第15章

"Itisquitepossible，"Isaid，rememberingmanythings。"Buthowdoyouknow？"

"IfItoldyou，Humphrey，Bickleywouldnotbelieve，soIwillnottell。PerhapsIsawitinthatcrystal，asdidthenecromancersoftheearlyworld。OrperhapsthecrystalservessomedifferentpurposeandIsawitotherwise——withmysoul。AtleastwhatIsayistrue。"

"Thenwhowillwin？"askedBastin。

"Icannotreadthefuture，Preacher。IfIcould，shouldIaskyoutoexpoundtomeyourreligionwhichprobablyisofnomoreworththanascoreofothersIhavestudied，justbecauseittellsofthefuture？IfIcouldreadthefutureIshouldbeagodinsteadofonlyanearth—lord。"

"Yourdaughtercalledyouagodandyousaidthatyouknewwewerecomingtowakeyouup，whichisreadingthefuture，"

answeredBastin。

"Everyfatherisagodtohisdaughter，orshouldbe；alsoinmydaymillionsnamedmeagodbecauseIsawfurtherandstruckharderthantheycould。Asfortherest，itcametomeinavision。Oh！Bickley，ifyouwerewiserthanyouthinkyouare，youwouldknowthatallthingstocomearebornelsewhereandtravelhitherlikethelightfromstars。Sometimestheycomefasterbeforetheirdayintoasinglemind，andthatiswhatmencallprophecy。Butthisisagiftwhichcannotbecommanded，evenbyme。AlsoIdidnotknowthatyouwouldcome。Iknewonlythatweshouldawakenandbythehelpofmen，forifnonehadbeenpresentatthatdestinedhourwemusthavediedforlackofwarmthandsustenance。"

"Idenyyourhypothesisintoto，"exclaimedBickley，butnobodypaidanyattentiontohim。

"Myfather，"saidYva，risingandbowingbeforehimwithherswan—likegrace，"Ihavenotedyourcommands。ButdoyoupermitthatIshowthetempletothesestrangers，alsosomethingofourpast？"

"Yes，yes，"hesaid。"Itwillsavemuchtalkinasavagetonguethatisdifficulttome。Butbringthemherenomorewithoutmycommand，saveBastinonly。Whenthesunisfourhourshighintheupperworld，lethimcometomorrowtoteachme，andafterwardsifsoIdesire。Orifhewills，hecansleephere。"

"IthinkIwouldrathernot，"saidBastinhurriedly。"Imakenopretensetobeingparticular，butthisplacedoesnotappealtomeasabedroom。Therearedegreesinthepleasuresofsolitudeand，inshort，Iwillnotdisturbyourprivacyatnight。"

Orowavedhishandandwedeparteddownthatawfulandmostdrearyhall。

"Ihopeyouwillspendapleasanttimehere，Bastin，"Isaid，lookingbackfromthedoorwayatitscold，illuminatedvastness。

"Idon’texpectto，"heanswered，"butdutyisduty，andifI

candragthatoldsinnerbackfromthepitthatawaitshim，itwillbeworthdoing。OnlyIhavemydoubtsabouthim。TomeheseemstobearastrongfamilyresemblancetoBeelzebub，andhe’sabadcompanionweekinandweekout。"

Wewentthroughtheportico，Yvaleadingus，andpassedthefountainofLife—water，ofwhichshecautionedustodrinknomoreatpresent，andtopreventhimfromdoingso，draggedTommypastitbyhiscollar。Bickley，however，lingeredunderthepretenceofmakingafurtherexaminationofthestatue。AsIhadseenhimemptyingintohispocketthecontentsofacorkedbottleofquininetabloidswhichhealwayscarriedwithhim，Iguessedverywellthathisobjectwastoprocureasampleofthiswaterforfutureanalysis。OfcourseIsaidnothing，andYvaandBastintooknonoteofwhathewasdoing。

Whenwewereclearofthepalace，ofwhichwehadonlyseenonehall，wewalkedacrossanopenspacemadeunutterablydrearybytheabsenceofanyvegetationorothersignoflife，towardsahugebuildingofgloriousproportionsthatwasconstructedofblackstoneormarble。Itisimpossibleformetogiveanyideaofthefrightfulsolemnityofthisdoomededifice，forasIthinkIhavesaid，italonehadaroof，standingthereinthemidstofthatbrilliant，unvaryingandmostunnaturalilluminationwhichcamefromnowhereandyetwaseverywhere。Thus，whenoneliftedafoot，thereitwasbetweenthesoleofthebootandthefloor，ortoexpressitbetter，thebootthrewnoshadow。Ithinkthisabsenceofshadowswasperhapsthemostterrifyingcircumstanceconnectedwiththatuniversalandpervadinglight。Throughitwewalkedontothetemple。Wepassedthreecourts，pillaredallofthem，andcametothebuildingwhichwaslargerthanSt。Paul’sinLondon。Weenteredthroughhugedoorswhichstillstoodopen，andpresentlyfoundourselvesbeneaththetoweringdome。Therewerenowindows，whyshouldtherebeinaplacethatwasfulloflight？Therewasnoornamentation，therewasnothingexceptblackwalls。Andyetthegeneraleffectwasmagnificentinitsmajesticgrace。

"Inthisplace，"saidYva，andhersweetvoicewentwhisperingroundthewallsandthearchingdome，"wereburiedtheKingsoftheSonsofWisdom。Theyliebeneath，eachinhissepulchre。Itsentranceisyonder，"andshepointedtowhatseemedtobeachapelontheright。"Wouldyouwishtoseethem？"

"SomehowIdon’tcareto，"saidBastin。"Theplaceisdrearyenoughasitiswithoutthecompanyofalotofdeadkings。"

"Ishouldliketodissectoneofthem，butIsupposethatwouldnotbeallowed，"saidBickley。

"No，"sheanswered。"IthinkthattheLordOrowouldnotwishyoutocutuphisforefathers。"

"Whenyouandhewenttosleep，whydidyounotchoosethefamilyvault？"askedBastin。

"Wouldyouhavefoundusthere？"shequeriedbywayofanswer。

Then，understandingthattheinvitationwasrefusedbygeneralconsent，thoughpersonallyIshouldhavelikedtoacceptit，andhaveneverceasedregrettingthatIdidnot，shemovedtowardsacolossalobjectwhichstoodbeneaththecentreofthedome。

Onasteppedbase，notverydifferentfromthatinthecavebutmuchlarger，satafigure，drapedinacloakonwhichwasgravedanumberofstars，doubtlesstosymbolisetheheavens。Thefasteningofthecloakwasshapedlikethecrescentmoon，andthefoot—stoolonwhichrestedthefigure’sfeetwasfashionedtosuggesttheorbofthesun。Thiswasofgoldorsomesuchmetal，theonlyspotofbrightnessinallthattemple。Itwasimpossibletosaywhetherthefigureweremaleorfemale，forthecloakfallinginlong，straightfoldshiditsoutlines。Nordidtheheadtellus，forthehairalsowashiddenbeneaththemantleandthefacemighthavebeenthatofeithermanorwoman。Itwasterribleinitssolemnityandcalm，anditsexpressionwasasremoteandmysticasthatofBuddha。onlymorestern。Alsowithoutdoubtitwasblind；itwasimpossibletomistakethesightlessnessofthosestaringorbs。Acrossthekneeslayanakedswordandbeneaththecloakthearmswerehidden。Initscompletesimplicitythethingwasmarvelous。

Oneithersideuponthepedestalkneltafigureofthesizeoflife。Onewasanoldandwitheredmanwithdeathstampeduponhisface；theotherwasabeautiful，nakedwoman，herhandsclaspedintheattitudeofprayerandwithvagueterrorwrittenonhervividfeatures。

Suchwasthisgloriousgroupofwhichthemeaningcouldnotbemistaken。ItwasFatethroneduponthesun，wearingtheconstellationsashisgarment，armedwiththeswordofDestinyandworshippedbyLifeandDeath。ThisinterpretationIsetouttotheothers。

Yvakneltbeforethestatueforalittlewhile，bowingherheadinprayer，andreallyIfeltinclinedtofollowherexample，thoughintheendIcompromised，asdidBickley，bytakingoffmyhat，which，liketheothers，Istillworefromforceofhabit，thoughinthisplacenonewereneeded。OnlyBastinremainedcovered。

"Beholdthegodofmypeople，"saidYva。"Haveyounoreverenceforit，OBastin？"

"Notmuch，"heanswered，"exceptasaworkofart。YouseeI

worshipFate’sMaster。Imightaddthatyourgoddoesn’tseemtohavedonemuchforyou，LadyYva，asoutofallyourgreatnessthere’snothingleftbuttwopeopleandalotofoldwallsandcaves。"

Atfirstshewasinclinedtobeangry，forIsawherstart。

Thenhermoodchanged，andshesaidwithasigh：

"Fate’sMaster！WheredoesHedwell？"

"Hereamongstotherplaces，"saidBastin。"I’llsoonexplainthattoyou。"

"Ithankyou，"sherepliedgravely。"ButwhyhaveyounotexplainedittoBickley？"Thenwavingherhandtoshowthatshewishedfornoanswer，shewenton：

"Friends，wouldyouwishtolearnsomethingofthehistoryofmypeople？"

"Verymuch，"saidtheirrepressibleBastin，"butIwouldratherthelecturetookplaceintheopenair。"

"Thatisnotpossible，"sheanswered。"Itmustbehereandnow，ornotatall。Come，standbyme。Besilentanddonotmove。Iamabouttosetlooseforcesthataredangerousifdisturbed。"

ChapterXVI

VisionsofthePastSheledustothebackofthestatueandpointedtoeachofuswhereweshouldremain。Thenshetookherplaceatrightanglestous，asashowmanmightdo，andforawhilestoodimmovable。

Watchingherface，oncemoreIsawit，andindeedallherbody，informedwiththatstrangeairofpower，andnotedthathereyesflashedandthatherhairgrewevenmorebrilliantthanwascommon，asthoughsomeabnormalstrengthwereflowingthroughitandher。Presentlyshespoke，saying：

"Ishallshowyoufirstourpeopleinthedayoftheirglory。

Lookinfrontofyou。"

Welookedandbydegreesthevastspaceoftheapsebeforeusbecamealivewithforms。Atfirstthesewerevagueandshadowy，nottobeseparatedordistinguished。Thentheybecamesorealthatuntilhewasreprovedbyakick，Tommygrowledatthemandthreatenedtobreakoutintooneofhispealsofbarking。

Awonderfulsceneappeared。Therewasapalaceofwhitemarbleandinfrontofitagreatcourtyarduponwhichthesunbeatvividly。Atthefootofthestepsofthepalace，beneathasilkenawning，satakingenthroned，acrownuponhisheadandwearinggloriousrobes。Inhishandwasajewelledsceptre。Hewasanoble—lookingmanofmiddleageandabouthimweregatheredtheglitteringofficersofhiscourt。Fairwomenfannedhimandtorightandleft，butalittlebehind，satotherfairandjewelledwomenwho，Isuppose，werehiswivesordaughters。

"OneoftheKingsoftheChildrenofWisdomnew—crowned，receivesthehomageoftheworld，"saidYva。

Asshespokethereappeared，walkinginfrontofthethroneonebyone，otherkings，forallwerecrownedandboresceptres。Atthefootofthethroneeachofthemkneeledandkissedthefootofhimwhosatthereon，ashedidsolayingdownhissceptrewhichatasignheliftedagainandpassedaway。Ofthesekingstheremusthavebeenquitefifty，menofallcoloursandofvarioustypes，whitemen，blackmen，yellowmen，redmen。

Thencametheirministersbearinggifts，apparentlyofgoldandjewels，whichwerepiledontraysinfrontofthethrone。I

remembernotinganincident。Anoldfellowwithalamelegstumbledandupsethistray，sothatthecontentsrolledhitherandthither。Hisattemptstorecoverthemwereludicrousandcausedthemonarchonthethronetorelaxfromhisdignityandsmile。Imentionthistoshowthatwhatwewitnessedwasnosetscenebutapparentlyalivingpieceofthepast。Haditbeensotheabsurdityofthebedizenedoldmantumblingdowninthemidstofthegorgeouspageantwouldcertainlyhavebeenomitted。

No，itmustbelife，reallife，somethingthathadhappened，andthesamemaybesaidofwhatfollowed。Forinstance，therewaswhatwecallareview。Infantrymarched，someofthemarmedwithswordsandspears，thoughtheseItooktobeanornamentalbodyguard，andotherswithtubeslikesavageblowpipesofwhichI

couldnotguesstheuse。Therewerenocannon，butcarriagescamebyloadedwithbagsthathadspoutstothem。Probablythesewerechargedwithpoisonousgases。Thereweresomecavalryalso，mountedonadifferentstampofhorsefromours，thickersetandnearertheground，butwitharchednecksandfieryeyesand，I

shouldsay，verystrong。Theseagain，Itakeit，wereornamental。

Thencameothermenuponalongmachine，slunginpairsinarmouredsacks，outofwhichonlytheirheadsandarmsprojected。

Thismachine，whichresembledanelongatedbicycle，wentbyatatremendousrate，thoughwhenceitsmotivepowercamedidnotappear。Itcarriedtwentypairsofmen，eachofwhomheldinhishandsomesmallbutdoubtlessdeadlyweapon，thatinappearanceresembledanorange。Othersimilarmachineswhichfollowedcarriedfromfortytoahundredpairsofmen。

Themarvelofthepiece，however，weretheaircraft。Thesecamebyingreatnumbers。Sometimestheyflewinflockslikewildgeese，sometimessingly，sometimesinlineandsometimesinorderedsquadrons，withoutpostandofficershipsandanexactdistancekeptbetweencraftandcraft。Noneofthemseemedtobeverylargeortocarrymorethanfourorfivemen，buttheywereextraordinarilyswiftandasagileasswallows。Moreovertheyflewasbirdsdobybeatingtheirwings，butagainwecouldnotguesswhencecametheirmotivepower。

Thereviewvanished，andnextappearedasceneoffestivityinahuge，illuminatedhall。TheGreatKingsatuponadaisandbehindhimwasthatstatueofFate，oroneverysimilartoit，beneathwhichwestood。Belowhiminthehallwerethefeastersseatedatlongtables，cladinthevariouscostumesoftheircountries。Heroseand，turning，kneltbeforethestatueofFate。

Indeedheprostratedhimselfthriceinprayer。Thentakinghisseatagain，heliftedacupofwineandpledgedthatvastcompany。TheydrankbacktohimandprostratedthemselvesbeforehimashehaddonebeforetheimageofFate。OnlyInotedthatcertainmencladinsacerdotalgarmentsnotatallunlikethosewhicharewornintheGreekChurchto—day，remainedstanding。

Nowallthisexhibitionofterrestrialpompfaded。Thenextscenewassimple，thatofthedeath—bedofthissameking——weknewhimbyhiswizenedfeatures。Therehelay，terriblyoldanddying。Physicians，women，courtiers，allweretherewatchingtheend。Thetableauvanishedandinplaceofitappearedthatoftheyouthfulsuccessoramidstcheeringcrowds，withjoybreakingthroughthecloudsofsimulatedgriefuponhisface。Itvanishedalso。

"Thusdidgreatkingsucceedgreatkingforagesuponages，"

saidYva。"Therewereeightyofthemandtheaverageoftheirreignswas700years。Theyruledtheearthasitwasinthosedays。Theygathereduplearning，theywieldedpower，theirwealthwasboundless。Theynurturedthearts，theydiscoveredsecrets。

Theyhadintercoursewiththestars；theywereasgods。Butlikethegodstheygrewjealous。Theyandtheircouncillorsbecamearaceapartwhoalonehadthesecretoflonglife。Therestoftheworldandthecommonplacepeopleaboutthemsufferedanddied。

TheyoftheHouseholdofWisdomlivedoninpompforgenerationstilltheearthwasmadwithenvyofthem。

"FeverandfewergrewthedivineraceoftheSonsofWisdomsincechildrenarenotgiventotheagedandtothoseofanancient，outwornblood。ThentheWorldsaid：

"’Theyaregreatbuttheyarenotmany；letusmakeanendofthembynumbersandtaketheirplaceandpoweranddrinkoftheirLife—water，thattheywillnotgivetous。Ifmyriadsofusperishbytheirarts，whatdoesitmatter，sincewearecountless？’SotheWorldmadewarupontheSonsofWisdom。See！"

Againapictureformed。Theskywasfullofaircraftwhichraineddownfirelikeflashesoflightninguponcitiesbeneath。

Fromthesecitiesleaptupotherfiresthatdestroyedtheswift—

travellingthingsabove，sothattheyfellinnumberslikegnatsburnedbyalamp。Stillmoreandmoreofthemcametillthecitiescrumbledawayandtheflashesthatdartedfromthemceasedtorushupwards。TheSonsofWisdomweredrivenfromthefaceoftheearth。

Againthescenechanged。Nowitshowedthissubterraneanhallinwhichwestood。Therewaspomphere，yetitwasbutashadowofthatwhichhadbeenintheearlierdaysuponthefaceoftheearth。Courtiersmovedaboutthepalaceandtherewerepeopleintheradiantstreetsandthehouses，formostofthemwereoccupied，butrarelydidthevisionshowchildrencomingthroughtheirgates。

Ofasuddenthissceneshifted。NowwesawthatsamehallinwhichwehadvisitedOronotanhourbefore。Therehesat，yes，Orohimself，uponthedaisbeneaththeoverhangingmarbleshell。

Roundhimweresomeancientcouncillors。Inthebodyofthehalloneithersideofthedaisweremeninmilitaryarray，guardswithoutdoubtthoughtheironlyweaponwasablackrodnotunlikearuler，ifindeeditwereaweaponandnotabadgeofoffice。

Yva，whosefacehadsuddenlygrownstrangeandfixed，begantodetailtouswhatwaspassinginthisscene，inacuriousmonotonesuchasapersonmightusewhowasrepeatingsomethinglearnedbyheart。Thiswasthesubstanceofwhatshesaid：

"ThecaseoftheSonsofWisdomisdesperate。Butfewofthemareleft。Likeothermentheyneedfoodwhichishardtocomeby，sincethefoeholdstheupperearthandthatwhichtheirdoctorscanmakehereintheShadesdoesnotsatisfythem，eventhoughtheydrinktheLife—water。Theydieanddie。TherecomesanembassyfromtheHighKingoftheconfederatedNationstotalkoftermsofpeace。See，itenters。"

Asshespoke，upthehalladvancedtheembassy。Attheheadofitwalkedayoungman，tall，dark，handsomeandcommanding，whoseaspectseemedinsomewaytobefamiliartome。Hewasrichlyclothedinapurplecloakandworeuponhisheadagoldencircletthatsuggestedroyalrank。Thosewhofollowedhimweremostlyoldmenwhohadtheastutefacesofdiplomatists，butafewseemedtobegenerals。Yvacontinuedinhermonotonousvoice：

"ComesthesonoftheKingoftheconfederatedNations，thePrincewhowillbeking。HebowsbeforetheLordOro。Hesays’GreatandAncientMonarchofthedivineblood，Heaven—bornOne，yourstrait，andthatofthosewhoremaintoyou，issore。YetonbehalfoftheNationsIamsenttooffertermsofpeace，butthisImayonlydointhepresenceofyourchildwhoisyourheiressandtheQueen—to—beoftheSonsofWisdom。’"

Here，inthepicture，OrowavedhishandandfrombehindthemarbleshellappearedYvaherself，gloriouslyapparelled，wearingroyalornamentsandwithhertrainheldbywaitingladies。ShebowedtothePrinceandhiscompanyandtheybowedbacktoher。

More，wesawaglanceofrecognitionpassbetweenherandthePrince。

NowtherealYvabyoursidepointedtotheshadowYvaofthevisionorthepicture，whicheveritmightbecalled，astrangethingtoseeherdo，andwenton：

"ThedaughteroftheLordOrocomes。ThePrinceoftheNationssalutesher。HesaysthatthegreatwarhasenduredforhundredsofyearsbetweentheChildrenofWisdomfightingforabsoluteruleandthecommonpeopleoftheearthfightingforliberty。InthatwarmanymillionsoftheSonsoftheNationshadperished，broughttotheirdeathbyfearfularts，bywizardriesandbyplaguessownamongthembytheSonsofWisdom。Yettheywerewinning，forthegloriouscitiesoftheSonsofWisdomweredestroyedandthosewhoremainedofthemweredriventodwellinthecavesoftheearthwherewithalltheirstrengthandmagictheycouldnotincrease，butfadedlikeflowersinthedark。

"TheLordOroaskswhatarethetermsofpeaceproposedbytheNations。ThePrinceanswersthattheyarethese：ThattheSonsofWisdomshallteachalltheirwisdomtothewisemenamongtheNations。ThattheyshallgivethemtodrinkoftheLife—water，sothattheirlengthofdaysalsomaybeincreased。Thattheyshallceasetodestroythembysicknessandtheirmasteryoftheforceswhicharehidinthewomboftheworld。Iftheywilldothesethings，thentheNationsontheirpartwillceasefromwar，willrebuildthecitiestheyhavedestroyedbymeansoftheirflyingshipsthatraindowndeath，andwillagreethattheLordOroandhisseedshallrulethemforeverastheKingofkings。

"TheLordOroasksifthatbeall。ThePrinceanswersthatitisnotall。HesaysthatwhenhedweltahostageatthecourtoftheSonsofWisdomheandthedivineLady，thedaughteroftheLordOro，andhisonlylivingchild，learnedtoloveeachother。

Hedemands，andtheNationsdemand，thatsheshallbegiventohimtowife，thatinadaytocomehemayrulewithherandtheirchildrenafterthem。

"See！"wentonYvainherchanting，dreamyvoice，"theLordOroaskshisdaughterifthisbetrue。Shesays，"heretherealYvaatmysideturnedandlookedmestraightintheeyes，"thatitistrue；thatshelovesthePrinceoftheNationsandthatifshelivesamillionyearsshewillwednootherman，sinceshewhoisherfather’sslaveinallelseisstillthemistressofherself，ashaseverbeentherightofherroyalmothers。

"Seeagain！TheLordOro，thedivineKing，theAncient，growswroth。HesaysthatitisenoughandmorethanenoughthattheBarbariansshouldasktoeatofthebreadofhiddenlearningandtodrinkoftheLife—wateroftheSonsofWisdom，giftsthatweregiventothemofoldbyHeavenwhencetheyspranginthebeginning。Butthatoneofthem，howeverhighlyplaced，shoulddaretoasktomixhisbloodwiththatofthedivineLady，theHeiress，theQueenoftheEarthtobe，andclaimtoshareherimperialthronethathadbeenheldbyherpureracefromagetoage，wasaninsultthatcouldonlybepurgedbydeath。SoonerwouldhegivehisdaughterinmarriagetoanapethantoachildoftheBarbarianswhohadworkedonthemsomanywoesandstriventobreakthegoldenfettersoftheirrule。

"Lookagain！"continuedYva。"TheLordOro，thedivine，growsangrierstill"（whichintruthhedid，forneverdidIseesuchdreadfulrageasthatwhichthepicturerevealedinhim）。"Hewarns，hethreatens。Hesaysthathithertooutofgentleloveandpityhehasheldhishand；thathehasstrengthathiscommandwhichwillslaythem，notbymillionsinslowwar，butbytensofmillionsatoneblow；thatwillblotthemandtheirpeoplesfromthefaceofearthandthatwillcausethedeepseastorollwherenowtheirpleasantlandsarefruitfulinthesun。Theyshrinkbeforehisfury；behold，theirkneestremblebecausetheyknowthathehasthispower。Hemocksthem，doestheLordOro。Heasksfortheirsubmissionhereandnow，andthatinthenameoftheNationstheyshouldtakethegreatoathwhichmaynotbebroken，swearingtoceasefromwarupontheSonsofWisdomandtoobeytheminallthingstotheendsoftheearth。Someoftheambassadorswouldyield。Theylookaboutthemlikewildthingsthataretrapped。ButmadnesstakesthePrince。Hecriesthattheoathofanapeisofnoaccount，butthathewilltearuptheChildrenofWisdomasanapetearsleaves，andafterwardstakethedivineLadytobehiswife。

"LookontheLordOro！"continuedthelivingYva，"hiswrathleaveshim。Hegrowscoldandsmiles。Hisdaughterthrowsherselfuponherkneesandpleadswithhim。Hethrustsheraway。ShewouldspringtothesideofthePrince；hecommandshiscouncillorstoholdher。ShecriestothePrincethatsheloveshimandhimonly，andthatinadaytocomehimshewillwedandnoother。Hethanksher，sayingthatasitiswithher，soitiswithhim，andthatbecauseofhislovehefearsnothing。Sheswoons。TheLordOromotionswithhishandtotheguard。Theylifttheirdeath—rods。Fireleapsfromthem。ThePrinceandhiscompanions，allsavethosewhowereafraidandwouldhavesworntheoath，twistandwrithe。Theyturnblack；theydie。TheLordOrocommandsthosewhoarelefttoentertheirflyingshipsandbeartotheNationsoftheEarthtidingsofwhatbefallsthosewhodaretodefyandinsulthim；towarnthemalsotoeatanddrinkandbemerrywhiletheymay，sincefortheirwickednesstheyareabouttoperish。"

ThescenefadedandtherefollowedanotherwhichreallyI

cannotdescribe。Itrepresentedsomevastundergroundplaceandwhatappearedtobeahugemountainofironclothedinlight，literallyathinglikeanalp，rockingandspinningdownadeclivity，whichfartheronseparatedintotwobranchesbecauseofahugerazor—edgeprecipicethatrosebetween。Thereinthemiddleofthisvastspacewiththedazzlingmountainwhirlingtowardshim，stoodOroencasedinsometransparentarmour，asthoughtokeepoffheat，andwithhimhisdaughterwhounderhisdirectionwashandlingsomethingintherockbehindher。Thentherewasablindingflashandeverythingvanished。Allofthispicturepassedsoswiftlythatwecouldnotgraspitsdetails；

onlyageneralimpressionremained。

"TheLordOro，usingthestrengththatisintheworldwhereofhealonehasthesecret，changestheworld’sbalancecausingthatwhichwaslandtobecomeseaandthatwhichwasseatobecomeland，"saidYvainherchanting，unnaturalvoice。