按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
have the right to do； seeing that like Bastin and yourself； I
also asked her to marry me； but something makes me speak what I
believe to be the truth。〃
〃Like Cassandra；〃 I suggested。
〃Yes； like Cassandra who was not a popular person。〃 At first I
was inclined to resent Bickley's wordswho would not have been
in the circumstances？ Then of a sudden there rushed in upon my
mind the conviction that he spoke the truth。 In this world Yva
was not for me or any man。 Moreover she knew it； the knowledge
peeped out of every word she spoke in our passionate love scene
by the lake。 She was aware； and subconsciously I was aware； that
we were plighting our troth； not for time but for eternity。 With
time we had little left to do； not for long would she wear the
ring I gave her on that holy night。
Even Bastin； whose perceptions normally were not acute； felt
that the situation was strained and awkward and broke in with a
curious air of forced satisfaction：
〃It's uncommonly lucky for you； old boy； that you happen to
have a clergyman in your party； as I shall be able to marry you
in a respectable fashion。 Of course I can't say that the
Glittering Lady is as yet absolutely converted to our faith； but
I am certain that she has absorbed enough of its principles to
justify me in uniting her in Christian wedlock。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃she has absorbed its principles；
she told me as much herself。 Sacrifice； for instance；〃
and as I spoke the word my eyes filled with tears。
〃Sacrifice！〃 broke in Bickley with an angry snort； for he
needed a vent to his mental disturbance。 〃Rubbish。 Why should
every religion demand sacrifice as savages do？ By it alone they
stand condemned。〃
〃Because as I think； sacrifice is the law of life； at least of
all life that is worth the living；〃 I answered sadly enough。
〃Anyhow I believe you are right； Bickley； and that Bastin will
not be troubled to marry us。〃
〃You don't mean；〃 broke in Bastin with a horrified air； 〃that
you propose to dispense〃
〃No； Bastin； I don't mean that。 What I mean is that it comes
upon me that something will prevent this marriage。 Sacrifice；
perhaps； though in what shape I do not know。 And now good night。
I am tired。〃
That night in the chill dead hour before the dawn Oro came
again。 I woke up to see him seated by my bed； majestic； and； as
it seemed to me； lambent； though this may have been my
imagination。
〃You take strange liberties with my daughter； Barbarian； or she
takes strange liberties with you； it does not matter which；〃 he
said； regarding me with his calm and terrible eyes。
〃Why do you presume to call me Barbarian？〃 I asked； avoiding
the main issue。
〃For this reason； Humphrey。 All men are the same。 They have the
same organs； the same instincts； the same desires； which in
essence are but two； food and rebirth that Nature commands；
though it is true that millions of years before I was born； as I
have learned from the records of the Sons of Wisdom； it was said
that they were half ape。 Yet being the same there is between them
a whole sea of difference； since some have knowledge and others
none； or little。 Those who have none or little； among whom you
must be numbered； are Barbarians。 Those who have much； among whom
my daughter and I are the sole survivors； are the Instructed。〃
〃There are nearly two thousand millions of living people in
this world；〃 I said； 〃and you name all of them Barbarians？〃
〃All； Humphrey； excepting； of course； myself and my daughter
who are not known to be alive。 You think that you have learned
much； whereas in truth you are most ignorant。 The commonest of
the outer nations； when I destroyed them； knew more than your
wisest know today。〃
〃You are mistaken； Oro； since then we have learned something of
the soul。〃
〃Ah！〃 he exclaimed； 〃that interests me and perhaps it is true。
Also； if true it is very important； as I have told you beforeor
was it Bastin？ If a man has a soul； he lives； whereas even we
Sons of Wisdom die； and in Death what is the use of Wisdom？
Because you can believe； you have souls and are therefore；
perhaps； heirs to life； foolish and ignorant as you are today。
Therefore I admit you and Bastin to be my equals； though Bickley；
who like myself believes nothing； is but a common chemist and
doctor of disease。〃
〃Then you bow to Faith； Oro？〃
〃Yes； and I think that my god Fate also bows to Faith。 Perhaps；
indeed； Faith shapes Fate； not Fate。 Faith。 But whence comes that
faith which even I with all my learning cannot command？ Why is it
denied to me and given to you and Bastin？〃
〃Because as Bastin would tell you； it is a gift； though one
that is never granted to the proud and self…sufficient。 Become
humble as a child； Oro； and perchance you too may acquire faith。〃
〃And how shall I become humble？〃
〃By putting away all dreams of power and its exercise； if such
you have； and in repentance walking quietly to the Gates of
Death；〃 I replied。
〃For you； Humphrey； who have little or none of these things；
that may be easy。 But for me who have much； if not all； it is
otherwise。 You ask me to abandon the certain for the uncertain；
the known for the unknown； and from a half…god communing with the
stars； to become an earthworm crawling in mud and lifting blind
eyes towards the darkness of everlasting night。〃
〃A god who must die is no god； half or whole； Oro； the
earthworm that lives on is greater than he。〃
〃Mayhap。 Yet while I endure I will be as a god； so that when
night comes； if come it must； I shall have played my part and
left my mark upon this little world of ours。 Have done！〃 he added
with a burst of impatience。 〃What will you of my daughter？〃
〃What man has always willed of womanherself； body and soul。〃
〃Her soul perchance is yours； if she has one； but her body is
mine to give or withhold。 Yet it can be bought at a price；〃 he
added slowly。
〃So she told me； Oro。〃
〃I can guess what she told you。 Did I not watch you yonder by
the lake when you gave her a ring graved with the signs of Life
and Everlastingness？ The question is； will you pay the price？〃
〃Not so； the question iswhat is the price？〃
〃This； to enter my service and henceforth do my willwithout
debate or cavil。〃
〃For what reward； Oro？〃
〃Yva and the dominion of the earth while you shall live；
neither more nor less。〃
〃And what is your will？〃
〃That you shall learn in due course。 On the second night from
this I command the three of you to wait upon me at sundown in the
buried halls of Nyo。 Till then you see no more of Yva； for I do
not trust her。 She； too； has powers； though as yet she does not
use them； and perchance she would forget her oaths； and following
some new star of love； for a little while vanish with you out of
my reach。 Be in the sepulchre at the hour of sundown on the
second day from this； all three of you； if you would