第8章

"Aye，butyouwill，"saidtheoldman，andturnedonhimwithasuddentighteningofthebrows。Therewasnoblowpassed;eventheSymbol，whichglowedlikeastaragainstthenight，wasnotsomuchasliftedinwarning;buttheyoungmantriedtoretort，and，findinghimselfsmittenwithasuddendumbness，turnedwithaspasmoffear，andjumpedbackwhencehehadcome。Thecrowdofthemthrilledexpectantly，andwhennofurtherportentwasgiven，theybegantoshoutthatamiracleshouldbeshownthem，andthenperchancetheywouldbepersuadedbacktotheoldallegiance。

Theoldmanstoopedandgloweredattheminfury。"Youdogs，"

hecried，"youempty—witteddogs！DoyouaskthatIshoulddegradethepowersoftheHigherMysteriesbydancingthemoutbeforeyouasthoughtheywereamummers’show？Doyoutickleyourselvesthatyouaretobetemptedbacktoyourallegiance？ItisforyoutowootheGodswhoaresooffended。Comeinhumility，andItakeituponmyselftodeclarethatyouwillreceivefittingpardonandrelief。Remainstubborn，andthescourge，Phorenice，maytormentyouintoannihilationbeforesheinturnismadetoanswerfortheevilshehasputupontheland。Thereisthechoiceforyoutopickat。"

Theturmoilofvoicesroseagainintothewetnessofthenight，andweaponswereupraisedmenacingly。Itwasclearthatthepartyforindependencehadbyfarthegreaterweight，bothinnumbersandlustiness;andthosewhomight，fromsheerwearinessofstrife，havebeenwillingforsurrender，withheldtheirwordthroughterroroftheconsequence。Itwasafinecommentonthefreedomofspeech，aboutwhichtheseunrulyfoolshadmadetheirboast，and，withaslymalice，IcouldnothelpwhisperingawordonthistoNaisasshestoodatmyelbow。ButNaisclutchedatmyhand，andimploredmeforcaution。"Oh，besilent，mylord，"shewhisperedback，"ortheywilltearyouinpieces。Theyareonfireformischiefnow。"

"Yetafewhoursbackyouwereforkillingmeyourself，"I

couldnothelpremindingher。

Sheturnedonmewithahotlook。"Awomancanchangehermind，mylord。Butitbecomesyoulittletoremindherofherfickleness。"

Amaninthepressbesidemewrenchedroundwithaneffort，andstaredatmesearchinglythroughthedarkness。"Oh！"hesaid。

"Ashavedchin。Whoareyou，friend，thatyoushouldcutabeardinsteadofcurlingit？Icanseenowoundonyourface。"

Iansweredhimcivillyenoughthat，with"freedom"forawatchword，thefashionofmychinwasamatterofmereprivateconcern。Butasthatdidnotsatisfyhim，andasheseemedtobeoneofthosequarrelsomefellowsthatarethebaneofeverycommunity，Itookhimsuddenlybythethroatandtheshoulder，andbenthisneckwiththeold，quickturntillIhearditcrack，andhadunhandedhimbeforeanyofhisneighbourshadseenwhathadbefallen。Thefiercepressofthecrowdheldhimfromslippingtotheground，andsohestoodontherewherehewas，withhisheadnoddedforward，asthoughhehadfallenasleepthroughheaviness，orhadfaintedthroughthecrushingofhisfellows。Ihadnodesiretobeginthatlastfightofmineinaplacelikethis，wheretherewasnoroomtoswingaweapon，norchancetoclearabattlering。

Butallthistimetheleanpreacherfromthemountainswassendingforthhisangryanathemas，andstillholdingthestrainedattentionofthepeople。AndnexthesetforthbeforethemthecultoftheGodsintheancientformasisprescribed，andthey（witholdhabitcomingbacktothem）maderesponseinthewordsandintheplaceswheretheoldritualenjoins。Itwasweirdenoughsight，thattime—honouredserviceofadoration，forceduponthesewildpeopleaftersolongaperiodofirreligion。

Theywarmedtotheoldwordsasthehighshrillvoiceofthepriestcriedthemforth，andastheylistened，andastheyrealisedhowintimatewasthecareoftheGodsforthetravailsandsorrowsoftheirdailylives，somuchwarmergrewtheirresponses。

"……WHOSTILLEDTHEBURNINGOFTHEMOUNTAINS，ANDMADE

COOLPLACESONTHEEARTHFORUSTOLIVE！——PRAISETOTHEMOST

HIGHGODS。

"WHOGAVEUSMASTERYOVERTHELESSERBEASTSANDSKILLOF

TENTIMESTOPREVAIL！——PRAISETOTHEMOSTHIGHGODS……"

"WHOGAVEUSMASTERYOVERTHELESSERBEASTSANDSKILLOF

TENTIMESTOPREVAIL！——PRAISETOTHEMOSTHIGHGODS……"

Itthrilledonetoheartheirearnestness;itsorrowedonetoknowthattheywouldyetbeobdurateandnotreturntotheiroldallegiance。Forthisisthewaywiththesecommonpeople;theywillworkupanenthusiasmoneminute，andanhourlateritwillhavefledawayandleftthemcoldandempty。

ButZaemonmadenofurthercallsupontheirloyalty。Hefinishedtheprescribedformofsentences，andsteppeddownofftheplatformofthewarenginewiththeSymbolofourLordtheSunthrustoutresolutelybeforehim。Toallordinaryseemingthecrowdhadbeenpackedsothatnofurthercompressionwaspossible，butbeforetheadvanceoftheSymbolthepeoplecrushedback，leavingawidelaneforhispassage。

Andherecametheturningpointofmylife。Atfirst，like，Itakeit，everyoneelseinthatcrowd，Iimaginedthattheoldman，havingfinishedhismission，wasmakingawaytoreturntotheplacefromwhichhehadcome。Butheheldsteadilytoonedirection，andasthatwastowardsmyself，itnaturallycametomymindthat，havingdealtwithgreaterthings，hewouldnowsettlewiththeless;or，inplainerwords，thathavingputhispolicybeforetheswarmingpeople，hewouldnowsmitedownthemanhehadseenbutyesterdayseatedasPhorenice’sminister。Well，IshouldlosethatfinalfightIhadpromisedmyself，andthatmoundofslainformyfuneralbed。ItwasclearthatZaemonwasthemouthpieceofthePriests’Clan，dulyappointed;andIalsowasapriest。IfthewordhadbeengivenontheSacredMountaintothosewhosatbeforetheArkoftheMysteriesthatAtlantiswouldprospermorewithDeucalionsenttotheGods，Iwasreadytobowtothesentencewithsubmissiveness。ThatIhadregretforthismodeofcuttingoff，Iwillnotdeny。Nomanwhohaspractisedthegameofarmscouldabandonthepromiseofsuchagorgeousfinalbattlewithoutaqualmoflonging。

ButIhadbeentrainedenoughtoshownoneoftheseemotionsonmyface，andwhentheoldmancameuptome，Istoodmygroundandgavehimthesalutationprescribedbetweenourranks，whichhereturnedtomewithcircumstanceandaccuracy。Thecrowdfellback，beingdrivenawaybytheineffableforceoftheSymbol，leavingusaloneinthemiddleofaring。EvenNais，thoughshewasapriest’sdaughter，wasignorantoftheMysteries，andcouldnotwithstanditsforce。Andsowetwomenstoodtherealonetogether，withtheglowoftheSymbolbathingus，andlightinguptheseaofravenousfacesthatwatched。

Thepeoplewerequicktoputtheirnaturalexplanationonthescene。"Aspy！"theybegantoroarout。"Aspy！ZaemonsaluteshimasaPriest！"

Zaemonfacedroundonthemwithaqueerlookonhisgrimoldface。"Aye，"hesaid，"thisisaPriest。IfIgiveyouhisname，youmighthavefurtherinterest。ThisistheLordDeucalion。"

Thewordwaspickedupandyelledamongstthemwithathousandemotions。Butatleasttheywereloyaltotheirpolicy;theyhaddecidedthatDeucalionwastheirenemy;theyhadalreadyexpendedanavyforhisdestruction;andnowthathewasringedinbytheirmasses，theylustedtotearhimintoragswiththeirfingers。Butraveandravethoughtheymightagainstme，theglarefromtheSymboldrovethemshudderingbackasthoughithadbeenalava—stream;andZaemonwasnotthemantohandmeovertotheirfuryuntilhehaddeliveredformalsentenceastheemissaryofourClanontheSacredMount。Sotheendwasnottobeyet。

Theoldmanfacedmeandspokeinthesacredtongue，whichthecommonpeopledonotknow。"Mybrother，"hesaid，"whichhaveyoucometoserve，DeucalionorAtlantis？"

"Wordsareapoorthingtoansweraquestionlikethat。Youwillknowallofmyrecord。AccordingtotheLawofthePriests，eachshipfromYucatanwillhavecarriedhomeitsswornreporttolayatthefeetoftheircouncil，andbeforeIwenttothatvice—royalty，whatIdidwaswrittenplainhereonthefaceofAtlantis。"

"Weknowyourdoingsinthepast，brother，andtheyhavefoundapproval。Youhavegovernedwell，andyouhavelivedausterely。

YousetupAtlantisforamistress，andservedherwell;butthen，youhavehadnoPhorenicetotemptyouintochangeandfickleness。"

"YoucansendmewhereIshallseehernomore，ifyouthinkmefrail。"

"Yes，andloseyourusefulness。No，brother，youarethelasthopewhichthispoorlandhasremaining。AllotherhumanmeansthathavebeentriedagainstPhorenicehavefailed。Youhavereturnedfromoverseasforthefinalduel。Youarethestrongestmanwehave，andyouareourfinalchampion。Ifyoufail，thenonlythoseterriblePowerswhicharelockedwithintheArkoftheMysteriesremainstous，andthoughitisnotlawfultospeakeveninthishiddentongueoftheirscope，youatleasthavefullassuranceoftheirpotency。"

Ishruggedmyshoulders。"Itseemsthatyouwouldsavetimeandpainsifyouthrewmetothesewolvesofrebels，andletthemendmehereandnow。"

Theoldmanfrownedonmeangrily。"Iambiddingyoudoyourduty。Whatreasonhaveyouforwishingtoevadeit？"

"Ihaveinmymemorythewordsyouspokeinthepyramid，whenyoucameinamongstthebanqueters。’PHORENICE，’wasyourcry，’WHILSTYOUAREYETEMPRESS，YOUSHALLSEETHISROYAL

PYRAMID，WHICHYOUHAVEPOLLUTEDWITHYOURDEBAUCHERIES，TORNTIER

FROMTIER，ANDSTONEFROMSTONE，ANDSCATTEREDASFEATHERSBEFORE

AWIND。’Itseemsthatyouforeseemydefeat。"

Theoldmanshuddered。"Icannottellwhatshemayforceustodo。Ispokethenonlywhatitwasrevealedtomemusthappen。

Perhapswhenmattershavereachedthatpass，shewillrepentandsubmit。Butinthemeanwhile，beforeweusethemoredesperateweaponsoftheGods，itisfittingthatweshouldexpendallhumanpowerremainingtous。Andsoyoumustgo，mybrother，andplayyourparttotheutmost。"

"Itisanorder。SoIobey。"

"YoushallbeatPhorenice’ssideagainbythenextdawn。ShehassentforyoufromYucatanasahusband，andasonewho（soshethinks，poorhumanconqueror）hastheweightofarmnecessarytoprolonghertyrannies。YouareaPriest，brother，andyouareamanofconvincingtongue。Itwillbeyourparttomakeherstubbornmindseetheinvinciblepowerthatcanbeloosedagainsther，topointouttohertheutterhopelessnessofprevailingagainstit。"

"Ifitisordered，Iwilldothesethings。Butthereislittleenoughchanceofsuccess。IhaveseenPhorenice，andcangaugeherwill。Therewillbenoturningheronceshehasmadeadecision。Othershavetried;youhavetriedyourself;allhavefailed。"

"Wordsthatwerewastedonamaidenmaygohometoawife。

Youhavebeenbroughtheretobeherhusband。Well，takeyourplace。"

Theordercametomewithapang。Ihadgivenlittleenoughheedtowomenthroughallofabusylife，thoughwhenIlanded，thetakingofPhorenicetowifewouldnothavebeenveryrepugnanttomeifpolicyhaddemandedit。Butthemattersofthelasttwodayshadputthingsinadifferentshape。Ihadseentwootherwomenwhohadstrangelyattractedme，andoneofthesehadstirredwithinmeatumultsuchasIhadneverfeltbeforeamongstmyeconomies。

ToleadPhoreniceinmarriagewouldmeanaseverancefromthisotherwomaneternally，andIachedasIthoughtofit。Butthoughthesethoughtsfloatedthroughmysystemandgavemeharshwrenchesofpain，IdidnotthrustmypunylikingsbeforethecommandofthecouncilofthePriests。IbowedbeforeZaemon，andputhishandtomyforehead。"Itisanorder，"Isaid。"IfourLordtheSungivesmelife，Iwillobey。"

"Thenletusbegonefromthisplace，"saidZaemon，andtookmebythearmandwavedawayforuswiththeSymbol。NofurtherworddidIhavewithNais，fearingtoembroilherwiththeserebelswhoclusteredround，butIcaughtonehotglancefromhereyes，andthathadtosufficeforfarewell。Thedenseranksofthecrowdopened，andwewalkedawaybetweenthemscathless。Fiercelythoughtheylustedformylife，brimmingwithhatethoughtheymadetheircries，nomandaredtorushinandraiseahandagainstme。

Neitherdidtheyfollow。Whenwereachedtheoutskirtsofthecrowd，andtheranksthinned，theyhadamind，manyofthem，tosurgealonginourwake;butZaemonwhirledtheSymbolbackbeforetheirfaceswithablazeofluridlight，andtheyfelltotheirknees，grovelling，andpressedonusnomore。

Therainstillfell，andinthelightofthecampfiresaswepassedthem，thewetgleamedontheoldman’swastedbody。AndfarbeforeusthroughthedarknessloomedthevastbulkoftheSacredMountain，withtheringofeternalfiresencincturingitscrest。

IsighedasIthoughtoftheoldpeacefuldaysIhadspentinitstempleandgroves。

Buttherewastobenomoreofthatstudiousleisurenow。

Therewasworktobedone，workforAtlantiswhichdidnotbrookdelay。Andsowhenwehadprogressedfaroutintothewaste，andtherewasnoneneartoview（saveonlythemostHighGods），wefoundtheplacewherethepassagewas，whoseentranceisknownonlytotheSevenamongstthePriests;andthereweparted，Zaemontohishermitageinthedangerouslands，andIbythissecretwaybackintothecapital。

9。PHORENICE，GODDESS

Nowthepassage，thoughitsentrancehadbeencunninglyhiddenbyman’sartifice，wasoneofthoseveinsinwhichthefierybloodofourmother，theEarth，hadaforetimecoursed。Longyearshadpassedsinceitcarriedlavastreams，buttheairinitwasstillwarmandsulphurous，andtherewasnoinducementtolingerintransit。IlitmealampwhichIfoundinanappointedniche，andwalkedbrisklyalongmyways，coughing，andwishingheartilyIhadsomeofthosesimpleswhicheaseathroatthathasatendencytocatarrh。But，alas！allthatpacketofdrugswhichweremysolespoilfromthevice—royaltyofYucatanwerelostinthesea—fightwithDason’snavy，andsincelandinginAtlantistherehadbeenlittleenoughtimetothinkfortherefinementsofmedicine。

Thenetworkofearth—veinsbranchedprodigiously，andifanybutoneofusSevenPriestshadfoundawayintoitsrecessesbychance，hewouldhaveperishedhopelesslyinthewindings，orhavefallenintooneofthosepitswhichleadtotheboilbelow。ButI

carriedthechartofthetruecourseclearlyinmyhead，rememberingitfromthatoldinitiationoftwentyyearsback，when，asanappointedviceroy，IwasraisedtothehighestdegreebutoneknowntoourClan，andwasgivenitssecretsandworkingimplements。

Thewaywaslong，thefloorwasmonstrousuneven，andtheair，asIhavesaid，bad;andIknewthatdaywouldbefaradvancedbeforethesignstoldmethatIhadpassedbeneaththewalls，andwaswellwithintheprecinctsofthecity。AndherethevowoftheSevenhamperedmyprogress;foritisordainedthatundernocircumstances，whateverthestress，shallegressbemadefromthispassagebeforemortaleye。OnebranchafteranotherdidItry，butalwaysfoundloiterersneartheexits。Ihadhopedtomakemyemergencebythatpathwhichcameinsidetheroyalpyramid。Buttherewasnochanceofcomingupunobservedhere;theplacewashumminglikeahive。Andso，too，witheachofthefivenextoutletsthatIvisited。Thecitywasagogwithsomestrangeexcitement。

ButIcameatlasttoatempleofoneofthelesserGods，andstoodbehindtheimageforawhilemakingobservation。Theplacewasempty;nay，fromthedustwhichrobedallthefloorsandtheseatsoftheworshippers，ithadbeenemptylongenough;soImovedallthatwasneedful，steppedout，andclosedallentrybehindme。

Abroomlayunnoticedononeofthepews，andwiththisIsoondisguisedallrouteoffootmark，andtookmywaytothetempledoor。Itwasshut，andpriestthoughIwas，thesecretofitsopeningwasbeyondme。

Herewasaprettypass。Noonebuttheattendantpriestsofthetemplecouldmovethemechanismwhichclosedandopenedthemassivestonewhichfilledthedoorway;andifallhadgoneouttoattendthisspectacle，whateveritmightbe，thatwasstirringthecity，whythereIshouldbenonearerenlargementthanbefore。

Therewasnosoundoflifewithinthetempleprecincts;therewereevidencesofdecayanddisusespreadbroadcastoneveryhand;

butaccordingtotheancientlawthereshouldbeeternallyoneatleastonwatchinthepriests’dwellings，sodownthepassageswhichledtothemImademyway。Itwouldhavesurprisedmelittletohavefoundeventhesedeserted。ThattheoldorderwaschangedIknew，butIwasonlythenbeginningtorealisetheruthlessnesswithwhichithadbeensweptaway，andhowmuchithadgivenplacetothenew。

However，therecanbesomefaithfulmenremainingeveninanageofgeneralapostasy，andonmakingmywaytothedoorofthedwelling（whichlayintheroofofthetemple）Igavethecall，andpresentlyitwasopenedtome。Themanwhostoodbeforeme，peeringdullythroughthegloom，hadatleastremainedconstanttohisvows，andImadethesalutationbeforehimwithafeelingofrespect。

HisnamewasRo，andIrememberedhimwell。Wehadpassedthroughthesacredcollegetogether，andalwayshehadbeenknownasthedullard。HehadcapacityforlearninglittleofthecultoftheGods，lessoftheartsofruling，lessstillofthehandlingofarms;andhehadbeenappointedtosomelowlyofficeinthisobscuretemple，andhadrisentobeingitssecondpriestandoneofitstwocustodiansmerelythroughthedesertionofallhiscolleagues。Butitwasnotpleasanttothinkthatafoolshouldremaintruewherecleverermenabandonedtheoldbeliefs。

Rodidbeforemethegreaterobeisance。Heworehisbeardcurledintheprevailingfashion，butitwasbadlydone。Hisclothingwasill—fittingandunbrushed。Healwayshadbeenaslovenlyfellow。"Thetempledoorisshut，"hesaid，"andIonlyhavethesecretofitsopening。Mylordcomeshere，therefore，bythesecretway，andasoneoftheSeven。Iammylord’sservant。"

"ThenIaskthissmallserviceofyou。Tellme，whatstirsthecity？"

"ThatimpiousPhorenicehasdeclaredherselfGoddess，anddeclaresthatshewilllightthesacrificewithherowndivinefire。Shewilldoit，too。Shedoeseverything。ButIwishtheflamesmayburnherwhenshecallsthemdown。ThisnewEmpressisthebaneofourClan，Deucalion，theselatterdays。Thepeopleneglectus;theybringnoofferings;andnow，sincetheserebelshavebeenhammeringatthewalls，ImighthavegonehungryifIhadnotsomesmallstoreofmyown。Oh，Itellyou，thecultofthetrueGodsiswell—nighoozedquiteoutoftheland。"

"Mybrother，itcomestomymindthatthePriestsofourClanhavebeenlimpintheirservicetoletthesethingscometopass。"

"Isupposewehavedoneourbest。Atleast，wedidasweweretaught。Butifthepeoplewillnotcometohearyourexhortations，andneglecttoadoretheGod，whatholdhaveyouovertheirreligion？ButItellyou，Deucalion，thattheHighGodstryourownfaithhard。Comeintothedwellinghere。Lookthereonmybed。"

Isawtheshapeofaman，untidilyswathedinreddenedbandages。

"Thisisallthatisleftofthepoorpriestthatwasmyimmediatesuperiorinthiscure。ItwashisturnyesterdaytocelebratetheweeklysacrificetoourLordtheSunwiththecircleofHisgreatstones。Faugh！Deucalion，youshouldhaveseenhowhewasmangledwhentheybroughthimbacktomehere。"

"Didthepeopleriseonhim？Hasitcometothat？"

"Thepeoplestayedpassive，"saidRobitterly，"whatfewofthemhadinteresttoattend;butourLordtheSunsawfittotryHisministersomewhatharshly。Thewoodwaslaid;thesacrificewasdisposeduponitaccordingtotheprescribedrites;theprocessionhadbeenformedroundthealtar，andthedrumsandthetrumpetswerespeakingforth，toletallmenknowthatpresentlythesmokeoftheirprayerwouldbewafteduptowardsThosethatsitinthegreatplacesintheheavens。Butthen，abovethenoiseoftheceremonial，therecametherushingsoundofwings，andfromoutoftheskythereflewoneofthosegreatfeatherlessman—eatingbirds，ofabignesssuchasseldombeforehasbeenseen。"

"Anarrowshotintheeye，oralong—shaftedspearreceivesthembest。"

"Oh，allmenknowwhattheyweretaughtaschildren，Deucalion;butthesepriestswereunarmed，accordingtotherubric，whichordainsthattheyshallintrustthemselvescompletelytotheguardianshipoftheHighGodsduringthehoursofsacrifice。Thegreatbirdswoopeddown，settlingonthewoodpyre，andattackedthesacrificewithbeakandtalon。Mypoorsuperiorhere，stillstronginhisfaith，calledloudlyonourLordtheSuntolendpowertohisarm，andspranguponthealtarwithnaughtbuthisteethandhisbarearmsforweapons。Itmaybethatheexpectedamiracle——hehasnotspokesince，poorsoul，inexplanation——butallhemetwereblowsfromleatherywings，andrakingsfromtalonswhichwentneartodisembowellinghim。Thebirdbrushedhimawayaseasilyaswecouldsweepasideafly，andtherehelaybleedingonthepavementbesidethealtar，whilstthesacrificewastornandeateninthepresenceofallthepeople。Andthen，whenthebirdwasglutted，itflewawayagaintothemountains。"

"Andthepeoplegavenohelp？"

"Theycriedoutthatthethingwasaportent，thatourLordtheSunwasaGodnolongerifHehadnotpowerorthoughttoguardHisownsacrifice;andsomecriedthattherewasnoGodremainingnow，andotherswouldhaveitthattherewasanewGodcometoweighonthecountry，whichhadchosentotaketheformofacommonman—eatingbird。ButafewbegantoshoutthatPhorenicestoodforalltheGodsnowinAtlantis，andthatcrywastakenuptillthestonesofthegreatcirclerangwithit。Somemayhavemadeproclamationsbecausetheywereconvinced;manybecausethecrywasnew，andpleasedthem;butIamsuretherewerenotafewwhojoinedinbecauseitwasdangeroustoleavesuchanoutburstunwelcomed。TheEmpresscanbehardenoughtothosewhoneglecttogiveheradulation。"

"TheEmpressisEmpress，"Isaidformally，"andhernamecarriesrespect。Itisnotforustoquestionherdoings。"

"Iamapriest，"saidRo，"andIspeakasIhavebeentaught，anddefendtheFaithasIhavebeencommanded。WhetherthereisaFaithanylonger，Iambeginningtodoubt。But，anyway，ityieldsapoorenoughlivelihoodnowadays。Therehavebeennoofferingsatthistemplethisfivemonthspast，andifIhadnotafewjarsofcornputby，Imighthavestarvedforanythingthepiousofthiscitycared。AndIdonotthinkthattheaffairofthatsacrificeislikelytoputnewenthusiasmintoourcoldvotaries。"

"Whendidithappen？"

"Twentyhoursago。To—dayPhoreniceconductsthesacrificeherself。Thathascausedthestiryouspokeabout。Thecityisinthethroesofgettingreadyoneofherpageants。"

"ThenImustaskyoutoopenthetempledoorsandgivemepassage。Imustgoandseethisthingformyself。"

"ItisnotformetoofferadvicetooneoftheSeven，"saidRodoubtfully。

"Itisnot。"

"ButtheysaythattheEmpressisnotoverpleasedatyourabsence，"hemumbled。"Ishouldnotlikeharmtocomeinyourway，Deucalion，"hesaidaloud。

"ThefutureisinthehandsofthemostHighGods，Ro，andI

atleastbelievethatTheywilldealoutourfatestoeachofusasTheyinTheirinfinitewisdomseebest，thoughyouseemtohavelostyourfaith。AndnowImustbeyourdebtorforapassageoutthroughthedoors。Plagues！man，itisnouseyourholdingoutyourhandtome。Idonotownacoininalltheworld。"

Hemumbledsomethingabout"forceofhabit"asheledthewaydowntowardsthedoor，andIrespondedtartlyenoughabouttheunpleasantnessofhisbeggingcustoms。"Ifitwerenotforyoursortandyourcustoms，thePriests’Clanwouldnotbefacingthiscrisisto—day。"

"Onemustlive，"hegrumbled，ashepressedhislevers，andthemassivestoneinthedoorwayswungajar。

"Ifyouhadbeenamorecapableman，Imighthaveseenthenecessity，"saidI，andpassedintotheopenandlefthim。IcouldneverbringmyselftolikeRo。

Amotleycrowdfilledthestreetwhichranpastthefrontofthisobscuretemple，andallwerehurryingoneway。WithwhatI

hadbeentold，itdidnottakemucharttoguessthatthegreatstonecircleofourLordtheSunwastheirmark，anditgrievedmetothinkofhowmanyvenerablecenturiesthatgreatfanehaduprearedbeforetheweatherandtheearthtremors，withoutsuchprofanationasitwouldwitnessto—day。Andalsothethoughtoccurredtome，"WasourGreatLordabovedrawingthiswomanontoherdestruction？WouldHetakesomevastandfinalactofvengeancewhensheconsummatedherfinalsacrilege？"

Butthecrowdpressedon，thrilledandexcited，andthinkinglittle（asisacrowd’swont）onthedeepermatterswhichlaybeneaththebarespectacle。Fromonequarterofthecitywallsthedinofanattackfromthebesiegersmadeitselfclearlyheardfromoverthehouse，andthetemplesandthepalacesintervening，butnooneheededit。Theyhadgrowncallous，thesetownsfolk，tothebatteringoframs，andtheflightoffire—darts，andtheotheremotionsofabombardment。Theirnerves，theirhunger，theirdesperation，werestrungtosuchapitchthatlittleshortofanactualstormcouldstirthemintonewexcitementoverthesiege。

Allwereweaponed。Thenakedcarriedarmsinthehopesofmeetingsomeonewhomtheycouldovercomeandrob;thosethathadapossessionwalkedreadytodoabattleforitsownership。Therewasnosecurity，notrust;thelessonofcivilisationhaddroppedawayfromthesecommonpeopleasmudiswashedfromthefeetbyrain，andintheirnewhabitsandtheirthoughtstheyhadgonebacktothegradefromwhichsavageslikethoseofEuropehaveneveryetemerged。ItwasagrimcommentaryonthesuccessofPhorenice’srule。

Thecrowdmergedmeintotheirrankswithoutquestion，andwiththemIpressedforwarddownthewindingstreets，oncesocleanandtrim，nowsofoulandmud—strewn。Menandwomenhaddiedofhungerinthesestreetstheselatteryears，androttedwheretheylay，andwetrodtheirbonesunderfootaswewalked。Yetrisingoutofthissqualorandthismiseryweregreatpyramidsandpalaces，thelikeofwhichforsplendourandmagnificencehadneverbeenseenbefore。Itwasajarringadmixture。

Intimewecametotheopenspaceinthecentreofthecity，whichevenPhorenicehadnotdaredtoencroachuponwithherambitiousbuildingschemes，andstoodontheseculargroundwhichsurroundsthemostancient，themostgrand，andthebreastofallthisworld’stemples。

Sincethebeginningoftime，whenmanfirstemergedamongstthebeasts，ourLordtheSunhasalwaysbeenhischiefestGod，andlegendsaysthatHeraisedthiscircleofstonesHimselftobeaplacewherevotariesshouldofferHimworship。Itisthefashionamongstusmodernsnottotaketheseoldtalesinatooliteralsense，butformyself，thisonesatisfiesme。Byourwitswecanliftblocksweighingsixhundredmen，andsetthemasthecapstonesofourpyramids。Buttouprearthestonesofthatgreatcirclewouldbebeyondallourart，andmuchmorewoulditbeimpossibleto—day，totransportthemfromtheirdistantquarriesacrosstheruggedmountains。

Therewerenine—and—fortyofthestones，alternatingwithspaces，andsetinanaccuratecircle，andacrossthetopsofthemotherstoneswereset，equallyhuge。Thestoneswereundressedandrugged;butthehugemassivenessofthemimpressedtheeyemorethanallthetemplesanddaintilytooledpyramidsofourwondrouscity。Andinthecentreofthecirclewasthatstillgreaterstonewhichformedthealtar，androundwhichwascarved，intherudechisellingoftheancients，thesnakeandtheoutstretchedhand。

Thecrowdwhichboremeoncametoastandstillbeforethecircleofstones。Totrespassbeyondthisisdeathforthecommonpeople;andformyself，althoughIhadtherightofentrance，I

chosetostaywhereIwasforthepresent，unnoticedamongstthemob，andwaituponevents。

Forlongenoughwestoodthere，ourLordtheSunburninghighandfiercelyfromtheclearblueskyaboveourheads。Thedinoftherebels’attackuponthewallscametousclearly，evenabovethegabbleofthemultitude，butnoonegaveattentiontoit。

Excitementaboutwhatwastobefallinthecirclemasteredeveryotheremotion。