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back to the spot where the one groove began to be two grooves；
that is； a mile or so away from the razor…edged cliff。
〃This； Humphrey；〃 he answered。 〃That which travels along yonder
road； when it reaches this spot on which we stand； follows the
left…hand path which is made bright with its passage。 Yet； could
a giant at that moment of its touching this exact spot on which I
lay my hand； thrust it with sufficient strength； it would leave
the left…hand road and take the right…hand road。〃
〃And if it did； what then； Lord Oro？〃
〃Then within an hour or so； when it had travelled far enough
upon its way； the balance of the earth would be changed； and
great things would happen in the world above； as once they
happened in bygone days。 Now do you understand； Humphrey？〃
〃Good Heavens！ Yes； I understand now；〃 I answered。 〃But
fortunately there is no such giant。〃
Oro broke into a mocking laugh and his grey old face lit up
with a fiendish exultation； as he cried：
〃Fool！ I； Oro； am that giant。 Once in the dead days I turned
the balance of the world from the right…hand road which now is
dull with disuse； to the left…hand road which glitters so
brightly to your eyes； and the face of the earth was changed。 Now
again I will turn it from the left…hand road to the right…hand
road in which for millions of years it was wont to run； and once
more the face of the earth shall change； and those who are left
living upon the earth； or who in the course of ages shall come to
live upon the new earth； must bow down to Oro and take him and
his seed to be their gods and kings。〃
When I heard this I was overwhelmed and could not answer。 Also
I remembered a certain confused picture which Yva had shown to us
in the Temple of Nyo。 But supported by his disbelief； Bickley
asked：
〃And how often does the balance of which you speak come this
way； Lord Oro？〃
〃Once only in many years； the number is my secret； Bickley；〃 he
replied。
〃Then there is every reason to hope that it will not trouble
us；〃 remarked Bickley with a suspicion of mockery in his voice。
〃Do you think so； you learned Bickley？〃 asked Oro。 〃If so； I do
not。 Unless my skill has failed me and my calculations have gone
awry； that Traveller of which I tell should presently be with us。
Hearken now！ What is that sound we hear？〃
As he spoke there reached our ears the first； far…off murmurs
of a dreadful music。 I cannot describe it in words because that
is impossible； but it was something like to the buzz of a
thousand humming…tops such as are loved by children because of
their weird song。
〃Back to the wall！〃 cried Oro triumphantly。 〃The time is
short！〃
So back we went； Oro pausing a while behind and overtaking us
with long； determined strides。 Yva led us； gliding at my side
and； as I thought； now and again glanced at my face with a look
that was half anxious and half pitiful。 Also twice she stooped
and patted Tommy。
We reached the wall； though not quite at the spot whence we had
started to examine the grooved roads。 at least I think this was
so； since now for the first time observed a kind of little window
in its rocky face。 It stood about five feet from its floor level；
and was perhaps ten inches square； not more。 In short； except for
its shape it resembled a ship's porthole rather than a window。
Its substance appeared to be talc； or some such material； and
inches thick； yet through it； after Oro had cast aside some sort
of covering； came a glare like that of a search…light。 In fact it
was a search…light so far as concerned one of its purposes。
By this window or porthole lay a pile of cloaks； also four
objects which looked like Zulu battle shields cut in some unknown
metal or material。 Very deftly； very quietly； Yva lifted these
cloaks and wrapped one of them about each of us； and while she
was thus employed I noticed that they were of a substance very
similar to that of the gown she wore； which I have described； but
harder。 Next she gave one of the metal…like shields to each of
us； bidding us hold them in front of our bodies and heads； and
only to look through certain slits in them in which were
eyepieces that appeared to be of the same horny stuff as the
searchlight window。 Further； she commanded us to stand in a row
with our backs against the rock wall； at certain spots which she
indicated with great precision； and whatever we saw or heard on
no account to move。
So there we stood； Bickley next to me； and beyond him Bastin。
Then Yva took the fourth shield； as I noted a much larger one
than ours； and placed herself between me and the search…light or
porthole。 On the other side of this was Oro who had no shield。
These arrangements took some minutes and during that time
occupied all our attention。 When they were completed； however；
our curiosity and fear began to reassert themselves。 I looked
about me and perceived that Oro had his right hand upon what
seemed to be a rough stone rod； in shape not unlike that with
which railway points are moved。 He shouted to us to stand still
and keep the shields over our faces。 Then very gently he pressed
upon the lever。 The porthole sank the fraction of an inch； and
instantly there leapt from it a most terrific blaze of lightning；
which shot across the blackness in front and； as lightning does；
revealed far； far away another wall； or rather cliff； like that
against which we leant。
〃All works well；〃 exclaimed Oro in a satisfied voice； lifting
his hand from the rod； 〃and the strength which I have stored will
be more than enough。〃
Meanwhile the humming noise came nearer and grew in volume。
〃I say；〃 said Bickley； 〃as you know； I have been sceptical； but
I don't like this business。 Oro； what are you going to do？〃
〃Sink half the world beneath the seas；〃 said Oro； 〃and raise up
that which I drowned more than two thousand centuries ago。 But as
you do not believe that I have this power； Bickley； why do you
ask such questions？〃
〃I believe that you have it； which was why I tried to shoot you
yesterday；〃 said Bastin。 〃For your soul's sake I beg you to
desist from an attempt which I am sure will not succeed； but
which will certainly involve your eternal damnation； since the
failure will be no fault of yours。〃
Then I spoke also； saying：
〃I implore you； Lord Oro； to let this business be。 I do not
know exactly how much or how little you can do； but I understand
that your object is to slay men by millions in order to raise up
another world of which you will be the absolute king； as you were
of some past empire that has been destroyed； either through your
agency or otherwise。 No good can come of such ambitions。 Like
Bastin； for your soul's sake I pray you to let them be。〃
〃What Humphrey says I repeat；〃 said Yva。 〃My Father； although
you know it not； you seek great evil； and from these hopes you
sow you will harvest nothing save a loss of which you do n