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me。 A little while yet I will wait； and if thou answer not； then
Fate； soon I'll tear the sceptre from thy hand； and thou shalt
join the company of dead gods。〃 And throwing aside the sword；
again Oro laid down his head upon the ground and stretched out
his arms in the last abasement of supplication。
〃Come；〃 whispered Yva； 〃while there is yet time。 Presently he
will seek this place to descend to the sepulchre； and if he
learns that we have read his heart and know him for a coward
deserted of his outworn god； surely he will blot us out。 Come；
and be swift and silent。〃
We crept out of the chapel； Yva leading； and along the circle
of the great dome till we reached the gates。 Here I glanced back
and perceived that Oro； looking unutterably small in that
vastness； looking like a dead man； still lay outstretched before
the stern…faced； unanswering Effigy which； with all his wisdom； he
believed to be living and divine。 Perhaps once it was； but if
so its star had set for ever； like those of Amon； Jupiter and
Baal； and he was its last worshipper。
Now we were safe； but still we sped on till we reached the
portico of our sleeping place。 Then Yva turned and spoke。
〃It is horrible；〃 she said； 〃and my soul sickens。 Oh； I thank
the Strength which made it that I have no desire to rule the
earth； and； being innocent of death； do not fear to die and cross
his threshold。〃
〃Yes； it is horrible；〃 I answered。 〃Yet all men fear death。〃
〃Not when they have found love； Humphrey； for that I think is
his true name； and； with it written on his brow； he stands upon
the neck of Fate who is still my father's god。〃
〃Then he is not yours； Yva？〃
〃Nay。 Once it was so； but now I reject him； he is no longer
mine。 As Oro threatens； and perchance dare do in his rage； I have
broken his chain； though in another fashion。 Ask me no more；
perhaps one day you will learn the path I trod to freedom。〃
Then before I could speak； she went off：
〃Rest now； for within a few hours I must come to lead you and
your companions to a terrible place。 Yet whatever you may see or
hear； be not afraid； Humphrey； for I think that Oro's god has no
power over you； strong though he was； and that Oro's plans will
fail； while I； who too have knowledge； shall find strength to
save the world。〃
Then of a sudden； once again she grew splendid； almost divine；
no more a woman but as it were an angel。 Some fire of pure
purpose seemed to burn up in her and to shine out of her eyes。
Yet she said little。 Only this indeed：
〃To everyone； I think； there comes the moment of opportunity
when choice must be made between what is great and what is small；
between self and its desires and the good of other wanderers in
the way。 This day that moment may draw near to you or me； and if
so； surely we shall greet it well。 Such is Bastin's lesson； which
I have striven to learn。〃
Then she flung her arms about me and kissed me on the brow as a
mother might； and was gone。
Strangely enough； perhaps because of my mental exhaustion； for
what I had passed through seemed to overwhelm me so that I could
no longer so much as think with clearness； even after all that I
have described I slept like a child and awoke refreshed and well。
I looked at my watch to find that it was now eight o'clock in
the morning in this horrible place where there was neither morn；
nor noon； nor night； but only an eternal brightness that came I
knew not whence； and never learned。
I found that I was alone； since Bickley and Bastin had gone to
fill our bottles with the Life…water。 Presently they returned and
we ate a little； with that water to drink one did not need much
food。 It was a somewhat silent meal； for our circumstances were a
check on talk； moreover； I thought that the others looked at me
rather oddly。 Perhaps they guessed something of my midnight visit
to the temple； but if so they thought it wisest to say nothing。
Nor did I enlighten them。
Shortly after we had finished Yva appeared。 She was wonderfully
quiet and gentle in her manner； calm also； and greeted all of us
with much sweetness。 Of our experiences during the night she said
no word to me； even when we were alone。 One difference I noticed
about her； however； that she was clothed in garments such as I
had never seen her wear before。 They were close fitting； save for
a flowing cape； and made of some grey material； not unlike a
coarse homespun or even asbestos cloth。 Still they became her
very well； and when I remarked upon them； all she answered was
that part of our road would be rough。 Even her feet were shod
with high buskins of this grey stuff。
Presently she touched Bastin on the shoulder and said that she
would speak with him apart。 They went together into one of the
chambers of that dwelling and there remained for perhaps the half
of an hour。 It was towards the end of this time that in the
intense silence I heard a crash from the direction of the temple；
as though something heavy had fallen to the rocky floor。 Bickley
also heard this sound。 When the two reappeared I noticed that
though still quite calm； Yva looked radiant； and； if I may say
so； even more human and womanly than I had ever seen her； while
Bastin also seemed very happy。
〃One has strange experiences in life； yes； very strange；〃 he
remarked； apparently addressing the air； which left me wondering
to what particular experience he might refer。 Well； I thought
that I could guess。
〃Friends；〃 said Yva； 〃it is time for us to be going and I am
your guide。 You will meet the Lord Oro at the end of your
journey。 I pray you to bring those lamps of yours with you； since
all the road is not lightened like this place。〃
〃I should like to ask；〃 said Bickley； 〃whither we go and for
what object； points on which up to the present we have had no
definite information。〃
〃We go； friend Bickley； deep into the bowels of the world； far
deeper； I think； than any mortal men have gone hitherto； that is；
of your race。〃
〃Then we shall perish of heat；〃 said Bickley； 〃for with every
thousand feet the temperature rises many degrees。〃
〃Not so。 You will pass through a zone of heat； but so swiftly
that if you hold your breath you will not suffer overmuch。 Then
you will come to a place where a great draught blows which will
keep you cool； and thence travel on to the end。〃
〃Yes； but to what end； Lady Yva？〃
〃That you will see for yourselves； and with it other wondrous
things。〃
Here some new idea seemed to strike her； and after a little
hesitation she added：
〃Yet why should you go？ Oro has commanded it； it is true； but I
think that at the last he will forget。 It must be decided
swiftly。 There is yet time。 I can place you in safety in the
sepulchre of Sleep where you found us。 Thence cross to the main
island and sail away quickly in your boat out into the great sea；
where I believe you will find succour。 Know that after disobeying
him； you must meet Oro no more lest it should be the worse for
you。 If that be your will； let us start。 What say you？〃
She looked at me。
〃I say； Yva； that I am willing to go if you come with us。 Not
otherwise。〃
〃I say；〃 said Bickley； 〃that I want to see all this
supernatural rubbish thoroughly exploded； and that therefore I
should prefer to go on with the business。〃
〃And I say；〃 said Bastin； 〃that my most earnest desire is to be
clear of the whole thing； which wearies and perplexes me more
than I can tell。 Only I am not going to run away； unless you
think it desirable to do so too； Lady Yva。 I want you to
understand that I am not in the least afraid of the Lord Oro； and
do not for one moment believe that he will be allowed to bring
about disaster to the world； as I understand is his wicked
object。 Therefore on the whole I am indifferent and quite
prepared to accept any decision at which the rest of you may
arrive。〃
〃Be it understood；〃 said Yva with a little smile when Bastin
had finished his sermonette； 〃that I must join my father in the
bowels of the earth for a reason which will be made plain
afterwards。 Therefore； if you go we part； as I think to meet no
more。 Still my advice is that you should go。〃 *
（ * It is fortunate that we did not accept Yva's offer。 Had we
done so we should have found ourselves shut in； and perished； as
shall be told。腍。 A。 ）
To this our only answer was to attend to the lighting of our
lamps and the disposal of our small impedimenta； such as our tins
of oil and water bottles。 Yva noted this and laughed outright。
〃Courage did not die with the Sons of Wisdom；〃 she said。
Then we set out； Yva walking ahead of us and Tommy frisking at
her side。
Our road led us through the temple。 As we passed the great
gates I started； for there； in the centre of that glorious
building； I perceived a change。 The statue of Fate was no more