve over much？〃
〃Knowing all I should try not to grieve； Yva； seeing that in
truth we never can be parted。 But do you mean that I shall die？〃
〃Being mortal either of us might seem to die； Humphrey；〃 and
she bent her head as though to hide her face。 〃You know we go
into dangers this day。〃
〃Does Oro really purpose to destroy much of the world and has
he in truth the power； Yva？〃
〃He does so purpose and most certainly he has the power；
unlessunless some other Power should stay his hand。〃
〃What other power； Yva？〃
〃Oh！ perhaps that which you worship； that which is called Love。
The love of man may avert the massacre of men。 I hope so with all
my heart。 Hist！ Oro comes。 I feel； I know that he comes； though
not in search of us who are very far from his thought tonight。
Follow me。 Swiftly。〃
She sped across the temple to where a chapel opened out of it；
which was full of the statues of dead kings； for here was the
entrance to their burial vault。 We reached it and hid behind the
base of one of these statues。 By standing to our full height；
without being seen we still could see between the feet of the
statue that stood upon a pedestal。
Then Oro came。
Chapter XXIV
The Chariot of the Pit
Oro came and of necessity alone。 Yet there was that in his air
as he advanced into the temple； which suggested a monarch
surrounded by the pomp and panoply of a great court。 He marched；
his head held high； as though heralds and pursuivants went in
front of him； as though nobles surrounded him and guards or
regiments followed after him。 Let it be admitted that he was a
great figure in his gorgeous robes； with his long white beard；
his hawk…like features； his tall shape and his glittering eyes；
which even at that distance I could see。 Indeed once or twice I
thought that he glanced out of the corners of them towards the
chapel where we were hid。 But this I think was fancy。 For as Yva
said； his thoughts were set elsewhere。
He reached the statue of Fate and stood for a while
contemplating it and the suppliant figures on either side； as
though he were waiting for his invisible court to arrange itself。
Then he doffed his jewelled cap to the effigy； and knelt before
it。 Yes； Oro the Ancient； the Super…man； the God； as the early
peoples of the earth fancied such a being； namely； one full of
wrath； revenge； jealousy； caprice and power； knelt in
supplication to this image of stone which he believed to be the
home of a spirit； thereby showing himself to be after all not so
far removed from the savages whose idol Bastin had destroyed。
More； in a clear and resonant voice which reached us even across
that great space； he put up his prayer。 It ran something as
follows； for although I did not understand the language in which
he spoke Yva translated it to me in a whisper：
〃God of the Sons of Wisdom； God of the whole earth； only God to
whom must bow every other Power and Dominion； to thee I； Oro the
Great King； make prayer and offer sacrifice。 Twenty times ten
thousand years and more have gone by since I； Oro； visited this；
thy temple and knelt before this； thy living effigy； yet thou；
ruler of the world； dost remember the prayer I made and the
sacrifice I offered。 The prayer was for triumph over my enemies
and the sacrifice a promise of the lives of half of those who in
that day dwelt upon the earth。 Thou heardest the prayer； thou
didst bow thy head and accept the sacrifice。 Yea； the prayer was
granted and the sacrifice was made； and in it were counted the
number of my foes。
〃Then I slept。 Through countless generations I slept on and at
my side was the one child of my body that was left to me。 What
chanced to my spirit and to hers during that sleep； thou knowest
alone； but doubtless they went forth to work thy ends。
〃At the appointed time which thou didst decree； I awoke again
and found in my house strangers from another land。 In the company
of one of those whose spirit I drew forth； I visited the peoples
of the new earth； and found them even baser and more evil than
those whom I had known。 Therefore； since they cannot be bettered。
I purpose to destroy them also； and on their wreck to rebuild a
glorious empire； such as was that of the Sons of Wisdom at its
prime。
〃A sign！ O Fate； ruler of the world； give me a sign that my
desire shall be fulfilled。〃
He paused； stretching out his arms and staring upwards。 While
he waited I felt the solid rock on which I stood quiver and sway
beneath my feet so that Yva and I clung to each other lest we
should fall。 This chanced also。 The shock of the earth tremor；
for such without doubt it was； threw down the figures of the
ancient man and the lovely woman which knelt as though making
prayers to Fate； and shook the marble sword from off its knees。
As it fell Oro caught it by the hilt； and； rising； waved it in
triumph。
〃I thank thee； God of my people from the beginning；〃 he cried。
〃Thou hast given to me； thy last servant； thine own sword and I
will use it well。 For these worshippers of thine who have fallen；
thou shalt have others； yes； all those who dwell in the new world
that is to be。 My daughter and the man whom she has chosen to be
the father of the kings of the earth； and with him his
companions； shall be the first of the hundreds of millions that
are to follow； for they shall kiss thy feet or perish。 Thou shalt
set thy foot upon the necks of all other gods； thou shalt rule
and thou alone； and； as of old； Oro be thy minister。〃
Still holding the sword； he flung himself down as though in an
ecstasy； and was silent。
〃I read the omen otherwise；〃 whispered Yva。 〃The worshippers of
Fate are overthrown。 His sword of power is fallen； but not into
the hands that clasped it； and he totters on his throne。 A
greater God asserts dominion of the world and this Fate is but
his instrument。〃
Oro rose again。
〃One prayer more；〃 he cried。 〃Give me life； long life； that I
may execute thy decrees。 By word or gesture show me a sign that I
shall be satisfied with life； a year for every year that I have
lived； or twain！〃
He waited； staring about him； but no token came； the idol did
not speak or bow its head； as Yva had told me it was wont to do
in sign of accepted prayer； how； she knew not。 Only I thought I
heard the echo of Oro's cries run in a whisper of mockery round
the soaring dome。
Once more Oro flung himself upon his knees and began to pray in
a veritable agony。
〃God of my forefathers； God of my lost people； I will hide
naught from thee；〃 he said。 〃I who fear nothing else； fear death。
The priest…fool yonder with his new faith； has spoken blundering
words of judgment and damnation which； though I do not believe
them； yet stick in my heart like arrows。 I will stamp out his
faith； and with this ancient sword of thine drive back the new
gods into the darkness whence they came。 Yet what if some water
of Truth flows through the channel of his leaden lips； and what
if because I have ruled and will rule as thou didst decree；
therefore； in some dim place of souls； I must bear these burdens
of terror and of doom which I have bound upon the backs of
others！ Nay； it cannot be； for what power is there in all the
universe that dares to make a slave of Oro and to afflict him
with stripes？
〃Yet this can be and mayhap will be； that presently I lose my
path in the ways of everlasting darkness； and become strengthless
and forgotten as are those who went before me； while my crown of
Power shines on younger brows。 Alas！ I grow old； since aeons of
sleep have not renewed my strength。 My time is short and yet I
would not die as mortals must。 Oh！ God of my people； whom I have
served so well； save me from the death I dread。 For I would not
die。 Give me a sign； give me the ancient； sacred sign！〃
So he spoke； lifting his proud and splendid head and watching
the statue with wide； expectant eyes。
〃Thou dost not answer；〃 he cried again。 〃Wouldst thou desert
me； Fate？ Then beware lest I set up some new god against thee and
hurl thee from thine immemorial throne。 While I live I still have
powers； I who am the last of thy worshippers； since it seems that
my daughter turns her back on thee。 I will get me to the
sepulchre of the kings and take counsel with the dust of that
wizard who first taught me wisdom。 Even from the depths of death
he must come to my call clad in a mockery of life； and comfort
me。 A little while yet I will wait； and if thou answer not； then
Fate； soo