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！
my reach。 Be in the sepulchre at the hour of sundown on the
second day from this； all three of you； if you would continue to
live upon the earth。 Afterwards you shall learn my will and make
your choice between Yva with majesty and her loss with death。〃
Then suddenly he was gone。
Next morning I told the others what had passed； and we talked
the matter over。 The trouble was； of course； that Bickley did not
believe me。 He had no faith in my alleged interviews with Oro；
which he set down to delusions of a semi…mesmeric character。 This
was not strange； since it appeared that on the previous night he
had watched the door of my sleeping…place until dawn broke； which
it did long after Oro had departed； and he had not seen him
either come or go； although the moon was shining brightly。
When he told me this I could only answer that all the same he
had been there as； if he could speak； Tommy would have been able
to certify。 As it chanced the dog was sleeping with me and at the
first sound of the approach of someone； woke up and growled。 Then
recognising Oro； he went to him； wagged his tail and curled
himself up at his feet。
Bastin believed my story readily enough； saying that Oro was a
peculiar person who no doubt had ways of coming and going which
we did not understand。 His point was； however； that he did not in
the least wish to visit Nyo any more。 The wonders of its
underground palaces and temples had no charms for him。 Also he
did not think he could do any good by going； since after 〃sucking
him as dry as an orange〃 with reference to religious matters
〃that old vampire…bat Oro had just thrown him away like the
rind；〃 and； he might add； 〃seemed no better for the juice he had
absorbed。〃
〃I doubt；〃 continued Bastin； 〃whether St。 Paul himself could
have converted Oro； even if he performed miracles before him。
What is the use of showing miracles to a man who could always
work a bigger one himself？〃
In short； Bastin's one idea； and Bickley's also for the matter
of that； was to get away to the main island and thence escape by
means of the boat； or in some other fashion。
I pointed out that Oro had said we must obey at the peril of
our lives； indeed that he had put it even more strongly； using
words to the effect that if we did not he would kill us。
〃I'd take the risk；〃 said Bickley； 〃since I believe that
you dreamt it all； Arbuthnot。 However； putting that
aside； there is a natural reason why you should wish to
go； and for my own part； so do I in a way。 I want to see
what that old fellow has up his extremely long sleeve； if
there is anything there at all。〃
〃Well； if you ask me； Bickley；〃 I answered； 〃I believe it is
the destruction of half the earth； or some little matter of that
sort。〃
At this suggestion Bickley only snorted； but Bastin said
cheerfully：
〃I dare say。 He is bad enough even for that。 But as I am quite
convinced that it will never be allowed； his intentions do not
trouble me。〃
I remarked that he seemed to have carried them out once before。
〃Oh！ you mean the Deluge。 Well； no doubt there was a deluge；
but I am sure that Oro had no more to do with it than you or I；
as I think I have said already。 Anyhow it is impossible to leave
you to descend into that hole alone。 I suggest； therefore； that
we should go into the sepulchre at the time which you believe Oro
appointed； and see what happens。 If you are not mistaken； the
Glittering Lady will come there to fetch us； since it is quite
certain that we cannot work the lift or whatever it is； alone。 If
you are mistaken we can just go back to bed as usual。〃
〃Yes； that's the best plan；〃 said Bickley； shortly； after which
the conversation came to an end。
All that day and the next I watched and waited in vain for the
coming of Yva； but no Yva appeared。 I even went as far as the
sepulchre； but it was as empty as were the two crystal coffins；
and after waiting a while I returned。 Although I did not say so
to Bickley； to me it was evident that Oro； as he had said； was
determined to cut off all communication between us。
The second day drew to its close。 Our simple preparations were
complete。 They consisted mainly in making ready our hurricane
lamps and packing up a little food； enough to keep us for three
or four days if necessary； together with some matches and a good
supply of oil； since； as Bastin put it； he was determined not to
be caught like the foolish virgins in the parable。
〃You see；〃 he added； 〃one never knows when it might please that
old wretch to turn off the incandescent gas or electric light； or
whatever it is he uses to illumine his family catacombs； and then
it would be awkward if we had no oil。〃
〃For the matter of that he might steal our lamps；〃
suggested Bickley； 〃in which case we should be where
Moses was when the light went out。〃
〃I have considered that possibility；〃 answered Bastin； 〃and
therefore； although it is a dangerous weapon to carry loaded； I
am determined to take my revolver。 If necessary I shall consider
myself quite justified in shooting him to save our lives and
those of thousands of others。〃
At this we both laughed； somehow the idea of Bastin trying to
shoot Oro struck us as intensely ludicrous。 Yet that very thing
was to happen。
It was a peculiarly beautiful sunset over the southern seas。 To
the west the great flaming orb sank into the ocean； to the east
appeared the silver circle of the full moon。 To my excited fancy
they were like scales hanging from the hand of a materialised
spirit of calm。 Over the volcano and the lake； over the island
with its palm trees； over the seas beyond； this calm brooded。
Save for a few travelling birds the sky was empty； no cloud
disturbed its peace； the world seemed steeped in innocence and
quiet。
All these things struck me； as I think they did the others；
because by the action of some simultaneous thought it came to our
minds that very probably we were； looking on them for the last
time。 It is all very well to talk of the Unknown and the Infinite
whereof we are assured we are the heirs； but that does not make
it any easier for us to part with the Known and the Finite。 The
contemplation of the wonders of Eternity does not conceal the
advantages of actual and existent Time。 In short there is no one
of us； from a sainted archbishop down to a sinful suicide； who
does not regret the necessity of farewell to the pleasant light
and the kindly race of men wherewith we are acquainted。
For after all； who can be quite certain of the Beyond？ It may
be splendid； but it will probably be strange； and from
strangeness； after a certain age； we shrink。 We know that all
things will be different there； that our human relationships will
be utterly changed； that perhaps sex which shapes so many of
them； will vanish to be replaced by something unknown； that
ambitions will lose their hold of us； and that； at the