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！
rim had overshadowed us and almost seemed to touch the cliff of
rock against which we leant。 I remember that the effect of that
shining arch a thousand feet or so above our heads was wonderful。
It reminded me of a canopy of blackest thunder clouds supported
upon a framework of wheeling rainbows； while beneath it all the
children of the devil shouted together in joy。 I noted this
effect only a few seconds before Yva spoke to me and leapt into
the path of the flash。
Now； however； it was far away； a mere flaming wheel that became
gradually smaller； and its Satanic voices were growing faint。 As
I have said； I watched its disappearance idly； reflecting that I
should never look upon its like again； also that it was something
well worth going forth to see。 Then I became aware that the
humming； howling din had decreased sufficiently to enable me to
hear human voices without effort。 Bastin was addressing Bickley
like myself they were both upon the ground。
〃Her translation； as you may have noticed； Bickley； if you were
not too frightened； was really very remarkable。 No doubt it will
have reminded you； as it did me； of that of Elijah。 She had
exactly the appearance of a person going up to Heaven in a
vehicle of fire。 The destination was certainly the same； and even
the cloak she wore added a familiar touch and increased the
similarity。〃
〃At any rate it did not fall upon you；〃 answered Bickley with
something like a sob； in a voice of mingled awe and exasperation。
〃For goodness' sake！ Bastin； stop your Biblical parallels and let
us adore； yes； let us adore the divinest creature that the earth
has borne！〃
Never have I loved Bickley more than when I heard him utter
those words。
〃'Divinest' is a large term； Bickley； and one to which I
hesitate to subscribe； remembering as I do certain of the
prophets and the Early Fathers with all their faults； not of
course to mention the Apostles。 But〃 here he paused； for
suddenly all three of us became aware of Oro。
He also has been thrown to the ground by the strength of the
prisoned forces which he gathered and loosed upon their unholy
errand； but； as I rejoiced to observe； had suffered from them
much more than ourselves。 Doubtless this was owing to the fact
that he had sprung forward in a last wild effort to save his
daughter； or to prevent her from interfering with his experiment；
I know not which。 As a result his right cheek was much scorched；
his right arm was withered and helpless； and his magnificent
beard was half burnt off him。 Further； very evidently he was
suffering from severe shock； for he rocked upon his feet and
shook like an aspen leaf。 All this； however； did not interfere
with the liveliness of his grief and rage。
There he stood； a towering shape； like a lightning…smitten
statue； and cursed us； especially Bastin。
〃My daughter has gone！〃 he cried； 〃burned up by the fiery power
that is my servant。 Nothing remains of her but dust； and； Priest；
this is your doing。 You poisoned her heart with your childish
doctrines of mercy and sacrifice； and the rest； so that she threw
herself into the path of the flash to save some miserable races
that she had never even known。〃
He paused exhausted； whereon Bastin answered him with spirit：
〃Yes； Oro； she being a holy woman； has gone where you will
never follow her。 Also it is your own fault since you should have
listened to her entreaties instead of boxing her ears like the
brute you are。〃
〃My daughter is gone；〃 went on Oro； recovering his strength；
〃and my great designs are ruined。 Yet only for a while；〃 he
added； 〃for the world…balance will return again； if not till long
after your life…spans are done。〃
〃If you don't doctor yourself； Lord Oro；〃 said Bickley； also
rising； 〃I may tell you as one who understands such things； that
most likely it will be after your life…span is done also。 Although
their effect may be delayed； severe shocks from burns and over…
excitement are apt to prove fatal to the aged。〃
Oro snarled at him； no other word describes it。
〃And there are other things； Physician；〃 he said； 〃which are
apt to prove fatal to the young。 At least now you will no longer
deny my power。〃
〃I am not so sure；〃 answered Bickley； 〃since it seems that
there is a greater Power； namely that of a woman's love and
sacrifice。〃
〃And a greater still；〃 interrupted Bastin； 〃Which put those
ideas into her head。〃
〃As for you； Humphrey；〃 went on Oro； 〃I rejoice to think that
you at least have lost two things that man desires above all
other thingsthe woman you sought and the future kingship of the
world。〃
I stood up and faced him。
〃The first I have gained； although how； you do not understand；
Oro；〃 I answered。 〃And of the second； seeing that it would have
come through you； on your conditions； I am indeed glad to be rid。
I wish no power that springs from murder； and no gifts from one
who answered his daughter's prayer with blows。〃
For a moment he seemed remorseful。
〃She vexed me with her foolishness；〃 he said。 Then his rage
blazed up again：
〃And it was you who taught it to her；〃 he went on。 〃You are
guilty； all three of you； and therefore I am left with none to
serve me in my age； therefore also my mighty schemes are
overthrown。〃
〃Also； Oro； if you speak truth； therefore half the world is
saved；〃 I added quietly； 〃and one has left it of whom it was
unworthy。〃
〃You think that these civilisations of yours； as you are
pleased to call them； are saved； do you？〃 he sneered。 〃Yet； even
if Bickley were right and I should die and become powerless； I
tell you that they are already damned。 I have studied them in
your books and seen them with my eyes； and I say that they are
rotten before ever they are ripe； and that their end shall be the
end of the Sons of Wisdom； to die for lack of increase。 That is
why I would have saved the East； because in it alone there is
increase； and thence alone can rise the great last race of man
which I would have given to your children for an heritage。
Moreover； think not that you Westerners have done with wars。 I
tell you that they are but begun and that the sword shall eat you
up； and what the sword spares class shall snatch from class in
the struggle for supremacy and ease。〃
Thus he spoke with extraordinary and concentrated bitterness
that I confess would have frightened me； had I been capable of
fear； which at the moment I was not。 Who is afraid when he has
lost all？
Nor was Bastin alarmed； if for other reasons。
〃I think it right to tell you； Oro；〃 he said； 〃that the only
future you need trouble about is your own。 God Almighty will look
after the western civilisations in whatever way He may think
best； as you may remember He did just now。 Only I am sure you
won't be here to see how it is done。〃
Again fury blazed in Oro's eyes。
〃At least I will look after you； you half…bred do