第18章
"You’lldothatanywaywhenyourtimecomes，Bickley，Imeandecease，ofcourse，"interruptedBastin。"Andwhoknows，perhapsallthisisanopportunitygivenbyProvidencetoopenyoureyes，which，Imustsay，aresingularlyblind。Youthinkyouknoweverythingthereistolearn，butthefactisthatliketherestofus，youknownothingatall，andgoodmanthoughyouare，obstinatelyrefusetoadmitthetruthandtoseeksupportelsewhere。FormypartIbelievethatyouareafraidoffallinginlovewiththatGlitteringLadyandofbeingconvincedbyherthatyouarewronginyourmostunsatisfactoryconclusions。"
"Iamout—votedanyway，"saidBickley，"andfortherest，Bastin，lookafteryourselfandleavemealone。IwilladdthatonthewholeIthinkyouarebothright，andthatitiswisestforustostopwhereweare，forafterallwecanonlydieonce。"
"Iamnotsosure，Bickley。Thereisathingcalledtheseconddeath，whichiswhatistroublingthatoldscoundrel，Oro。NowI
willgoandlookforthosebooks。"
Sotheideaofflightwasabandoned，althoughIadmitthateventomyselfithadattractions。ForIfeltthatIwasbeingwrappedinanetofmysteriesfromwhichIsawnoescape。Yes，andofmorethanmysteries；IwhohadswornthatIwouldneverlookuponanotherwoman，waslearningtolovethissweetandwondrousYva，andofthatwhatcouldbetheend？
Wecollectedallwehadcometoseek，andstartedhomewardsescortedbyMaramaandhispeople，includinganumberofyoungwomenwhodancedbeforeusinalightarrayofflowers。
Passingouroldhouse，wecametothegrovewheretheidolOrohadstoodandBastinwassonearlysacrificed。Therewasanotheridoltherenowwhichhewishedtoexamine，butintheenddidnotasthenativessoobviouslyobjected。IndeedMaramatoldmethatnotwithstandingthemysteriousdeathofthesorcerersontheRockofOfferings，therewasstillastrongpartyintheislandwhowouldbegladtodousamischiefifanyfurtheraffrontwereofferedtotheirhereditarygod。
Hequestionedusalsotentativelyabouttheapparition，forsuchheconceivedittobe，whichhadappearedupontherockandkilledthesorcerers，andIansweredhimasIthoughtwisest，tellinghimthataterriblePowerwasafootintheland，whichhewoulddowelltoobey。
"Yes，"hesaid；"theGodoftheMountainofwhomthetraditionhascomedowntousfromourforefathers。Heisawakeagain；hesees，hehearsandweareafraid。Pleadwithhimforus，O
Friend—from—the—Sea。"
Ashespokewewerepassingthroughalittlepatchofthickbush。Suddenlyfromoutofthisbush，Isawaladappear。Heworeamaskuponhisface，butfromhisshapecouldnothavebeenmorethanthirteenorfourteenyearsofage。Inhishandwasawoodenclub。Heranforward，stopped，andwithayellofhatehurledit，IthinkatBastin，butithitme。AtanyrateIfeltashockandrememberednomore。
Dreams。Dreams。Endlessdreams！Whatweretheyallabout？Idonotknow。ItseemedtomethatthroughthemcontinuallyIsawthestatelyfigureofoldOrocontemplatingmegravely，asthoughheweremakinguphismindaboutsomethinginwhichImustplayapart。Thentherewasanotherfigure，thatofthegraciousbutimperialYva，whofromtimetotime，asIthought，leantovermeandwhisperedinmyearwordsofrestandcomfort。Norwasthisall，sincehershapehadawayofchangingsuddenlyintothatofmylostwifewhowouldspeakwithhervoice。OrperhapsmywifewouldspeakwithYva’svoice。Tomydisorderedsenseitwasasthoughtheywereonepersonality，havingtwoshapes，eitherofwhichcouldbeassumedatwill。Itwasmoststrangeandyettomemostblessed，sinceinthelivingIseemedtohavefoundthedead，andinthedeadtheliving。More，Itookjourneys，orrathersomeunknownpartofmeseemedtodoso。OneoftheseI
remember，foritsmajesticcharacterstampeditselfuponmymindinsuchafashionthatallthewatersofdeliriumcouldnotwashitoutnorallitswindsblowawaythatmemory。
IwastravellingthroughspacewithYvaathousandtimesfasterthanlightcanflash。Wepassedsunaftersun。Theydrewnear，theygrewintoenormous，flamingGloriesroundwhichcircledworlduponworld。Theybecamesmall，dwindledtopointsoflightanddisappeared。
Wefoundfootinguponsomefarlandandpassedamarvelouswhitecitywhereinwerebuildingswithdomesofcrystalandalabaster，inthelatterofwhichweresetwindowsmadeofgreatjewels；sapphiresorrubiestheyseemedtome。Wewentonupalovelyvalley。Totheleftwerehills，downwhichtumbledwaterfalls；totherightwasariverbroadanddeepthatseemedtooverflowitsbanksasdoestheNile。Behindwerehighmountainsontheslopesofwhichgrewforestsofglorioustrees，someofthemaflamewithbloom，whilefarawayuptheircrestsstoodcolossalgoldenstatuessetwideapart。Theylookedlikeguardianangelswatchingthatcityandthatvale。Thelandwaslitwithalightsuchasthatofthemoon，onlyintensifiedandofmanycolours。Indeedlookingup，Isawthataboveusfloatedthreemoons，eachofthembiggerthanourownatthefull，andgatheredthathereitwasnight。
Wecametoahousesetamidscentedgardensandhavinginfrontofitterracesofflowers。Itseemednotunlikemyownhouseathome，butItooklittlenoteofit，becauseofawomanwhosatupontheverandah，ifImaycallitso。Shewascladingarmentsofwhitesilkfastenedabouthermiddlewithajewelledgirdle。
Onherneckalsowasacollarofjewels。Iforgetthecolour；
indeedthisseemedtochangecontinuallyasthelightfromthedifferentmoonsstruckwhenshemoved，butIthinkitsprevailingtingewasblue。Inherarmsthiswomannursedabeauteous，sleepingchild，singinghappilyassherockedittoandfro。Yvawenttowardsthewomanwholookedupatherstepandutteredalittlecry。ThenforthefirsttimeIsawthewoman’sface。Itwasthatofmydeadwife！
AsIfollowedinmydream，alittlecloudofmistseemedtocoverbothmywifeandYva，andwhenIreachedtheplaceYvawasgone。Onlymywiferemained，sheandthechild。Thereshestood，solemnandsweet。WhileIdrewnearshelaiddownthechilduponthecushionedseatfromwhichshehadrisen。Shestretchedoutherarmsandflungthemaboutme。SheembracedmeandIembracedherinaraptureofreunion。Thenturningsheliftedupthechild，itwasagirl，formetokiss。
"Seeyourdaughter，"shesaid，"andbeholdallthatIammakingreadyforyouwhereweshalldwellinadaytocome。"
Igrewconfused。
"Yva，"Isaid。"WhereisYvawhobroughtmehere？Didshegointothehouse？"
"Yes，"sheansweredhappily。"Yvawentintothehouse。Lookagain！"
IlookedanditwasYva’sfacethatwaspressedagainstmyown，andYva’seyesthatgazedintomine。Onlyshewasgarbedasmywifehadbeen，andonherbosomhungthechangefulnecklace。
"Youmaynotstay，"shewhispered，andlo！itwasmywifethatspoke，notYva。
"Tellmewhatitmeans？"Iimplored。
"Icannot，"sheanswered。"Therearemysteriesthatyoumaynotknowasyet。LoveYvaifyouwillandIshallnotbejealous，forinlovingYvayouloveme。Youcannotunderstand？Thenknowthis，thatthespirithasmanyshapes，andyetisthesamespirit——
sometimes。NowIwhoamfar，yetnear，bidyoufarewellawhile。"
Thenallpassedinaflashandthedreamended。
SuchwastheonlyoneofthosevisionswhichIcanrecall。
Iseemedtowakeupasfromalongandtumultuoussleep。ThefirstthingIsawwasthepalmroofofourhouseupontherock。I
knewitwasourhouse，forjustabovemewasapalmleafofwhichIhadmyselftiedthestalktotheframeworkwithabitofcolouredribbonihadIhadchancedtofindinmypocket。ItcameoriginallyfromtheprogrammecardofadancethatIhadattendedatHonoluluandIhadkeptitbecauseIthoughtitmightbeuseful。FinallyIusedittosecurethatlooseleaf。Istaredattheribbonwhichbroughtbackafloodofmemories，andasIwasthusengagedIheardvoicestalking，andlistened——Bickley’svoice，andtheLadyYva’s。
"Yes，"Bickleywassaying，"hewilldowellnow，buthewentnear，verynear。"
"Iknewhewouldnotdie，"sheanswered，"becausemyfathersaidso。"
"Therearetwosortsofdeaths，"repliedBickley，"thatofthebodyandthatofthemind。Iwasafraidthatevenifhelived，hisreasonwouldgo，butfromcertainindicationsIdonotthinkthatwillhappennow。Hewillgetquitewellagain——though——"andhestopped。
"Iamverygladtohearyousayso，"chimedinBastin。"ForweeksIthoughtthatIshouldhavetoreadtheBurialServiceoverpoorArbuthnot。IndeedIwasmuchpuzzledastothebestplacetoburyhim。FinallyIfoundaverysuitablespotroundthecornerthere，whereitisn’trock，inwhichonecan’tdigandthesoilisnotliabletobeflooded。InfactIwentsofarastoclearawaythebushandtomarkoutthegravewithitsfoottotheeast。Inthisclimateonecan’tdelay，youknow。"
WeakasIwas，Ismiled。ThispracticalproceedingwassoexactlylikeBastin。
"Well，youwastedyourlabour，"exclaimedBickley。
"Yes，IamgladtosayIdid。ButIdon’tthinkitwasyouroperationsandtherestthatcuredhim，Bickley，althoughyoutakeallthecredit。IbelieveitwastheLife—waterthattheLadyYvamadehimdrinkandthestuffthatOrosentwhichwegavehimwhenyouweren’tlooking。"
"ThenIhopethatinthefutureyouwillnotinterferewithmycases，"saidtheindignantBickley，andeitherthevoicespassedawayorIwenttosleep。
WhenIwokeupagainitwastofindtheLadyYvaseatedatmysidewatchingme。
"Forgiveme，Humphrey，becauseIhere；othersgoneoutwalking，"shesaidslowlyinEnglish。
"Whotaughtyoumylanguage？"Iasked，astonished。"BastinandBickley，whileyouill，theyteach；theyteachmemuch。Manjustsamenowashewashundredthousandyearsago，"sheaddedenigmatically。"Allthinkonewomanbeautifulwhennootherwomanthere。"
"Indeed，"Ireplied，wonderingtowhatproceedingsonthepartofBastinandBickleyshealluded。Couldthatself—centredpair——
oh！itwasimpossible。
"HowlonghaveIbeenill？"IaskedtoescapethesubjectwhichIfelttobeuncomfortable。
Sheliftedherbeautifuleyesinsearchofwordsandbegantocountuponherfingers。
"Twomoon，onehalfmoon，yes，tenweek，countingSabbath，"sheansweredtriumphantly。
"Tenweeks！"Iexclaimed。
"Yes，Humphrey，tenwholeweeksandthreedaysyoufirstbad，thenmad。Oh！"shewenton，breakingintotheOrofenantonguewhichshespokesoperfectly，althoughitwasnotherown。ThatlanguageofhersIneverlearned，butIknowshethoughtinitandonlytranslatedintoOrofenan，becauseofthegreatdifficultywhichshehadinrenderingherhighandrefinedideasintoitssimplermetaphor，andthestrangewordswhichoftensheintroduced。"Oh！youhavebeenveryill，friendofmyheart。AttimesIthoughtthatyouweregoingtodie，andweptandwept。
Bickleythinksthathesavedyouandheisveryclever。Buthecouldnothavesavedyou；thatwantedmoreknowledgethananyofyourpeoplehave；onlyIprayyou，donottellhimsobecauseitwouldhurthispride。"
"Whatwasthematterwithmethen，Yva？"
"Allwasthematter。First，theweaponwhichthatyouththrew——
hewasthesonofthesorcererwhommyfatherdestroyed——crushedintheboneofyourhead。Heisdeadforhiscrimeandmayhebeaccursedforever，"sheaddedintheonlyoutbreakofrageandvindictivenessinwhichIeversawherindulge。
"Onemustmakeexcusesforhim；hisfatherhadbeenkilled，"I
said。
"Yes，thatiswhatBastintellsme，anditistrue。Still，forthatyoungmanIcanmakenoexcuse；itwascowardlyandwicked。
Well，Bickleyperformedwhathecallsoperation，andtheLordOro，hecameupfromhishouseandhelpedhim，becauseBastinisnogoodinsuchthings。Thenhecanonlyturnawayhisheadandpray。I，too，helped，holdinghotwaterandlinenandjarofthestuffthatmadeyoufeellikenothing，althoughthesightmademefeelmoresickthananythingsinceIsawoneIlovedkilled，oh，long，longago。"
"Wastheoperationsuccessful？"Iasked，forIdidnotdaretobegintothankher。
"Yes，thatcleverman，Bickley，liftedthebonewhichhadbeencrushedin。Onlythensomethingbrokeinyourheadandyoubegantobleedhere，"andshetouchedwhatIbelieveiscalledthetemporalartery。"Theveinhadbeencrushedbytheblow，andgaveway。Bickleyworkedandworked，andjustintimehetieditupbeforeyoudied。Oh！thenIfeltasthoughIlovedBickley，thoughafterwardsBastinsaidthatIoughttohavelovedhim，sinceitwasnotBickleywhostoppedthebleeding，buthisprayer。"
"Perhapsitwasboth，"Isuggested。
"Perhaps，Humphrey，atleastyouweresaved。Thencameanothertrouble。Youtookfever。Bickleysaidthatitwasbecauseacertaingnathadbittenyouwhenyouwentdowntotheship，andmyfather，theLordOro，toldmethatthiswasright。Attheleastyougrewveryweakandlostyourmind，anditseemedasthoughyoumustdie。Then，Humphrey，IwenttotheLordOroandkneeledbeforehimandprayedyoulife，forIknewthathecouldcureyouifhewould，thoughBickley’sskillwasatanend。
"’Daughter，’hesaidtome，’notoncebutagainandagainyouhavesetupyourwillagainstmineinthepast。WhythenshouldI
troublemyselftograntthisdesireofyoursinthepresent，andsaveamanwhoisnothingtome？’
"Irosetomyfeetandanswered，’Idonotknow，myFather，yetIamcertainthatforyourownsakeitwillbewelltodoso。I
amsurethatofeverythingevenyoumustgiveanaccountatlast，greatthoughyoube，andwhoknows，perhapsonelifewhichyouhavesavedmayturnthebalanceinyourfavour。’
"’SurelythepriestBastinhasbeentalkingtoyou，’hesaid。
"’Hehas，’Ianswered，’andnothealone。Manyvoiceshavebeentalkingtome。’"
"Whatdidyoumeanbythat？"Iasked。
"ItmattersnothingwhatImeant，Humphrey。Bestillandlistentomystory。Myfatherthoughtawhileandanswered：
"’Iamjealousofthisstranger。Whatishebutashort—livedhalf—barbariansuchasweknewintheolddays？Andyetalreadyyouthinkmoreofhimthanyoudoofme，yourfather，thedivineOrowhohaslivedathousandyears。AtfirstIhelpedthatphysiciantosavehim，butnowIthinkIwishhimdead。’
"’Ifyouletthismandie，myFather，’Ianswered，’thenwepart。RememberthatIalsohaveofthewisdomofourpeople，andcanuseitifIwill。’
"’Thensavehimyourself，’hesaid。
"’PerhapsIshall，myFather，’Ianswered，’butifsoitwillnotbehere。Isaythatifsowepartandyoushallbelefttoruleinyourmajestyalone。’
"NowthisfrightenedtheLordOro，forhehastheweaknessthathehatestobealone。
"’IfIdowhatyouwill，doyouswearnevertoleaveme，Yva？’
heasked。’Knowthatifyouwillnotswear，themandies。’
"’Iswear，’Ianswered——foryoursake，Humphrey——thoughIdidnotlovetheoath。
"ThenhegavemeacertainmedicinetomixwiththeLife—water，andwhenyouwerealmostgonethatmedicinecuredyou，thoughBickleydoesnotknowit，asnothingelsecouldhavedone。NowI
havetoldyouthetruth，foryourownearonly，Humphrey。"
"Yva，"Iasked，"whydidyoudoallthisforme？"
"Humphrey，Idonotknow，"sheanswered，"butIthinkbecauseI
must。Nowsleepawhile。"
ChapterXIX
TheProposalsofBastinandBickleySofarasmybodywasconcernedIgrewwellwithgreatrapidity，thoughitwaslongbeforeIgotbackmystrength。ThusIcouldnotwalkfarorendureanysustainedexertion。Withmyminditwasotherwise。Icannotexplainwhathadhappenedtoit；
indeedIdonotknow，butinasenseitseemedtohavebecomedetachedandtohaveassumedakindofpersonalityofitsown。Attimesitfeltasthoughitwerenolongeraninhabitantofthebody，butratheritsmoreorlessindependentpartner。Iwasperfectlyclear—headedandofinsanityIexperiencednosymptoms。
Yetmymind，Iusethattermfromlackofabetter，wasnotentirelyundermycontrol。Foronething，atnightitappearedtowanderfaraway，thoughwhitheritwentandwhatitsawthereI
couldneverremember。
Irecordthisbecausepossiblyitexplainscertainmysteriousevents，iftheywereeventsandnotdreams，whichshortlyImustsetout。IspoketoBickleyaboutthematter。Heputitbylightly，sayingthatitwasonlyaresultofmylongandmostsevereillnessandthatIshouldsteadydownintime，especiallyifwecouldescapefromthatislandanditsunnaturalatmosphere。
Yetashespokeheglancedatmeshrewdlywithhisquickeyes，andwhenheturnedtogoawayIheardhimmuttersomethingtohimselfabout"unholyinfluences"and"thatconfoundedoldOro。"
Thewordswerespokentohimselfandquitebeneathhisbreath，andofcoursenotmeanttoreachme。Butoneofthecuriousconcomitantsofmystatewasthatallmysenses，andespeciallymyhearing，hadbecomemostabnormallyacute。Awhisperfarawaywasnowtomelikealoudremarkmadeinaroom。
Bickley’sreflection，forIcanscarcelycallitmore，setmethinking。YvahadsaidthatOrosentmemedicinewhichwasadministeredtomewithoutBickley’sknowledge，andasshebelieved，savedmylife，orcertainlymyreason。Whatwasinit？
Iwondered。ThentherewasthatLife—waterwhichYvabroughtandinsisteduponmydrinkingeveryday。Undoubtedlyitwasamarveloustonicanddidmegood。Butithadothereffectsalso。
Thus，asshesaidwouldbethecase，afteracourseofitI
conceivedthegreatestdislike，whichImayaddhasneverentirelyleftme，ofanyformofmeat，alsoofalcohol。AllI
seemedtowantwasthiswaterwithfruit，orsuchnativevegetablesastherewere。Bickleydisapprovedandmademeeatfishoccasionally，buteventhisrevoltedme，andsinceIgainedsteadilyinweight，aswefoundoutbyasimplecontrivance，andremainedhealthyineveryotherway，soonheallowedmetochoosemyowndiet。
AboutthistimeOrobegantopaymefrequentvisits。Healwayscameatnight，andwhatismoreIknewwhenhewascoming，althoughhenevergavemewarning。HereIshouldexplainthatduringmyillnessBastin，whowassoingeniousinsuchmatters，hadbuiltanotherhutinwhichheandBickleyslept，ofcoursewhentheywerenotwatchingme，leavingouroldbed—chambertomyself。
Well，IwouldwakeupandbeawarethatOrowascoming。Thenheappearedinasilentandmysteriousway，asthoughhehadmaterialisedintheroom，forIneversawhimpassthedoorway。
Inthemoonlight，orthestarlight，whichflowedthroughtheentranceandthesideofthehutthatwasonlyenclosedwithlatticework，Iperceivedhimseathimselfuponacertainstool，lookinglikeamostmajesticghostwithhisflowingrobes，longwhitebeard，hookednoseandhawkeyes。Intheday—timehemuchresembledthelateGeneralBoothwhomIhadoftenseen，exceptforcertainaddedqualitiesofheightandclassicbeautyofcountenance。Atnight，however，heresemblednoonebuthimself，indeedtherewassomethingmightyandgodlikeinhisappearance，somethingthatmadeonefeelthathewasnotasareothermen。
Forawhilehewouldsitandlookatme。Thenhebegantospeakinalow，vibrantvoice。Whatdidhespeakof？Well，manymatters。Itwasasthoughhewereunburdeningthathoarysoulofhisbecauseitcouldnolongerendurethegrandeurofitsownloneliness。Amongstsundrysecretthings，hetoldmeofthepasthistoryofthisworldofours，andofthemightycivilisationswhichforuncountedagesheandhisforefathershadruledbythestrengthoftheirwillandknowledge，ofthedwindlingoftheirraceandofthefinaldestructionofitsenemies，althoughI
noticedthatnowhenolongersaidthatthiswashisworkalone。
OnenightIaskedhimifhedidnotmissallsuchpompandpower。
Thensuddenlyhebrokeout，andforthefirsttimeIreallylearnedwhatambitioncanbewhenitutterlypossessesthesoulofman。
"Areyoumad，"heasked，"thatyousupposethatI，Oro，theKingofkings，canbecontenttodwellsolitaryinagreatcavewithnonebuttheshadowsofthedeadtoserveme？Nay，Imustruleagainandbeevengreaterthanbefore，orelseItoowilldie。Bettertofacethefuture，evenifitmeansoblivion，thantoremainthusarelicofagloriouspast，stilllivingandyetdead，likethatstatueofthegreatgodFatewhichyousawinthetempleofmyworship。"
"Bastindoesnotthinkthatthefuturemeansoblivion，"I
remarked。
"Iknowit。Ihavestudiedhisfaithandfindittoohumbleformytaste，alsotoonew。ShallI，Oro，creepasuppliantbeforeanyPower，andconfesswhatBastinispleasedtocallmysins？
Nay，Iwhoamgreatwillbetheequalofallgreatness，ornothing。"
Hepausedawhile，thenwenton：
"Bastinspeaksof’eternity。’Whereandwhatthenisthiseternitywhichifithasnoendcanhavehadnobeginning？Iknowthesecretofthesunsandtheirattendantworlds，andtheyarenomoreeternalthantheinsectwhichglittersforanhour。Outofshapeless，rushinggasestheygatheredtolivetheirday，andintogasesatlasttheydissolveagainwithalltheybore。"
"Yes，"Ianswered，"buttheyreformintonewworlds。"
"Thathavenopartwiththeold。Thisworld，too，willmelt，departingtowhenceitcame，asyoursacredwritingssay，andwhatthenofthosewhodweltanddwellthereon？No，Manoftoday，givemeTimeinwhichIruleandkeepyourdreamsofanEternitythatisnot，andinwhichyoumuststillcrawlandserve，evenifitwere。Yet，ifImight，Iconfessit，Iwouldliveonforever，butasMasternotasSlave。"