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beneath my feet so that Yva and I clung to each other lest we
should fall。 This chanced also。 The shock of the earth tremor；
for such without doubt it was； threw down the figures of the
ancient man and the lovely woman which knelt as though making
prayers to Fate； and shook the marble sword from off its knees。
As it fell Oro caught it by the hilt； and； rising； waved it in
triumph。
〃I thank thee； God of my people from the beginning；〃 he cried。
〃Thou hast given to me； thy last servant； thine own sword and I
will use it well。 For these worshippers of thine who have fallen；
thou shalt have others； yes； all those who dwell in the new world
that is to be。 My daughter and the man whom she has chosen to be
the father of the kings of the earth； and with him his
companions； shall be the first of the hundreds of millions that
are to follow； for they shall kiss thy feet or perish。 Thou shalt
set thy foot upon the necks of all other gods； thou shalt rule
and thou alone； and； as of old； Oro be thy minister。〃
Still holding the sword； he flung himself down as though in an
ecstasy； and was silent。
〃I read the omen otherwise；〃 whispered Yva。 〃The worshippers of
Fate are overthrown。 His sword of power is fallen； but not into
the hands that clasped it； and he totters on his throne。 A
greater God asserts dominion of the world and this Fate is but
his instrument。〃
Oro rose again。
〃One prayer more；〃 he cried。 〃Give me life； long life； that I
may execute thy decrees。 By word or gesture show me a sign that I
shall be satisfied with life； a year for every year that I have
lived； or twain！〃
He waited； staring about him； but no token came； the idol did
not speak or bow its head； as Yva had told me it was wont to do
in sign of accepted prayer； how； she knew not。 Only I thought I
heard the echo of Oro's cries run in a whisper of mockery round
the soaring dome。
Once more Oro flung himself upon his knees and began to pray in
a veritable agony。
〃God of my forefathers； God of my lost people； I will hide
naught from thee；〃 he said。 〃I who fear nothing else； fear death。
The priest…fool yonder with his new faith； has spoken blundering
words of judgment and damnation which； though I do not believe
them； yet stick in my heart like arrows。 I will stamp out his
faith； and with this ancient sword of thine drive back the new
gods into the darkness whence they came。 Yet what if some water
of Truth flows through the channel of his leaden lips； and what
if because I have ruled and will rule as thou didst decree；
therefore； in some dim place of souls； I must bear these burdens
of terror and of doom which I have bound upon the backs of
others！ Nay； it cannot be； for what power is there in all the
universe that dares to make a slave of Oro and to afflict him
with stripes？
〃Yet this can be and mayhap will be； that presently I lose my
path in the ways of everlasting darkness； and become strengthless
and forgotten as are those who went before me； while my crown of
Power shines on younger brows。 Alas！ I grow old； since aeons of
sleep have not renewed my strength。 My time is short and yet I
would not die as mortals must。 Oh！ God of my people； whom I have
served so well； save me from the death I dread。 For I would not
die。 Give me a sign； give me the ancient； sacred sign！〃
So he spoke； lifting his proud and splendid head and watching
the statue with wide； expectant eyes。
〃Thou dost not answer；〃 he cried again。 〃Wouldst thou desert
me； Fate？ Then beware lest I set up some new god against thee and
hurl thee from thine immemorial throne。 While I live I still have
powers； I who am the last of thy worshippers； since it seems that
my daughter turns her back on thee。 I will get me to the
sepulchre of the kings and take counsel with the dust of that
wizard who first taught me wisdom。 Even from the depths of death
he must come to my call clad in a mockery of life； and comfort
me。 A little while yet I will wait； and if thou answer not； then
Fate； soon I'll tear the sceptre from thy hand； and thou shalt
join the company of dead gods。〃 And throwing aside the sword；
again Oro laid down his head upon the ground and stretched out
his arms in the last abasement of supplication。
〃Come；〃 whispered Yva； 〃while there is yet time。 Presently he
will seek this place to descend to the sepulchre； and if he
learns that we have read his heart and know him for a coward
deserted of his outworn god； surely he will blot us out。 Come；
and be swift and silent。〃
We crept out of the chapel； Yva leading； and along the circle
of the great dome till we reached the gates。 Here I glanced back
and perceived that Oro； looking unutterably small in that
vastness； looking like a dead man； still lay outstretched before
the stern…faced； unanswering Effigy which； with all his wisdom； he
believed to be living and divine。 Perhaps once it was； but if
so its star had set for ever； like those of Amon； Jupiter and
Baal； and he was its last worshipper。
Now we were safe； but still we sped on till we reached the
portico of our sleeping place。 Then Yva turned and spoke。
〃It is horrible；〃 she said； 〃and my soul sickens。 Oh； I thank
the Strength which made it that I have no desire to rule the
earth； and； being innocent of death； do not fear to die and cross
his threshold。〃
〃Yes； it is horrible；〃 I answered。 〃Yet all men fear death。〃
〃Not when they have found love； Humphrey； for that I think is
his true name； and； with it written on his brow； he stands upon
the neck of Fate who is still my father's god。〃
〃Then he is not yours； Yva？〃
〃Nay。 Once it was so； but now I reject him； he is no longer
mine。 As Oro threatens； and perchance dare do in his rage； I have
broken his chain； though in another fashion。 Ask me no more；
perhaps one day you will learn the path I trod to freedom。〃
Then before I could speak； she went off：
〃Rest now； for within a few hours I must come to lead you and
your companions to a terrible place。 Yet whatever you may see or
hear； be not afraid； Humphrey； for I think that Oro's god has no
power over you； strong though he was； and that Oro's plans will
fail； while I； who too have knowledge； shall find strength to
save the world。〃
Then of a sudden； once again she grew splendid； almost divine；
no more a woman but as it were an angel。 Some fire of pure
purpose seemed to burn up in her and to shine out of her eyes。
Yet she said little。 Only this indeed：
〃To everyone； I think； there comes the moment of opportunity
when choice must be made between what is great and what is small；
between self and its desires and the good of other wanderers in
the way。 This day that moment may draw near to you or me； and if
so； surely we shall greet it well。 Such is Bastin's lesson； which
I have striven to learn。〃
Then she flung her arms about me and kissed me on the brow as a
mother might； and was gone。