"Itisquitepossible，"Isaid，rememberingmanythings。"Buthowdoyouknow？"
　　"IfItoldyou，Humphrey，Bickleywouldnotbelieve，soIwillnottell。PerhapsIsawitinthatcrystal，asdidthenecromancersoftheearlyworld。OrperhapsthecrystalservessomedifferentpurposeandIsawitotherwise——withmysoul。AtleastwhatIsayistrue。"
　　"Thenwhowillwin？"askedBastin。
　　"Icannotreadthefuture，Preacher。IfIcould，shouldIaskyoutoexpoundtomeyourreligionwhichprobablyisofnomoreworththanascoreofothersIhavestudied，justbecauseittellsofthefuture？IfIcouldreadthefutureIshouldbeagodinsteadofonlyanearth—lord。"
　　"Yourdaughtercalledyouagodandyousaidthatyouknewwewerecomingtowakeyouup，whichisreadingthefuture，"
　　answeredBastin。
　　"Everyfatherisagodtohisdaughter，orshouldbe；alsoinmydaymillionsnamedmeagodbecauseIsawfurtherandstruckharderthantheycould。Asfortherest，itcametomeinavision。Oh！Bickley，ifyouwerewiserthanyouthinkyouare，youwouldknowthatallthingstocomearebornelsewhereandtravelhitherlikethelightfromstars。Sometimestheycomefasterbeforetheirdayintoasinglemind，andthatiswhatmencallprophecy。Butthisisagiftwhichcannotbecommanded，evenbyme。AlsoIdidnotknowthatyouwouldcome。Iknewonlythatweshouldawakenandbythehelpofmen，forifnonehadbeenpresentatthatdestinedhourwemusthavediedforlackofwarmthandsustenance。"
　　"Idenyyourhypothesisintoto，"exclaimedBickley，butnobodypaidanyattentiontohim。
　　"Myfather，"saidYva，risingandbowingbeforehimwithherswan—likegrace，"Ihavenotedyourcommands。ButdoyoupermitthatIshowthetempletothesestrangers，alsosomethingofourpast？"
　　"Yes，yes，"hesaid。"Itwillsavemuchtalkinasavagetonguethatisdifficulttome。Butbringthemherenomorewithoutmycommand，saveBastinonly。Whenthesunisfourhourshighintheupperworld，lethimcometomorrowtoteachme，andafterwardsifsoIdesire。Orifhewills，hecansleephere。"
　　"IthinkIwouldrathernot，"saidBastinhurriedly。"Imakenopretensetobeingparticular，butthisplacedoesnotappealtomeasabedroom。Therearedegreesinthepleasuresofsolitudeand，inshort，Iwillnotdisturbyourprivacyatnight。"
　　Orowavedhishandandwedeparteddownthatawfulandmostdrearyhall。
　　"Ihopeyouwillspendapleasanttimehere，Bastin，"Isaid，lookingbackfromthedoorwayatitscold，illuminatedvastness。
　　"Idon’texpectto，"heanswered，"butdutyisduty，andifI
　　candragthatoldsinnerbackfromthepitthatawaitshim，itwillbeworthdoing。OnlyIhavemydoubtsabouthim。TomeheseemstobearastrongfamilyresemblancetoBeelzebub，andhe’sabadcompanionweekinandweekout。"
　　Wewentthroughtheportico，Yvaleadingus，andpassedthefountainofLife—water，ofwhichshecautionedustodrinknomoreatpresent，andtopreventhimfromdoingso，draggedTommypastitbyhiscollar。Bickley，however，lingeredunderthepretenceofmakingafurtherexaminationofthestatue。AsIhadseenhimemptyingintohispocketthecontentsofacorkedbottleofquininetabloidswhichhealwayscarriedwithhim，Iguessedverywellthathisobjectwastoprocureasampleofthiswaterforfutureanalysis。OfcourseIsaidnothing，andYvaandBastintooknonoteofwhathewasdoing。
　　Whenwewereclearofthepalace，ofwhichwehadonlyseenonehall，wewalkedacrossanopenspacemadeunutterablydrearybytheabsenceofanyvegetationorothersignoflife，towardsahugebuildingofgloriousproportionsthatwasconstructedofblackstoneormarble。Itisimpossibleformetogiveanyideaofthefrightfulsolemnityofthisdoomededifice，forasIthinkIhavesaid，italonehadaroof，standingthereinthemidstofthatbrilliant，unvaryingandmostunnaturalilluminationwhichcamefromnowhereandyetwaseverywhere。Thus，whenoneliftedafoot，thereitwasbetweenthesoleofthebootandthefloor，ortoexpressitbetter，thebootthrewnoshadow。Ithinkthisabsenceofshadowswasperhapsthemostterrifyingcircumstanceconnectedwiththatuniversalandpervadinglight。Throughitwewalkedontothetemple。Wepassedthreecourts，pillaredallofthem，andcametothebuildingwhichwaslargerthanSt。Paul’sinLondon。Weenteredthroughhugedoorswhichstillstoodopen，andpresentlyfoundourselvesbeneaththetoweringdome。Therewerenowindows，whyshouldtherebeinaplacethatwasfulloflight？Therewasnoornamentation，therewasnothingexceptblackwalls。Andyetthegeneraleffectwasmagnificentinitsmajesticgrace。
　　"Inthisplace，"saidYva，andhersweetvoicewentwhisperingroundthewallsandthearchingdome，"wereburiedtheKingsoftheSonsofWisdom。Theyliebeneath，eachinhissepulchre。Itsentranceisyonder，"andshepointedtowhatseemedtobeachapelontheright。"Wouldyouwishtoseethem？"
　　"SomehowIdon’tcareto，"saidBastin。"Theplaceisdrearyenoughasitiswithoutthecompanyofalotofdeadkings。"
　　"Ishouldliketodissectoneofthem，butIsupposethatwouldnotbeallowed，"saidBickley。
　　"No，"sheanswered。"IthinkthattheLordOrowouldnotwishyoutocutuphisforefathers。"
　　"Whenyouandhewenttosleep，whydidyounotchoosethefamilyvault？"askedBastin。
　　"Wouldyouhavefoundusthere？"shequeriedbywayofanswer。
　　Then，understandingthattheinvitationwasrefusedbygeneralconsent，thoughpersonallyIshouldhavelikedtoacceptit，andhaveneverceasedregrettingthatIdidnot，shemovedtowardsacolossalobjectwhichstoodbeneaththecentreofthedome。
　　Onasteppedbase，notverydifferentfromthatinthecavebutmuchlarger，satafigure，drapedinacloakonwhichwasgravedanumberofstars，doubtlesstosymbolisetheheavens。Thefasteningofthecloakwasshapedlikethecrescentmoon，andthefoot—stoolonwhichrestedthefigure’sfeetwasfashionedtosuggesttheorbofthesun。Thiswasofgoldorsomesuchmetal，theonlyspotofbrightnessinallthattemple。Itwasimpossibletosaywhetherthefigureweremaleorfemale，forthecloakfallinginlong，straightfoldshiditsoutlines。Nordidtheheadtellus，forthehairalsowashiddenbeneaththemantleandthefacemighthavebeenthatofeithermanorwoman。Itwasterribleinitssolemnityandcalm，anditsexpressionwasasremoteandmysticasthatofBuddha。onlymorestern。Alsowithoutdoubtitwasblind；itwasimpossibletomistakethesightlessnessofthosestaringorbs。Acrossthekneeslayanakedswordandbeneaththecloakthearmswerehidden。Initscompletesimplicitythethingwasmarvelous。
　　Oneithersideuponthepedestalkneltafigureofthesizeoflife。Onewasanoldandwitheredmanwithdeathstampeduponhisface；theotherwasabeautiful，nakedwoman，herhandsclaspedintheattitudeofprayerandwithvagueterrorwrittenonhervividfeatures。
　　Suchwasthisgloriousgroupofwhichthemeaningcouldnotbemistaken。ItwasFatethroneduponthesun，wearingtheconstellationsashisgarment，armedwiththeswordofDestinyandworshippedbyLifeandDeath。ThisinterpretationIsetouttotheothers。
　　Yvakneltbeforethestatueforalittlewhile，bowingherheadinprayer，andreallyIfeltinclinedtofollowherexample，thoughintheendIcompromised，asdidBickley，bytakingoffmyhat，which，liketheothers，Istillworefromforceofhabit，thoughinthisplacenonewereneeded。OnlyBastinremainedcovered。
　　"Beholdthegodofmypeople，"saidYva。"Haveyounoreverenceforit，OBastin？"
　　"Notmuch，"heanswered，"exceptasaworkofart。YouseeI
　　worshipFate’sMaster。Imightaddthatyourgoddoesn’tseemtohavedonemuchforyou，LadyYva，asoutofallyourgreatnessthere’snothingleftbuttwopeopleandalotofoldwallsandcaves。"
　　Atfirstshewasinclinedtobeangry，forIsawherstart。
　　Thenhermoodchanged，andshesaidwithasigh：
　　"Fate’sMaster！WheredoesHedwell？"
　　"Hereamongstotherplaces，"saidBastin。"I’llsoonexplainthattoyou。"
　　"Ithankyou，"sherepliedgravely。"ButwhyhaveyounotexplainedittoBickley？"Thenwavingherhandtoshowthatshewishedfornoanswer，shewenton：
　　"Friends，wouldyouwishtolearnsomethingofthehistoryofmypeople？"
　　"Verymuch，"saidtheirrepressibleBastin，"butIwouldratherthelecturetookplaceintheopenair。"
　　"Thatisnotpossible，"sheanswered。"Itmustbehereandnow，ornotatall。Come，standbyme。Besilentanddonotmove。Iamabouttosetlooseforcesthataredangerousifdisturbed。"
　　ChapterXVI
　　VisionsofthePastSheledustothebackofthestatueandpointedtoeachofuswhereweshouldremain。Thenshetookherplaceatrightanglestous，asashowmanmightdo，andforawhilestoodimmovable。
　　Watchingherface，oncemoreIsawit，andindeedallherbody，informedwiththatstrangeairofpower，andnotedthathereyesflashedandthatherhairgrewevenmorebrilliantthanwascommon，asthoughsomeabnormalstrengthwereflowingthroughitandher。Presentlyshespoke，saying：
　　"Ishallshowyoufirstourpeopleinthedayoftheirglory。
　　Lookinfrontofyou。"
　　Welookedandbydegreesthevastspaceoftheapsebeforeusbecamealivewithforms。Atfirstthesewerevagueandshadowy，nottobeseparatedordistinguished。Thentheybecamesorealthatuntilhewasreprovedbyakick，Tommygrowledatthemandthreatenedtobreakoutintooneofhispealsofbarking。
　　Awonderfulsceneappeared。Therewasapalaceofwhitemarbleandinfrontofitagreatcourtyarduponwhichthesunbeatvividly。Atthefootofthestepsofthepalace，beneathasilkenawning，satakingenthroned，acrownuponhisheadandwearinggloriousrobes。Inhishandwasajewelledsceptre。Hewasanoble—lookingmanofmiddleageandabouthimweregatheredtheglitteringofficersofhiscourt。Fairwomenfannedhimandtorightandleft，butalittlebehind，satotherfairandjewelledwomenwho，Isuppose，werehiswivesordaughters。
　　"OneoftheKingsoftheChildrenofWisdomnew—crowned，receivesthehomageoftheworld，"saidYva。
　　Asshespokethereappeared，walkinginfrontofthethroneonebyone，otherkings，forallwerecrownedandboresceptres。Atthefootofthethroneeachofthemkneeledandkissedthefootofhimwhosatthereon，ashedidsolayingdownhissceptrewhichatasignheliftedagainandpassedaway。Ofthesekingstheremusthavebeenquitefifty，menofallcoloursandofvarioustypes，whitemen，blackmen，yellowmen，redmen。
　　Thencametheirministersbearinggifts，apparentlyofgoldandjewels，whichwerepiledontraysinfrontofthethrone。I
　　remembernotinganincident。Anoldfellowwithalamelegstumbledandupsethistray，sothatthecontentsrolledhitherandthither。Hisattemptstorecoverthemwereludicrousandcausedthemonarchonthethronetorelaxfromhisdignityandsmile。Imentionthistoshowthatwhatwewitnessedwasnosetscenebutapparentlyalivingpieceofthepast。Haditbeensotheabsurdityofthebedizenedoldmantumblingdowninthemidstofthegorgeouspageantwouldcertainlyhavebeenomitted。
　　No，itmustbelife，reallife，somethingthathadhappened，andthesamemaybesaidofwhatfollowed。Forinstance，therewaswhatwecallareview。Infantrymarched，someofthemarmedwithswordsandspears，thoughtheseItooktobeanornamentalbodyguard，andotherswithtubeslikesavageblowpipesofwhichI
　　couldnotguesstheuse。Therewerenocannon，butcarriagescamebyloadedwithbagsthathadspoutstothem。Probablythesewerechargedwithpoisonousgases。Thereweresomecavalryalso，mountedonadifferentstampofhorsefromours，thickersetandnearertheground，butwitharchednecksandfieryeyesand，I
　　shouldsay，verystrong。Theseagain，Itakeit，wereornamental。
　　Thencameothermenuponalongmachine，slunginpairsinarmouredsacks，outofwhichonlytheirheadsandarmsprojected。
　　Thismachine，whichresembledanelongatedbicycle，wentbyatatremendousrate，thoughwhenceitsmotivepowercamedidnotappear。Itcarriedtwentypairsofmen，eachofwhomheldinhishandsomesmallbutdoubtlessdeadlyweapon，thatinappearanceresembledanorange。Othersimilarmachineswhichfollowedcarriedfromfortytoahundredpairsofmen。
　　Themarvelofthepiece，however，weretheaircraft。Thesecamebyingreatnumbers。Sometimestheyflewinflockslikewildgeese，sometimessingly，sometimesinlineandsometimesinorderedsquadrons，withoutpostandofficershipsandanexactdistancekeptbetweencraftandcraft。Noneofthemseemedtobeverylargeortocarrymorethanfourorfivemen，buttheywereextraordinarilyswiftandasagileasswallows。Moreovertheyflewasbirdsdobybeatingtheirwings，butagainwecouldnotguesswhencecametheirmotivepower。
　　Thereviewvanished，andnextappearedasceneoffestivityinahuge，illuminatedhall。TheGreatKingsatuponadaisandbehindhimwasthatstatueofFate，oroneverysimilartoit，beneathwhichwestood。Belowhiminthehallwerethefeastersseatedatlongtables，cladinthevariouscostumesoftheircountries。Heroseand，turning，kneltbeforethestatueofFate。
　　Indeedheprostratedhimselfthriceinprayer。Thentakinghisseatagain，heliftedacupofwineandpledgedthatvastcompany。TheydrankbacktohimandprostratedthemselvesbeforehimashehaddonebeforetheimageofFate。OnlyInotedthatcertainmencladinsacerdotalgarmentsnotatallunlikethosewhicharewornintheGreekChurchto—day，remainedstanding。
　　Nowallthisexhibitionofterrestrialpompfaded。Thenextscenewassimple，thatofthedeath—bedofthissameking——weknewhimbyhiswizenedfeatures。Therehelay，terriblyoldanddying。Physicians，women，courtiers，allweretherewatchingtheend。Thetableauvanishedandinplaceofitappearedthatoftheyouthfulsuccessoramidstcheeringcrowds，withjoybreakingthroughthecloudsofsimulatedgriefuponhisface。Itvanishedalso。
　　"Thusdidgreatkingsucceedgreatkingforagesuponages，"
　　saidYva。"Therewereeightyofthemandtheaverageoftheirreignswas700years。Theyruledtheearthasitwasinthosedays。Theygathereduplearning，theywieldedpower，theirwealthwasboundless。Theynurturedthearts，theydiscoveredsecrets。
　　Theyhadintercoursewiththestars；theywereasgods。Butlikethegodstheygrewjealous。Theyandtheircouncillorsbecamearaceapartwhoalonehadthesecretoflonglife。Therestoftheworldandthecommonplacepeopleaboutthemsufferedanddied。
　　TheyoftheHouseholdofWisdomlivedoninpompforgenerationstilltheearthwasmadwithenvyofthem。
　　"FeverandfewergrewthedivineraceoftheSonsofWisdomsincechildrenarenotgiventotheagedandtothoseofanancient，outwornblood。ThentheWorldsaid：
　　"’Theyaregreatbuttheyarenotmany；letusmakeanendofthembynumbersandtaketheirplaceandpoweranddrinkoftheirLife—water，thattheywillnotgivetous。Ifmyriadsofusperishbytheirarts，whatdoesitmatter，sincewearecountless？’SotheWorldmadewarupontheSonsofWisdom。See！"
　　Againapictureformed。Theskywasfullofaircraftwhichraineddownfirelikeflashesoflightninguponcitiesbeneath。
　　Fromthesecitiesleaptupotherfiresthatdestroyedtheswift—
　　travellingthingsabove，sothattheyfellinnumberslikegnatsburnedbyalamp。Stillmoreandmoreofthemcametillthecitiescrumbledawayandtheflashesthatdartedfromthemceasedtorushupwards。TheSonsofWisdomweredrivenfromthefaceoftheearth。
　　Againthescenechanged。Nowitshowedthissubterraneanhallinwhichwestood。Therewaspomphere，yetitwasbutashadowofthatwhichhadbeenintheearlierdaysuponthefaceoftheearth。Courtiersmovedaboutthepalaceandtherewerepeopleintheradiantstreetsandthehouses，formostofthemwereoccupied，butrarelydidthevisionshowchildrencomingthroughtheirgates。
　　Ofasuddenthissceneshifted。NowwesawthatsamehallinwhichwehadvisitedOronotanhourbefore。Therehesat，yes，Orohimself，uponthedaisbeneaththeoverhangingmarbleshell。
　　Roundhimweresomeancientcouncillors。Inthebodyofthehalloneithersideofthedaisweremeninmilitaryarray，guardswithoutdoubtthoughtheironlyweaponwasablackrodnotunlikearuler，ifindeeditwereaweaponandnotabadgeofoffice。
　　Yva，whosefacehadsuddenlygrownstrangeandfixed，begantodetailtouswhatwaspassinginthisscene，inacuriousmonotonesuchasapersonmightusewhowasrepeatingsomethinglearnedbyheart。Thiswasthesubstanceofwhatshesaid：
　　"ThecaseoftheSonsofWisdomisdesperate。Butfewofthemareleft。Likeothermentheyneedfoodwhichishardtocomeby，sincethefoeholdstheupperearthandthatwhichtheirdoctorscanmakehereintheShadesdoesnotsatisfythem，eventhoughtheydrinktheLife—water。Theydieanddie。TherecomesanembassyfromtheHighKingoftheconfederatedNationstotalkoftermsofpeace。See，itenters。"
　　Asshespoke，upthehalladvancedtheembassy。Attheheadofitwalkedayoungman，tall，dark，handsomeandcommanding，whoseaspectseemedinsomewaytobefamiliartome。Hewasrichlyclothedinapurplecloakandworeuponhisheadagoldencircletthatsuggestedroyalrank。Thosewhofollowedhimweremostlyoldmenwhohadtheastutefacesofdiplomatists，butafewseemedtobegenerals。Yvacontinuedinhermonotonousvoice：
　　"ComesthesonoftheKingoftheconfederatedNations，thePrincewhowillbeking。HebowsbeforetheLordOro。Hesays’GreatandAncientMonarchofthedivineblood，Heaven—bornOne，yourstrait，andthatofthosewhoremaintoyou，issore。YetonbehalfoftheNationsIamsenttooffertermsofpeace，butthisImayonlydointhepresenceofyourchildwhoisyourheiressandtheQueen—to—beoftheSonsofWisdom。’"
　　Here，inthepicture，OrowavedhishandandfrombehindthemarbleshellappearedYvaherself，gloriouslyapparelled，wearingroyalornamentsandwithhertrainheldbywaitingladies。ShebowedtothePrinceandhiscompanyandtheybowedbacktoher。
　　More，wesawaglanceofrecognitionpassbetweenherandthePrince。
　　NowtherealYvabyoursidepointedtotheshadowYvaofthevisionorthepicture，whicheveritmightbecalled，astrangethingtoseeherdo，andwenton：
　　"ThedaughteroftheLordOrocomes。ThePrinceoftheNationssalutesher。HesaysthatthegreatwarhasenduredforhundredsofyearsbetweentheChildrenofWisdomfightingforabsoluteruleandthecommonpeopleoftheearthfightingforliberty。InthatwarmanymillionsoftheSonsoftheNationshadperished，broughttotheirdeathbyfearfularts，bywizardriesandbyplaguessownamongthembytheSonsofWisdom。Yettheywerewinning，forthegloriouscitiesoftheSonsofWisdomweredestroyedandthosewhoremainedofthemweredriventodwellinthecavesoftheearthwherewithalltheirstrengthandmagictheycouldnotincrease，butfadedlikeflowersinthedark。
　　"TheLordOroaskswhatarethetermsofpeaceproposedbytheNations。ThePrinceanswersthattheyarethese：ThattheSonsofWisdomshallteachalltheirwisdomtothewisemenamongtheNations。ThattheyshallgivethemtodrinkoftheLife—water，sothattheirlengthofdaysalsomaybeincreased。Thattheyshallceasetodestroythembysicknessandtheirmasteryoftheforceswhicharehidinthewomboftheworld。Iftheywilldothesethings，thentheNationsontheirpartwillceasefromwar，willrebuildthecitiestheyhavedestroyedbymeansoftheirflyingshipsthatraindowndeath，andwillagreethattheLordOroandhisseedshallrulethemforeverastheKingofkings。
　　"TheLordOroasksifthatbeall。ThePrinceanswersthatitisnotall。HesaysthatwhenhedweltahostageatthecourtoftheSonsofWisdomheandthedivineLady，thedaughteroftheLordOro，andhisonlylivingchild，learnedtoloveeachother。
　　Hedemands，andtheNationsdemand，thatsheshallbegiventohimtowife，thatinadaytocomehemayrulewithherandtheirchildrenafterthem。
　　"See！"wentonYvainherchanting，dreamyvoice，"theLordOroaskshisdaughterifthisbetrue。Shesays，"heretherealYvaatmysideturnedandlookedmestraightintheeyes，"thatitistrue；thatshelovesthePrinceoftheNationsandthatifshelivesamillionyearsshewillwednootherman，sinceshewhoisherfather’sslaveinallelseisstillthemistressofherself，ashaseverbeentherightofherroyalmothers。
　　"Seeagain！TheLordOro，thedivineKing，theAncient，growswroth。HesaysthatitisenoughandmorethanenoughthattheBarbariansshouldasktoeatofthebreadofhiddenlearningandtodrinkoftheLife—wateroftheSonsofWisdom，giftsthatweregiventothemofoldbyHeavenwhencetheyspranginthebeginning。Butthatoneofthem，howeverhighlyplaced，shoulddaretoasktomixhisbloodwiththatofthedivineLady，theHeiress，theQueenoftheEarthtobe，andclaimtoshareherimperialthronethathadbeenheldbyherpureracefromagetoage，wasaninsultthatcouldonlybepurgedbydeath。SoonerwouldhegivehisdaughterinmarriagetoanapethantoachildoftheBarbarianswhohadworkedonthemsomanywoesandstriventobreakthegoldenfettersoftheirrule。
　　"Lookagain！"continuedYva。"TheLordOro，thedivine，growsangrierstill"（whichintruthhedid，forneverdidIseesuchdreadfulrageasthatwhichthepicturerevealedinhim）。"Hewarns，hethreatens。Hesaysthathithertooutofgentleloveandpityhehasheldhishand；thathehasstrengthathiscommandwhichwillslaythem，notbymillionsinslowwar，butbytensofmillionsatoneblow；thatwillblotthemandtheirpeoplesfromthefaceofearthandthatwillcausethedeepseastorollwherenowtheirpleasantlandsarefruitfulinthesun。Theyshrinkbeforehisfury；behold，theirkneestremblebecausetheyknowthathehasthispower。Hemocksthem，doestheLordOro。Heasksfortheirsubmissionhereandnow，andthatinthenameoftheNationstheyshouldtakethegreatoathwhichmaynotbebroken，swearingtoceasefromwarupontheSonsofWisdomandtoobeytheminallthingstotheendsoftheearth。Someoftheambassadorswouldyield。Theylookaboutthemlikewildthingsthataretrapped。ButmadnesstakesthePrince。Hecriesthattheoathofanapeisofnoaccount，butthathewilltearuptheChildrenofWisdomasanapetearsleaves，andafterwardstakethedivineLadytobehiswife。
　　"LookontheLordOro！"continuedthelivingYva，"hiswrathleaveshim。Hegrowscoldandsmiles。Hisdaughterthrowsherselfuponherkneesandpleadswithhim。Hethrustsheraway。ShewouldspringtothesideofthePrince；hecommandshiscouncillorstoholdher。ShecriestothePrincethatsheloveshimandhimonly，andthatinadaytocomehimshewillwedandnoother。Hethanksher，sayingthatasitiswithher，soitiswithhim，andthatbecauseofhislovehefearsnothing。Sheswoons。TheLordOromotionswithhishandtotheguard。Theylifttheirdeath—rods。Fireleapsfromthem。ThePrinceandhiscompanions，allsavethosewhowereafraidandwouldhavesworntheoath，twistandwrithe。Theyturnblack；theydie。TheLordOrocommandsthosewhoarelefttoentertheirflyingshipsandbeartotheNationsoftheEarthtidingsofwhatbefallsthosewhodaretodefyandinsulthim；towarnthemalsotoeatanddrinkandbemerrywhiletheymay，sincefortheirwickednesstheyareabouttoperish。"
　　ThescenefadedandtherefollowedanotherwhichreallyI
　　cannotdescribe。Itrepresentedsomevastundergroundplaceandwhatappearedtobeahugemountainofironclothedinlight，literallyathinglikeanalp，rockingandspinningdownadeclivity，whichfartheronseparatedintotwobranchesbecauseofahugerazor—edgeprecipicethatrosebetween。Thereinthemiddleofthisvastspacewiththedazzlingmountainwhirlingtowardshim，stoodOroencasedinsometransparentarmour，asthoughtokeepoffheat，andwithhimhisdaughterwhounderhisdirectionwashandlingsomethingintherockbehindher。Thentherewasablindingflashandeverythingvanished。Allofthispicturepassedsoswiftlythatwecouldnotgraspitsdetails；
　　onlyageneralimpressionremained。
　　"TheLordOro，usingthestrengththatisintheworldwhereofhealonehasthesecret，changestheworld’sbalancecausingthatwhichwaslandtobecomeseaandthatwhichwasseatobecomeland，"saidYvainherchanting，unnaturalvoice。