FollowedbytheAsikaandJeekie，Alanwalkedupandlookedherinthefaceandtohisexcitedimaginationsheappearedtogrinathiminanswer。Thenwhilethepriestsprostratedthemselves，heexaminedthegoldenbasinorlaver，andsawthatatthefurthersideofitwasalittleplatformapproachedbysteps。Onthetopofthesegoldenstepsweretwodepressionssuchasmighthavebeenwornoutinthecourseofagesbypersonskneelingthere。Alsotheflatedgeofthebasinwhichstoodaboutthirtyinchesabovethelevelofthetopmoststep，wasscoredasthoughbyhundredsofswordcutswhichhadmadedeeplinesinthepuremetal。Thebasinitselfwasempty。
Seeingthatthesethingsinterestedhim，theAsikavolunteeredtheinformationthroughJeekie，thatthiswasadivining-bowl，andthatifthosewhowentbeforeherhadwishedtolearnthefuture，theycausedLittleBonsatofloatinitandfoundoutalltheywantedtoknowbyhermovements。She，however，sheadded，hadotherandbettermethodsoflearningthingsthatwerepredestined。
“Wheredoesthewatercomefrom？“askedAlanthoughtlesslysearchingthebowlforsometaporinlet。
“Outoftheheartsofmen，“sheansweredwithalowanddreadfullaugh。“Thesemarksarethoseofswordsandeveryoneofthemmeansalife。“Thenseeingthathelookedincreduloussheadded，“Stay，Iwillshowyou。LittleBonsamustbethirstywhohasfastedsolong，alsotherearemattersthatIdesiretoknow。Comehither——you，andyou，“
andshepointedathazardtothetwopriestswhokneltnearesttoher，“anddoyoubidtheexecutionerbringhisaxe，“shewentontoathird。