第14章

Soitwas。Thewholeplacewasfilledwithasoftradiance，equaltothatofthesunatnoon，butgentlerandwithoutheat。

"Wheredoesitcomefrom？"IwhisperedtoYva。

"Oh！"shereplied，asIthoughtevasively。"ItisthelightoftheUnder—worldwhichweknowhowtouse。Theearthisfulloflight，whichisnotwonderful，isit，seeingthatitsheartisfire？Nowlookaboutyou。"

Ilookedandleantonherharderthanever，sinceamazementmademeweak。Wewereinsomevastplacewhereoftheroofseemedalmostasfaroffastheskyatnight。AtleastallthatIcouldmakeoutwasadimanddistantarchwhichmighthavebeenoneofcloud。Fortherest，ineverydirectionstretchedvastness，illuminatedfarastheeyecouldreachbythesoftlightofwhichIhavespoken，thatis，probablyforseveralmiles。Butthisvastnesswasnotempty。Onthecontraryitwasoccupiedbyagreatcity。TherewerestreetsmuchwiderthanPiccadilly，allborderedbyhouses，thoughthese，Iobserved，wereroofless，veryfinehouses，someofthem，builtofwhitestoneormarble。Therewereroadwaysandpavementswornbythepassageoffeet。There，fartheron，weremarket—placesorpublicsquares，andthere，lastly，wasahugecentralenclosureoneortwohundredacresinextent，whichwasfilledwithmajesticbuildingsthatlookedlikepalaces，ortown—halls；and，inthemidstofthemall，avasttemplewithcourtsandacentraldome。Forhere，notwithstandingthelackofnecessity，itsbuildersseemedtohaveadheredtotheOver—worldtradition，andhadroofedtheirfane。

Andnowcametheterror。Allofthisenormouscitywasdead。

Haditstooduponthemoonitcouldnothavebeenmoredead。Nonepaceditsstreets；nonelookedfromitswindow—places。Nonetraffickedinitsmarkets，noneworshippedinitstemple。Swept，garnished，lighted，practicallyuntouchedbythehandofTime，herewherenorainsfellandnowindsblew，itwasyetahowlingwilderness。Forwhatwildernessistheretoequalthatwhichoncehasbeenthebusyhauntofmen？LetthosewhohavestoodamongtheburiedcitiesofCentralAsia，orofAnarajapurainCeylon，orevenamidtheruinsofSalamisonthecoastofCyprus，answerthequestion。Butherewassomethinginfinitelymoreawful。A

hugehumanhauntinthebowelsoftheearthutterlydevoidofhumanbeings，andyetasperfectasonthedaywhentheseceasedtobe。

"Idonotcareforundergroundlocalities，"remarkedBastin，hisgruffvoiceechoingstrangelyinthatterriblesilence，"butitdoesseemapitythatallthesefinebuildingsshouldbewasted。Isupposetheirinhabitantslefttheminsearchoffreshair。"

"Whydidtheyleavethem？"IaskedofYva。

"Becausedeathtookthem，"sheansweredsolemnly。"Eventhosewholiveathousandyearsdieatlast，andiftheyhavenochildren，withthemdiestherace。"

"Thenwereyouthelastofyourpeople？"Iasked。

"Inquireofmyfather，"shereplied，andledthewaythroughthemassivearchofagreatbuilding。

Itledintoawalledcourtyardinthecentreofwhichwasaplaincupolaofmarblewithagateofsomepalemetalthatlookedlikeplatinummixedwithgold。Thisgatestoodopen。

Withinitwasthestatueofawomanbeautifullyexecutedinwhitemarbleandsetinanicheofsomeblackstone。Thefigurewasdrapedasthoughtoconcealtheshape，andthefacewassternandmajesticratherthanbeautiful。Theeyesofthestatuewerecunninglymadeofsomeenamelwhichgavethemastrangeandlifelikeappearance。Theystaredupwardsasthoughlookingawayfromtheearthanditsconcerns。Thearmswereoutstretched。Intherighthandwasacupofblackmarble，intheleftasimilarcupofwhitemarble。Fromeachofthesecupstrickledathinstreamofsparklingwater，whichtwostreamsmetandmingledatadistanceofaboutthreefeetbeneaththecups。Thentheyfellintoametalbasinwhich，althoughitmusthavebeenquiteafootthick，wascutrightthroughbytheirconstantimpact，andapparentlyvanisheddownsomepipebeneath。OutofthismetalbasinTommy，whogambolledintotheplaceaheadofus，begantodrinkinagreedyanddemonstrativefashion。

"TheLife—water？"Isaid，lookingatourguide。

Shenoddedandaskedinherturn：

"Whatisthestatueandwhatdoesitsignify，Humphrey？"

Ihesitated，butBastinanswered：

"Justaratheruglywomanwhohidupherfigurebecauseitwasbad。Probablyshewasarelationoftheartistwhowishedtohaveherlikenessdoneandsatfornothing。"

"ThegoddessofHealth，"suggestedBickley。"Herproportionsareperfect；arobust，athoroughlynormalwoman。"

"Now，Humphrey，"saidYva。

Istaredattheworkandhadnotanidea。ThenitflashedonmewithsuchsuddennessandcertainitythatIamconvincedtheanswertotheriddlewaspassedtomefromheranddidnotoriginateinmyownmind。

"Itseemsquiteeasy，"Isaidinasuperiortone。"ThefiguresymbolisesLifeandisdrapedbecauseweonlyseethefaceofLife，therestishidden。ThearmsarebarebecauseLifeisrealandactive。OnecupisblackandoneiswhitebecauseLifebringsbothgoodandevilgifts；thatiswhythestreamsmingle，tobelostbeneathinthedarknessofdeath。Thefeaturesaresternandeventerrifyingratherthanlovely，becausesuchistheaspectofLife。Theeyeslookupwardandfarawayfrompresentthings，becausethereallifeisnothere。"

"Ofcourseonemaysayanything，"saidBastin，"butIdon’tunderstandallthat。"

"Imaginationgoesalongway，"brokeinBickley，whowasvexedthathehadnotthoughtofthisinterpretationhimself。ButYvasaid：

"Ibegintothinkthatyouarequiteclever，Humphrey。Iwonderwhencethetruthcametoyou，forsuchisthemeaningofthefigureandthecups。HadItoldittoyoumyself，itcouldnothavebeenbettersaid，"andsheglancedatmeoutofthecornersofhereyes。"Now，Strangers，willyoudrink？Oncethatgatewasguarded，andonlyatagreatpriceorasagreatrewardwerecertainoftheHighestBloodgiventhefreedomofthisfountainwhichmighttouchnocommonlips。Indeeditwasoneofthecausesofourlastwar，foralltheworldwhichwas，desiredthiswaterwhichnowislappedbyastranger’shound。"

"Isupposethereisnothingmedicinalinit？"saidBastin。

"OncewhenIwasverythirsty，Imadeamistakeanddrankthreetumblersofsomethingofthesortinthedark，thinkingthatitwasApollinaris，andIdon’twanttodoitagain。"

"Justthesortofthingyouwoulddo，"saidBickley。"But，LadyYva，whatarethepropertiesofthiswater？"

"Itisveryhealth—giving，"sheanswered，"andifdrunkcontinually，notlessthanonceeachthirtydays，itwardsoffsickness，lessenshungerandpostponesdeathformany，manyyears。ThatiswhythoseoftheHighBloodenduredsolongandbecametherulersoftheworld，andthat，asIhavesaid，isthegreatestofthereasonswhythepeopleswhodweltintheancientoutercountriesandneverwishedtodie，madewaruponthem，towinthissecretfountain。Havenofear，OBastin，forsee，Iwillpledgeyouinthiswater。"

Thensheliftedastrange—looking，shallow，metalcupwhereofthehandleswereformedoftwistedserpents，thatlayinthebasin，filleditfromthetricklingstream，bowedtousanddrank。ButasshedrankInotedwithathrillofjoythathereyeswerefixedonmineasthoughitweremeshepledgedandmealone。Againshefilledthecupwiththesparklingwater，foritdidsparkle，likethatFrenchliqueurinwhicharemingledlittleflakesofgold，andhandedittome。

Ibowedtoheranddrank。Isupposethefluidwaswater，buttomeittastedmorelikestrongchampagne，dashedwithChateauYquem。Itwasdelicious。More，itseffectsweredistinctlypeculiar。Somethingquickandsubtleranthroughmyveins；

somethingthatforafewmomentsseemedtoburnawaytheobscurenesswhichblursourthought。Ibegantounderstandseveralproblemsthathadpuzzledme，andthenlosttheirexplanationsinthemidstoflight，innerlight，Imean。

Moreover，ofasuddenitseemedtomeasthoughawindowhadbeenopenedintheheartofthatGlitteringLadywhostoodbesideme。

AtleastIknewthatitwasfullofwonderfulknowledge，wonderfulmemoriesandwonderfulhopes，andthatinthelattertwooftheseIhadsomepart；whatpartIcouldnottell。AlsoI

knewthatmyheartwasopentoherandthatshesawinitsomethingwhichcausedhertomarvelandtosigh。

Inafewseconds，thirtyperhaps，allthiswasgone。NothingremainedexceptthatIfeltextremelystrongandwell，happier，too，thanIhadbeenforyears。MutelyIaskedherformoreofthewater，butsheshookherheadand，takingthecupfromme，filleditagainandgaveittoBickley，whodrank。Heflushed，seemedtolosetheself—controlwhichwashisverystrongcharacteristic，andsaidinaratherthickvoice：

"Curious！butIdonotthinkatthismomentthereisanyoperationthathaseverbeenattemptedwhichIcouldnottacklesingle—handedandwithsuccess。"

Thenhewassilent，andBastin’sturncame。Hedrankrathernoisily，afterhisfashion，andbegan：

"Mydearyounglady，IthinkthetimehascomewhenIshouldexpoundtoyou——"Herehebrokeoffandcommencedsingingverybadly，forhisvoicewassomewhatraucous：

FromGreenland’sicymountains，FromIndia’scoralstrand，WhereAfric’ssunnyfountainsRolldowntheirgoldensand。

Ceasingfrommelody，headded：

"IdeterminedthatIwoulddrinknothingintoxicatingwhileI

wasonthisislandthatImightbeashininglightinadarkplace，andnowIfearthatquiteunwittinglyIhavebrokenwhatI

lookuponasapromise。"

Thenhe，too，grewsilent。

"Come，"saidYva，"myfather，theLordOro，awaitsyou。"

WecrossedthecourtoftheWaterofLifeandmountedstepsthatledtoawideandimpressiveportico，Tommyfriskingaheadofusinamostexcitedwayforadogofhisexperience。

Evidentlythewaterhadproduceditseffectuponhimaswellasuponhismasters。ThisporticowasinasolemnstyleofarchitecturewhichIcannotdescribe，becauseitdifferedfromanyotherthatIknow。ItwasnotEgyptianandnotGreek，althoughitssolidityremindedmeoftheformer，andthebeautyandgraceofsomeofthecolumns，ofthelatter。TheprofusenessandrathergrotesquecharacterofthecarvingssuggestedtheruinsofMexicoandYucatan，andtheenormoussizeoftheblocksofstone，thoseofPeruandBaalbec。Inshort，alltheknownformsofancientarchitecturemighthavefoundtheirinspirationhere，andthegeneraleffectwastremendous。

"ThepalaceoftheKing，"saidYva，"whereofweapproachthegreathall。"

Weenteredthroughmightymetaldoors，oneofwhichstoodajar，intoavestibulewhichfromcertainindicationsIgatheredhadoncebeenaguard，orperhapsanassembly—room。Itwasaboutfortyfeetdeepbyahundredwide。Thencesheledusthroughasmallerdoorintothehallitself。Itwasavastplacewithoutcolumns，fortherewasnorooftosupport。ThewallsofmarbleorlimestoneweresculpturedlikethoseofEgyptiantemples，apparentlywithbattlescenes，thoughofthisIamnotsureforI

didnotgoneartothem。Exceptforabroadavenuealongthemiddle，upwhichwewalked，theareawasfilledwithmarblebenchesthatwould，Ipresume，haveaccommodatedseveralthousandpeople。Buttheywereempty——empty，andoh！thelonelinessofitall。

Farawayattheheadofthehallwasadaisenclosed，and，asitwere，roofedinbyatoweringstructurethatmingledgraceandmajestytoawonderfuldegree。Itwasmodelledonthepatternofahugeshell。Thebaseoftheshellwastheplatform；behindweretheribs，andabove，theoverhanginglipoftheshell。Onthisplatformwasathroneofsilverymetal。Itwassupportedonthearchedcoilsofsnakes，whereofthetailsformedthebackandtheheadsthearmsofthethrone。

Onthisthrone，arrayedingorgeousrobes，sattheLordOro，hiswhitebeardflowingoverthem，andajewelledcapuponhishead。Infrontofhimwasalowtableonwhichlaygravensheetsofmetal，andamongthemalargeballofcrystal。

Therehesat，solemnandsilentinthemidstofthisawfulsolitude，lookinginverytruthlikeagod，asweconceivesuchabeingtoappear。Smallashewasinthathugeexpanseofbuildings，heseemedyettodominateit，inasensetofilltheemptinesswhichwasaccentuatedbyhispresence。Iknowthatthesightofhimfilledmewithtruefearwhichithadneverdoneinthelightofday，notevenwhenhearosefromhiscrystalcoffin。

NowforthefirsttimeIfeltasthoughIwerereallyinthepresenceofaBeingSupernatural。Doubtlessthesurroundingsheightenedthisimpression。Whatwerethesemightyedificesinthebowelsoftheworld？Whencamethiswondrous，all—pervadingandtranslucentlight，whereofwecouldseenoorigin？Whitherhadvanishedthosewhohadrearedandinhabitedthem？Howdidithappenthatofthemall，thisman，ifhewereaman；andthislovelywomanatmyside，who，ifImighttrustmysensesandinstincts，wascertainlyawoman，alonesurvivedoftheirdepartedmultitudes？

Thethingwascrushing。IlookedatBickleyforencouragement，butgotnone，forheonlyshookhishead。EvenBastin，nowthatthefirsteffectsoftheLife—waterhaddeparted，seemedoverwhelmed，andmutteredsomethingaboutthehallsofHades。

OnlythelittledogTommyremainedquitecheerful。Hetrotteddownthehall，jumpedontothedaisandsathimselfcomfortablyatthefeetofitsoccupant。

"Igreetyou，"Orosaidinhisslow，resonantvoice。"Daughter，leadthesestrangerstome；Iwouldspeakwiththem。"

ChapterXV

OroinHisHouseWeclimbedontothedaisbysomemarblesteps，andsatourselvesdowninfourcuriouschairsofmetalthatweremoreorlesscopiedfromthatwhichservedOroasathrone；atleastthearmsendedingravenheadsofsnakes。ThesechairsweresocomfortablethatIconcludedtheseatswerefixedonsprings，alsowenoticedthattheywerebeautifullypolished。

"Iwonderhowtheykeepeverythingsoclean，"saidBastinaswemountedthedais。"Inthisbigplaceitmusttakealotofhousemaids，thoughIdon’tseeany。Butperhapsthereisnodusthere。"

Ishruggedmyshoulderswhileweseatedourselves，theLadyYvaandIonOro’sright，BickleyandBastinonhisleft，asheindicatedbypointingwithhisfinger。

"Whatsayyouofthiscity？"Oroaskedafterawhileofme。

"Wedonotknowwhattosay，"Ireplied。"Itamazesus。Inourworldthereisnothingliketoit。"

"Perchancetherewillbeinthefuturewhenthenationsgrowmoreskilledintheartsofwar，"saidOrodarkly。

"Bepleased，LordOro，"Iwenton，"ifitisyourwill，totelluswhythepeoplewhobuiltthisplacechosetoliveinthebowelsoftheearthinsteadofuponitssurface。"

"Theydidnotchoose；itwasforceduponthem，"wastheanswer。

"Thisisacityofrefugethattheyoccupiedintimeofwar，notbecausetheyhatedthesun。IntimeofpeaceandbeforetheBarbariansdaredtoattackthem，theydweltinthecityPaniwhichsignifiesAbove。Youmayhavenotedsomeofitsremainingruinsonthemountandthroughouttheisland。Therestofthemarenowbeneaththesea。Butwhentroublecameandthefoerainedfireonthemfromtheair，theyretreatedtothistown，Nyo，whichsignifiesBeneath。"

"Andthen？"

"Andthentheydied。TheWaterofLifemayprolonglife，butitcannotmakewomenbearchildren。Thattheywillonlydobeneaththeblueofheaven，notdeepinthebellyoftheworldwhereNatureneverdesignedthattheyshoulddwell。Howwouldthevoicesofchildrensoundinsuchhallsasthese？Tellme，you，Bickley，whoareaphysician。"

"Icannot。Icannotimaginechildreninsuchaplace，andifbornheretheywoulddie，"saidBickley。

Oronodded。

"Theydiddie，andiftheywentabovetoPanitheyweremurdered。SosoonthehabitofbirthwaslostandtheSonsofWisdomperishedonebyone。Yes，theywhoruledtheworldandbytensofthousandsofyearsoftoilhadgatheredintotheirbosomsallthesecretsoftheworld，perished，tillonlyafew，andamongthemIandthisdaughterofmine，wereleft。"

"Andthen？"

"Then，Humphrey，havingpowersotodo，IdidwhatlongIhadthreatened，andunchainedtheforcesthatworkattheworld’sheart，anddestroyedthemwhoweremyenemiesandevil，sothattheyperishedbymillions，andwiththemalltheirworks。

Afterwardsweslept，leavingtheothers，oursubjectswhohadnotthesecretofthisSleep，todie，asdoubtlesstheydidinthecourseofNatureorbythehandofthefoe。Therestyouknow。"

"Cansuchathinghappenagain？"askedBickleyinavoicethatdidnothidehisdisbelief。

"Whydoyouquestionme，Bickley，youwhobelievenothingofwhatItellyou，andthereforemakewrath？StillIwillsaythis，thatwhatIcausedtohappenIcancauseoncemore——onlyonce，I

think——asperchanceyoushalllearnbeforeallisdone。Now，sinceyoudonotbelieve，Iwilltellyounomoreofourmysteries，no，notwhencethislightcomesnorwhatarethepropertiesoftheWaterofLife，bothofwhichyoulongtoknow，norhowtopreservethevitalsparkofBeinginthegraveofdreamlesssleep，likealivejewelinacasketofdeadstone，noraughtelse。Astothesematters，Daughter，Ibidyoualsotobesilent，sinceBickleymocksatus。Yes，withallthisaroundhim，hewhosawusrisefromthecoffins，stillmocksatusinhisheart。Thereforelethim，thislittlemanofalittleday，whenhisfewyearsaredonegotothetombinignorance，andhiscompanionswithhim，theywhomighthavebeenaswiseasIam。"

ThusOrospokeinavoiceoficyrage，hisdeepeyesglowinglikecoals。HearinghimIcursedBickleyinmyheartforIwassurethatoncespoken，hisdecreewasliketothatoftheMedesandPersiansandcouldnotbealtered。Bickley，however，wasnotintheleastdismayed。Indeedhearguedthepoint。HetoldOrostraightoutthathewouldnotbelieveintheimpossibleuntilithadbeenshowntohimtobepossible，andthatthelawofNatureneverhadbeenandnevercouldbeviolated。Itwasnoanswer，hesaid，toshowhimwonderswithoutexplainingtheircause，sinceallthatheseemedtoseemightbebutmentalillusionsproducedheknewnothow。

Orolistenedpatiently，thenanswered：

"Good。Sobeit，theyareillusions。Iamanillusion；thosesavageswhodiedupontherockwilltellyouso。Thisfairwomanbeforeyouisanillusion；Humphrey，Iamsure，knowsitasyouwillalsobeforeyouhavedonewithher。Thesehallsareillusions。Liveoninyourillusions，Olittlemanofscience，whobecauseyouseethefaceofthings，thinkthatyouknowthebodyandtheheart，andcanreadthesoulatworkwithin。Youareaworthychildoftensofthousandsofyourbreedwhowerebeforeyouandarenowforgotten。"

Bickleylookeduptoanswer，thenchangedhismindandwassilent，thinkingfurtherargumentdangerous，andOrowenton：

"NowIdifferfromyou，Bickley，inthisway。Iwhohavemorewisdominmyfinger—pointthanyouwithallthephysiciansofyourworldaddedtoyou，haveinyourbrainsandbodies，yetdesiretolearnfromthosewhocangivemeknowledge。I

understandfromyourwordstomydaughterthatyou，Bastin，teachafaiththatisnewtome，andthatthisfaithtellsoflifeeternalforthechildrenofearth。Isitso？"

"Itis，"saidBastineagerly。"Iwillsetout——"

Orocuthimshortwithawaveofthehand。

"NotnowinthepresenceofBickleywhodoubtlessdisbelievesyourfaith，ashedoesallelse，holdingitwithjusticeorwithout，tobebutanotherillusion。YetyoushallteachmeandonitIwillformmyownjudgment。"

"Ishallbedelighted，"saidBastin。Thenadoubtstruckhim，andheadded："Butwhydoyouwishtolearn？Notthatyoumaymakeamockofmyreligion，isit？"

"Imockatnoman’sbelief，becauseIthinkthatwhatmenbelieveistrue——forthem。IwilltellyouwhyIwishtohearofyours，sinceIneverhidethetruth。Iwhoamsowiseandold，yetmustdie；thoughthattimemaybefaraway，stillImustdie，forsuchisthelotofmanbornofwoman。AndIdonotdesiretodie。ThereforeIshallrejoicetolearnofanyfaiththatpromisestothechildrenofearthalifeeternalbeyondtheearth。Tomorrowyoushallbegintoteachme。Nowleaveme，Strangers，forIhavemuchtodo，"andhewavedhishandtowardsthetable。

Weroseandbowed，wonderingwhathecouldhavetododowninthisluminoushole，hewhohadbeenforsomanythousandsofyearsoutoftouchwiththeworld。Itoccurredtome，however，thatduringthislongperiodhemighthavegotintouchwithotherworlds，indeedhelookedlikeit。

"Wait，"hesaid，"Ihavesomethingtotellyou。Ihavebeenstudyingthisbookofwritings，orworldpictures，"andhepointedtomyatlaswhich，asInowobservedforthefirsttime，wasalsolyinguponthetable。"Itinterestsmemuch。Yourcountryissmall，verysmall。WhenIcausedittoberaisedupI

thinkthatitwaslarger，butsincethenthatseashaveflowedin。"

HereBickleygroanedaloud。

"Thisoneismuchgreater，"wentonOro，castingaglanceatBickleythatmusthavepenetratedhimlikeasearchlight。ThenheopenedthemapofEuropeandwithhisfingerindicatedGermanyandAustria—Hungary。"Iknownothingofthepeoplesoftheselands，"headded，"butasyoubelongtooneofthemandaremyguests，Itrustthatyoursmaysucceedinthewar。"

"Whatway？"weaskedwithonevoice。

"SinceBickleyissoclever，surelyheshouldknowbetterthananillusionsuchasI。AllIcantellyouisthatIhavelearnedthatthereiswarbetweenthiscountryandthat，"andhepointedtoGreatBritainandtoGermanyuponthemap；"alsobetweenothers。"