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he knew not how。
Oro listened patiently； then answered：
〃Good。 So be it； they are illusions。 I am an illusion； those
savages who died upon the rock will tell you so。 This fair woman
before you is an illusion； Humphrey； I am sure； knows it as you
will also before you have done with her。 These halls are
illusions。 Live on in your illusions； O little man of science；
who because you see the face of things； think that you know the
body and the heart； and can read the soul at work within。 You are
a worthy child of tens of thousands of your breed who were before
you and are now forgotten。〃
Bickley looked up to answer； then changed his mind and was
silent； thinking further argument dangerous； and Oro went on：
〃Now I differ from you； Bickley； in this way。 I who have more
wisdom in my finger…point than you with all the physicians of
your world added to you； have in your brains and bodies； yet
desire to learn from those who can give me knowledge。 I
understand from your words to my daughter that you； Bastin； teach
a faith that is new to me； and that this faith tells of life
eternal for the children of earth。 Is it so？〃
〃It is；〃 said Bastin eagerly。 〃I will set out〃
Oro cut him short with a wave of the hand。
〃Not now in the presence of Bickley who doubtless disbelieves
your faith； as he does all else； holding it with justice or
without； to be but another illusion。 Yet you shall teach me and
on it I will form my own judgment。〃
〃I shall be delighted；〃 said Bastin。 Then a doubt struck him；
and he added： 〃But why do you wish to learn？ Not that you may
make a mock of my religion； is it？〃
〃I mock at no man's belief； because I think that what men
believe is truefor them。 I will tell you why I wish to hear of
yours； since I never hide the truth。 I who am so wise and old；
yet must die； though that time may be far away； still I must die；
for such is the lot of man born of woman。 And I do not desire to
die。 Therefore I shall rejoice to learn of any faith that
promises to the children of earth a life eternal beyond the
earth。 Tomorrow you shall begin to teach me。 Now leave me；
Strangers； for I have much to do；〃 and he waved his hand towards
the table。
We rose and bowed； wondering what he could have to do down in
this luminous hole； he who had been for so many thousands of
years out of touch with the world。 It occurred to me； however；
that during this long period he might have got in touch with
other worlds； indeed he looked like it。
〃Wait；〃 he said； 〃I have something to tell you。 I have been
studying this book of writings； or world pictures；〃 and he
pointed to my atlas which； as I now observed for the first time；
was also lying upon the table。 〃It interests me much。 Your
country is small； very small。 When I caused it to be raised up I
think that it was larger； but since then that seas have flowed
in。〃
Here Bickley groaned aloud。
〃This one is much greater；〃 went on Oro； casting a glance at
Bickley that must have penetrated him like a searchlight。 Then he
opened the map of Europe and with his finger indicated Germany
and Austria…Hungary。 〃I know nothing of the peoples of these
lands；〃 he added； 〃but as you belong to one of them and are my
guests； I trust that yours may succeed in the war。〃
〃What way？〃 we asked with one voice。
〃Since Bickley is so clever； surely he should know better than
an illusion such as I。 All I can tell you is that I have learned
that there is war between this country and that；〃 and he pointed
to Great Britain and to Germany upon the map； 〃also between
others。〃
〃It is quite possible；〃 I said； remembering many things。 〃But
how do you know？〃
〃If I told you； Humphrey； Bickley would not believe； so I will
not tell。 Perhaps I saw it in that crystal； as did the
necromancers of the early world。 Or perhaps the crystal serves
some different purpose and I saw it otherwisewith my soul。 At
least what I say is true。〃
〃Then who will win？〃 asked Bastin。
〃I cannot read the future； Preacher。 If I could； should I ask
you to expound to me your religion which probably is of no more
worth than a score of others I have studied； just because it
tells of the future？ If I could read the future I should be a god
instead of only an earth…lord。〃
〃Your daughter called you a god and you said that you knew we
were coming to wake you up； which is reading the future；〃
answered Bastin。
〃Every father is a god to his daughter； or should be； also in
my day millions named me a god because I saw further and struck
harder than they could。 As for the rest； it came to me in a
vision。 Oh！ Bickley； if you were wiser than you think you are；
you would know that all things to come are born elsewhere and
travel hither like the light from stars。 Sometimes they come
faster before their day into a single mind； and that is what men
call prophecy。 But this is a gift which cannot be commanded； even
by me。 Also I did not know that you would come。 I knew only that
we should awaken and by the help of men； for if none had been
present at that destined hour we must have died for lack of
warmth and sustenance。〃
〃I deny your hypothesis in toto；〃 exclaimed Bickley； but nobody
paid any attention to him。
〃My father；〃 said Yva； rising and bowing before him with her
swan…like grace； 〃I have noted your commands。 But do you permit
that I show the temple to these strangers； also something of our
past？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 he said。 〃It will save much talk in a savage tongue
that is difficult to me。 But bring them here no more without my
command； save Bastin only。 When the sun is four hours high in the
upper world； let him come tomorrow to teach me； and afterwards if
so I desire。 Or if he wills； he can sleep here。〃
〃I think I would rather not；〃 said Bastin hurriedly。 〃I make no
pretense to being particular； but this place does not appeal to
me as a bedroom。 There are degrees in the pleasures of solitude
and； in short； I will not disturb your privacy at night。〃
Oro waved his hand and we departed down that awful and most
dreary hall。
〃I hope you will spend a pleasant time here； Bastin；〃 I said；
looking back from the doorway at its cold； illuminated vastness。
〃I don't expect to；〃 he answered； 〃but duty is duty； and if I
can drag that old sinner back from the pit that awaits him； it
will be worth doing。 Only I have my doubts about him。 To me he
seems to bear a strong family resemblance to Beelzebub； and he's
a bad companion week in and week out。〃
We went through the portico； Yva leading us； and passed the
fountain of Life…water； of which she cautioned us to drink no
more at present； and to prevent him from doing so； dragged Tommy
past it by his collar。 Bickley； however； lingered under the
pretence of making a further examination of the statue。 As I had
seen him emptying into his pocket the contents of a corked bottle
of quinine tabloids which