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〃Then you think that we live again upon this earth？〃
〃Again and yet again； until the time comes for us to leave the
earth for ever。 Of this； indeed； I am sure； for that knowledge
was part of the secret wisdom of my people。〃
〃But you were not dead。 You only slept。〃
〃The sleep was a death…sleep which went by like a flash； yes；
in an instant； or so it seemed。 Only the shell of the body
remained preserved by mortal arts； and when the returning spirit
and the light of life were poured into it again； it awoke。 But
during this long death…sleep； that spirit may have spoken through
other lips and that light may have shone through other eyes；
though of these I remember nothing。〃
〃Then that dream of our visit to a certain star may be no
dream？〃
〃I think no dream； and you； too； have thought as much。〃
〃In a way； yes； Yva。 But I could not believe and turned from
what I held to be a phantasy。〃
〃It was natural； Humphrey； that you should not believe。
Hearken！ In this temple a while ago I showed you a picture of
myself and of a man who loved me and whom I loved； and of his
death at Oro's hands。 Did you note anything about that man？〃
〃Bickley did；〃 I answered。 〃Was he right？〃
〃I think that he was right； since otherwise I should not have
loved you； Humphrey。〃
〃I remember nothing of that man； Yva。〃
〃It is probable that you would not； since you and he are very
far apart； while between you and him flow wide seas of death；
wherein are set islands of life； perhaps many of them。 But I
remember much who seem to have left him but a very little while
ago。〃
〃When you awoke in your coffin and threw your arms about me；
what did you think； Yva？〃
〃I thought you were that man； Humphrey。〃
There was silence between us and in that silence the truth came
home to me。 Then there before the effigy of Fate and in the
desolate； glowing temple we plighted anew our troth made holy by
a past。 that thus so wonderfully lived again。
Of this consecrated hour I say no more。 Let each picture it as
he will。 A glory as of heaven fell upon us and in it we dwelt a
space。
〃Beloved；〃 she whispered at length in a voice that was choked
as though with tears； 〃if it chances that we should be separated
again for a little while； you will not grieve over much？〃
〃Knowing all I should try not to grieve； Yva； seeing that in
truth we never can be parted。 But do you mean that I shall die？〃
〃Being mortal either of us might seem to die； Humphrey；〃 and
she bent her head as though to hide her face。 〃You know we go
into dangers this day。〃
〃Does Oro really purpose to destroy much of the world and has
he in truth the power； Yva？〃
〃He does so purpose and most certainly he has the power；
unlessunless some other Power should stay his hand。〃
〃What other power； Yva？〃
〃Oh！ perhaps that which you worship； that which is called Love。
The love of man may avert the massacre of men。 I hope so with all
my heart。 Hist！ Oro comes。 I feel； I know that he comes； though
not in search of us who are very far from his thought tonight。
Follow me。 Swiftly。〃
She sped across the temple to where a chapel opened out of it；
which was full of the statues of dead kings； for here was the
entrance to their burial vault。 We reached it and hid behind the
base of one of these statues。 By standing to our full height；
without being seen we still could see between the feet of the
statue that stood upon a pedestal。
Then Oro came。
Chapter XXIV
The Chariot of the Pit
Oro came and of necessity alone。 Yet there was that in his air
as he advanced into the temple； which suggested a monarch
surrounded by the pomp and panoply of a great court。 He marched；
his head held high； as though heralds and pursuivants went in
front of him； as though nobles surrounded him and guards or
regiments followed after him。 Let it be admitted that he was a
great figure in his gorgeous robes； with his long white beard；
his hawk…like features； his tall shape and his glittering eyes；
which even at that distance I could see。 Indeed once or twice I
thought that he glanced out of the corners of them towards the
chapel where we were hid。 But this I think was fancy。 For as Yva
said； his thoughts were set elsewhere。
He reached the statue of Fate and stood for a while
contemplating it and the suppliant figures on either side； as
though he were waiting for his invisible court to arrange itself。
Then he doffed his jewelled cap to the effigy； and knelt before
it。 Yes； Oro the Ancient； the Super…man； the God； as the early
peoples of the earth fancied such a being； namely； one full of
wrath； revenge； jealousy； caprice and power； knelt in
supplication to this image of stone which he believed to be the
home of a spirit； thereby showing himself to be after all not so
far removed from the savages whose idol Bastin had destroyed。
More； in a clear and resonant voice which reached us even across
that great space； he put up his prayer。 It ran something as
follows； for although I did not understand the language in which
he spoke Yva translated it to me in a whisper：
〃God of the Sons of Wisdom； God of the whole earth； only God to
whom must bow every other Power and Dominion； to thee I； Oro the
Great King； make prayer and offer sacrifice。 Twenty times ten
thousand years and more have gone by since I； Oro； visited this；
thy temple and knelt before this； thy living effigy； yet thou；
ruler of the world； dost remember the prayer I made and the
sacrifice I offered。 The prayer was for triumph over my enemies
and the sacrifice a promise of the lives of half of those who in
that day dwelt upon the earth。 Thou heardest the prayer； thou
didst bow thy head and accept the sacrifice。 Yea； the prayer was
granted and the sacrifice was made； and in it were counted the
number of my foes。
〃Then I slept。 Through countless generations I slept on and at
my side was the one child of my body that was left to me。 What
chanced to my spirit and to hers during that sleep； thou knowest
alone； but doubtless they went forth to work thy ends。
〃At the appointed time which thou didst decree； I awoke again
and found in my house strangers from another land。 In the company
of one of those whose spirit I drew forth； I visited the peoples
of the new earth； and found them even baser and more evil than
those whom I had known。 Therefore； since they cannot be bettered。
I purpose to destroy them also； and on their wreck to rebuild a
glorious empire； such as was that of the Sons of Wisdom at its
prime。
〃A sign！ O Fate； ruler of the world； give me a sign that my
desire shall be fulfilled。〃
He paused； stretching out his arms and staring upwards。 While
he waited I felt the solid rock on which I stood quiver and sway
beneath my feet so that Yva and I clung to each other lest we
should fall。 This chanced also。 The shock of the earth tre