第24章
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  AsitfellOrocaughtitbythehilt,and,rising,waveditintriumph。

  \"Ithankthee,Godofmypeoplefromthebeginning,\"hecried。

  \"Thouhastgiventome,thylastservant,thineownswordandI

  willuseitwell。Fortheseworshippersofthinewhohavefallen,thoushalthaveothers,yes,allthosewhodwellinthenewworldthatistobe。Mydaughterandthemanwhomshehaschosentobethefatherofthekingsoftheearth,andwithhimhiscompanions,shallbethefirstofthehundredsofmillionsthataretofollow,fortheyshallkissthyfeetorperish。Thoushaltsetthyfootuponthenecksofallothergods;thoushaltruleandthoualone,and,asofold,Orobethyminister。\"

  Stillholdingthesword,heflunghimselfdownasthoughinanecstasy,andwassilent。

  \"Ireadtheomenotherwise,\"whisperedYva。\"TheworshippersofFateareoverthrown。Hisswordofpowerisfallen,butnotintothehandsthatclaspedit,andhetottersonhisthrone。A

  greaterGodassertsdominionoftheworldandthisFateisbuthisinstrument。\"

  Ororoseagain。

  \"Oneprayermore,\"hecried。\"Givemelife,longlife,thatI

  mayexecutethydecrees。BywordorgestureshowmeasignthatI

  shallbesatisfiedwithlife,ayearforeveryyearthatIhavelived,ortwain!\"

  Hewaited,staringabouthim,butnotokencame;theidoldidnotspeakorbowitshead,asYvahadtoldmeitwaswonttodoinsignofacceptedprayer,how,sheknewnot。OnlyIthoughtI

  heardtheechoofOro’scriesruninawhisperofmockeryroundthesoaringdome。

  OncemoreOroflunghimselfuponhiskneesandbegantoprayinaveritableagony。

  \"Godofmyforefathers,Godofmylostpeople,Iwillhidenaughtfromthee,\"hesaid。\"Iwhofearnothingelse,feardeath。

  Thepriest—foolyonderwithhisnewfaith,hasspokenblunderingwordsofjudgmentanddamnationwhich,thoughIdonotbelievethem,yetstickinmyheartlikearrows。Iwillstampouthisfaith,andwiththisancientswordofthinedrivebackthenewgodsintothedarknesswhencetheycame。YetwhatifsomewaterofTruthflowsthroughthechannelofhisleadenlips,andwhatifbecauseIhaveruledandwillruleasthoudidstdecree,therefore,insomedimplaceofsouls,ImustbeartheseburdensofterrorandofdoomwhichIhavebounduponthebacksofothers!Nay,itcannotbe,forwhatpoweristhereinalltheuniversethatdarestomakeaslaveofOroandtoafflicthimwithstripes?

  \"Yetthiscanbeandmayhapwillbe,thatpresentlyIlosemypathinthewaysofeverlastingdarkness,andbecomestrengthlessandforgottenasarethosewhowentbeforeme,whilemycrownofPowershinesonyoungerbrows。Alas!Igrowold,sinceaeonsofsleephavenotrenewedmystrength。MytimeisshortandyetI

  wouldnotdieasmortalsmust。Oh!Godofmypeople,whomIhaveservedsowell,savemefromthedeathIdread。ForIwouldnotdie。Givemeasign;givemetheancient,sacredsign!\"

  Sohespoke,liftinghisproudandsplendidheadandwatchingthestatuewithwide,expectanteyes。

  \"Thoudostnotanswer,\"hecriedagain。\"Wouldstthoudesertme,Fate?ThenbewarelestIsetupsomenewgodagainsttheeandhurltheefromthineimmemorialthrone。WhileIliveIstillhavepowers,Iwhoamthelastofthyworshippers,sinceitseemsthatmydaughterturnsherbackonthee。Iwillgetmetothesepulchreofthekingsandtakecounselwiththedustofthatwizardwhofirsttaughtmewisdom。Evenfromthedepthsofdeathhemustcometomycallcladinamockeryoflife,andcomfortme。AlittlewhileyetIwillwait,andifthouanswernot,thenFate,soonI’lltearthesceptrefromthyhand,andthoushaltjointhecompanyofdeadgods。\"Andthrowingasidethesword,againOrolaiddownhisheaduponthegroundandstretchedouthisarmsinthelastabasementofsupplication。

  \"Come,\"whisperedYva,\"whilethereisyettime。Presentlyhewillseekthisplacetodescendtothesepulchre,andifhelearnsthatwehavereadhisheartandknowhimforacowarddesertedofhisoutworngod,surelyhewillblotusout。Come,andbeswiftandsilent。\"

  Wecreptoutofthechapel,Yvaleading,andalongthecircleofthegreatdometillwereachedthegates。HereIglancedbackandperceivedthatOro,lookingunutterablysmallinthatvastness,lookinglikeadeadman,stilllayoutstretchedbeforethestern—faced,unansweringEffigywhich,withallhiswisdom,hebelievedtobelivinganddivine。Perhapsonceitwas,butifsoitsstarhadsetforever,likethoseofAmon,JupiterandBaal,andhewasitslastworshipper。

  Nowweweresafe,butstillwespedontillwereachedtheporticoofoursleepingplace。ThenYvaturnedandspoke。

  \"Itishorrible,\"shesaid,\"andmysoulsickens。Oh,IthanktheStrengthwhichmadeitthatIhavenodesiretoruletheearth,and,beinginnocentofdeath,donotfeartodieandcrosshisthreshold。\"

  \"Yes,itishorrible,\"Ianswered。\"Yetallmenfeardeath。\"

  \"Notwhentheyhavefoundlove,Humphrey,forthatIthinkishistruename,and,withitwrittenonhisbrow,hestandsupontheneckofFatewhoisstillmyfather’sgod。\"

  \"Thenheisnotyours,Yva?\"

  \"Nay。Onceitwasso,butnowIrejecthim;heisnolongermine。AsOrothreatens,andperchancedaredoinhisrage,Ihavebrokenhischain,thoughinanotherfashion。Askmenomore;

  perhapsonedayyouwilllearnthepathItrodtofreedom。\"

  ThenbeforeIcouldspeak,shewentoff:

  \"Restnow,forwithinafewhoursImustcometoleadyouandyourcompanionstoaterribleplace。Yetwhateveryoumayseeorhear,benotafraid,Humphrey,forIthinkthatOro’sgodhasnopoweroveryou,strongthoughhewas,andthatOro’splanswillfail,whileI,whotoohaveknowledge,shallfindstrengthtosavetheworld。\"

  Thenofasudden,onceagainshegrewsplendid,almostdivine;

  nomoreawomanbutasitwereanangel。Somefireofpurepurposeseemedtoburnupinherandtoshineoutofhereyes。

  Yetshesaidlittle。Onlythisindeed:

  \"Toeveryone,Ithink,therecomesthemomentofopportunitywhenchoicemustbemadebetweenwhatisgreatandwhatissmall,betweenselfanditsdesiresandthegoodofotherwanderersintheway。Thisdaythatmomentmaydrawneartoyouorme,andifso,surelyweshallgreetitwell。SuchisBastin’slesson,whichIhavestriventolearn。\"

  Thensheflungherarmsaboutmeandkissedmeonthebrowasamothermight,andwasgone。

  Strangelyenough,perhapsbecauseofmymentalexhaustion,forwhatIhadpassedthroughseemedtooverwhelmmesothatIcouldnolongersomuchasthinkwithclearness,evenafterallthatI

  havedescribedIsleptlikeachildandawokerefreshedandwell。

  Ilookedatmywatchtofindthatitwasnoweighto’clockinthemorninginthishorribleplacewheretherewasneithermorn,nornoon,nornight,butonlyaneternalbrightnessthatcameI

  knewnotwhence,andneverlearned。

  IfoundthatIwasalone,sinceBickleyandBastinhadgonetofillourbottleswiththeLife—water。Presentlytheyreturnedandweatealittle;withthatwatertodrinkonedidnotneedmuchfood。Itwasasomewhatsilentmeal,forourcircumstanceswereacheckontalk;moreover,Ithoughtthattheotherslookedatmeratheroddly。Perhapstheyguessedsomethingofmymidnightvisittothetemple,butifsotheythoughtitwisesttosaynothing。

  NordidIenlightenthem。

  ShortlyafterwehadfinishedYvaappeared。Shewaswonderfullyquietandgentleinhermanner,calmalso,andgreetedallofuswithmuchsweetness。Ofourexperiencesduringthenightshesaidnowordtome,evenwhenwewerealone。OnedifferenceInoticedabouther,however;thatshewasclothedingarmentssuchasI

  hadneverseenherwearbefore。Theywereclosefitting,saveforaflowingcape,andmadeofsomegreymaterial,notunlikeacoarsehomespunorevenasbestoscloth。Stilltheybecameherverywell,andwhenIremarkeduponthem,allsheansweredwasthatpartofourroadwouldberough。Evenherfeetwereshodwithhighbuskinsofthisgreystuff。

  PresentlyshetouchedBastinontheshoulderandsaidthatshewouldspeakwithhimapart。Theywenttogetherintooneofthechambersofthatdwellingandthereremainedforperhapsthehalfofanhour。ItwastowardstheendofthistimethatintheintensesilenceIheardacrashfromthedirectionofthetemple,asthoughsomethingheavyhadfallentotherockyfloor。Bickleyalsoheardthissound。WhenthetworeappearedInoticedthatthoughstillquitecalm,Yvalookedradiant,and,ifImaysayso,evenmorehumanandwomanlythanIhadeverseenher,whileBastinalsoseemedveryhappy。

  \"Onehasstrangeexperiencesinlife,yes,verystrange,\"heremarked,apparentlyaddressingtheair,whichleftmewonderingtowhatparticularexperiencehemightrefer。Well,IthoughtthatIcouldguess。

  \"Friends,\"saidYva,\"itistimeforustobegoingandIamyourguide。YouwillmeettheLordOroattheendofyourjourney。Iprayyoutobringthoselampsofyourswithyou,sincealltheroadisnotlightenedlikethisplace。\"

  \"Ishouldliketoask,\"saidBickley,\"whitherwegoandforwhatobject,pointsonwhichuptothepresentwehavehadnodefiniteinformation。\"

  \"Wego,friendBickley,deepintothebowelsoftheworld,fardeeper,Ithink,thananymortalmenhavegonehitherto,thatis,ofyourrace。\"

  \"Thenweshallperishofheat,\"saidBickley,\"forwitheverythousandfeetthetemperaturerisesmanydegrees。\"

  \"Notso。Youwillpassthroughazoneofheat,butsoswiftlythatifyouholdyourbreathyouwillnotsufferovermuch。Thenyouwillcometoaplacewhereagreatdraughtblowswhichwillkeepyoucool,andthencetravelontotheend。\"

  \"Yes,buttowhatend,LadyYva?\"

  \"Thatyouwillseeforyourselves,andwithitotherwondrousthings。\"

  Heresomenewideaseemedtostrikeher,andafteralittlehesitationsheadded:

  \"Yetwhyshouldyougo?Orohascommandedit,itistrue,butI

  thinkthatatthelasthewillforget。Itmustbedecidedswiftly。Thereisyettime。IcanplaceyouinsafetyinthesepulchreofSleepwhereyoufoundus。Thencecrosstothemainislandandsailawayquicklyinyourboatoutintothegreatsea,whereIbelieveyouwillfindsuccour。Knowthatafterdisobeyinghim,youmustmeetOronomorelestitshouldbetheworseforyou。Ifthatbeyourwill,letusstart。Whatsayyou?\"

  Shelookedatme。

  \"Isay,Yva,thatIamwillingtogoifyoucomewithus。Nototherwise。\"

  \"Isay,\"saidBickley,\"thatIwanttoseeallthissupernaturalrubbishthoroughlyexploded,andthatthereforeI

  shouldprefertogoonwiththebusiness。\"

  \"AndIsay,\"saidBastin,\"thatmymostearnestdesireistobeclearofthewholething,whichweariesandperplexesmemorethanIcantell。OnlyIamnotgoingtorunaway,unlessyouthinkitdesirabletodosotoo,LadyYva。IwantyoutounderstandthatIamnotintheleastafraidoftheLordOro,anddonotforonemomentbelievethathewillbeallowedtobringaboutdisastertotheworld,asIunderstandishiswickedobject。ThereforeonthewholeIamindifferentandquitepreparedtoacceptanydecisionatwhichtherestofyoumayarrive。\"

  \"Beitunderstood,\"saidYvawithalittlesmilewhenBastinhadfinishedhissermonette,\"thatImustjoinmyfatherinthebowelsoftheearthforareasonwhichwillbemadeplainafterwards。Therefore,ifyougowepart,asIthinktomeetnomore。Stillmyadviceisthatyoushouldgo。\"*

  (*ItisfortunatethatwedidnotacceptYva’soffer。Hadwedonesoweshouldhavefoundourselvesshutin,andperished,asshallbetold。腍。A。)

  Tothisouronlyanswerwastoattendtothelightingofourlampsandthedisposalofoursmallimpedimenta,suchasourtinsofoilandwaterbottles。Yvanotedthisandlaughedoutright。

  \"CouragedidnotdiewiththeSonsofWisdom,\"shesaid。

  Thenwesetout,YvawalkingaheadofusandTommyfriskingatherside。

  Ourroadledusthroughthetemple。AswepassedthegreatgatesIstarted,forthere,inthecentreofthatgloriousbuilding,Iperceivedachange。ThestatueofFatewasnomore!

  ItlaybrokenuponthepavementamongthosefragmentsofitstwoworshipperswhichIhadseenshakendownsomehoursbefore。

  \"Whatdoesthismean?\"IwhisperedtoYva。\"Ihavefeltnootherearthquake。\"

  \"Idonotknow,\"sheanswered,\"orifIknowImaynotsay。Yetlearnthatnogodcanliveonwithoutasingleworshipper,and,inafashion,thatidolwasalive,thoughthisyouwillnotbelieve。\"

  \"Howveryremarkable,\"saidBastin,contemplatingtheruin。\"IfIweresuperstitious,whichIamnot,Ishouldsaythatthisoccurrencewasanomenindicatingthefinalfallofafalsegod。

  Atanyrateitisdeadnow,andIwonderwhatcausedit?\"

  \"Ifeltanearthtremorlastnight,\"saidBickley,\"thoughitisoddthatitshouldonlyhaveaffectedthisparticularstatue。

  Athousandpities,foritwasawonderfulworkofart。\"

  ThenIrememberedandremindedBickleyofthecrashwhichwehadheardwhileYvaandBastinwereabsentonsomesecretbusinessinthechamber。

  Walkingthelengthofthegreatchurch,ifsoitcouldbecalled,wecametoanapseattheheadofitwhere,haditbeenChristian,thealtarwouldhavestood。Inthisapsewasalittleopendoorthroughwhichwepassed。Beyonditlayaspaceofroughrockthatlookedasthoughithadbeenpartiallypreparedfortheerectionofbuildingsandthenabandoned。Allthisspacewaslighted,however,liketherestoftheCityofNyo,andinthesamemysteriousway。LedbyYva,wethreadedourpathbetweentheroughstones,followingasteepdownwardslope。Thuswewalkedforperhapshalfamile,tillatlengthwecametothemouthofahugepitthatmust,Iimagine,havelainquiteathousandfeetbelowthelevelofthetemple。

  Ilookedovertheedgeofthispitandshrankbackterrified。

  Itseemedtobebottomless。Moreover,agreatwindrushedupitwitharoaringsoundliketothatofanangrysea。Orratherthereweretwowinds,perhapsdraughtswouldbeabetterterm,ifImayapplyittoanairmovementofsofierceandterribleanature。Oneoftheserushedupthepit,andonerusheddown。Oritmayhavebeenthattheuprushalternatedwiththedownrush。

  Reallyitisimpossibletosay。

  \"Whatisthisplace?\"Iasked,clingingtotheothersandshrinkingbackinalarmfromitssheeredgeandbottomlessdepth,forthatthiswasenormouswecouldseebytheshaftoflightwhichfloweddownwardsfartherthantheeyecouldfollow。

  \"Itisaventupanddownwhichairpassesfromandtothecentralhollowsoftheearth,\"Yvaanswered。\"Doubtlessinthebeginningthroughittravelledthatmightyforcewhichblewoutthesecavesintheheatedrocks,asthecraftsmanblowsoutglass。\"

  \"Iunderstand,\"saidBastin。\"Justlikeoneblowsoutabubbleonapipe,onlyonalargerscale。Well,itisveryinteresting,butIhaveseenenoughofit。AlsoIamafraidofbeingblownaway。\"

  \"Ifearthatyoumustseemore,\"answeredYvawithasmile,\"sinceweareabouttodescendthispit。\"

  \"Doyoumeanthatwearetogodownthathole,andifso,how?

  Idon’tseeanylift,ormovingstaircase,oranythingofthatsort。\"

  \"Easilyandsafelyenough,Bastin。See。\"

  Asshespokeagreatflatrockofthesizeofasmallroomappeared,borneupwards,asIsuppose,bytheterrificdraughtwhichroaredpastusonitsupwardcourse。Whenitreachedthelipoftheshaft,ithungalittlewhile,thenmovedacrossandbegantodescendwithsuchincredibleswiftnessthatinafewsecondsithadvanishedfromview。

  \"Oh!\"saidBastin,withhiseyesalmoststartingoutofhishead,\"that’sthelift,isit?Well,ItellyouatonceIdon’tlikethelookofthething。Itgivesmethecreeps。Supposeittilted。\"

  \"Itdoesnottilt,\"answeredYva,stillsmiling。\"Itellyou,Bastin,thatthereisnaughttofear。Onlyyesterday,Irodethisrockandreturnedunharmed。\"

  \"Thatisallverywell,LadyYva,butyoumayknowhowtobalanceit;alsowhentogetonandoff。\"

  \"Ifyouareafraid,Bastin,remainhereuntilyourcompanionsreturn。They,Ithink,willmakethejourney。\"

  BickleyandIintimatedthatwewould,thoughtotellthetruth,iflessfrankwewerequiteasalarmedasBastin。

  \"No,I’llcometoo。Isupposeonemayaswelldiethiswayasanyother,andifanythingweretohappentothemandIwereleftalone,itwouldbeworsestill。\"

  \"Thenbeprepared,\"saidYva,\"forpresentlythisair—chariotofourswillreturn。Whenitappearsandhangsupontheedge,stepontoitandthrowyourselvesuponyourfacesandallwillbewell。Atthefootoftheshaftthemotionlessenstillitalmoststops,anditiseasytospring,orevencrawltothefirmearth。\"

  ThenshestoopeddownandliftedTommywhowassniffingsuspiciouslyattheedgeofthepit,hislongearsblownstraightabovehishead,holdinghimbeneathherleftarmandunderhercloak,thathemightnotseeandbefrightened。

  Wewaitedawhileinsilence,perhapsforfiveorsixminutes,amongthemostdisagreeable,Ithink,thatIeverpassed。Thenfardowninthebrightnessbelowappearedablackspeckthatseemedtogrowinsizeasitrushedupwards。

  \"Itcomes,\"saidYva。\"PrepareanddoasIdo。Donotspring,orrun,lestyoushouldgotoofar。Stepgentlyontotherockandtoitscentre,andthereliedown。Trustinme,allofyou。\"

  \"There’snothingelsetodo,\"groanedBastin。

  Thegreatstoneappearedand,asbefore,hungattheedgeofthepit。Yvasteppedontoitquietly,asshedidso,catchingholdofmywristwithherdisengagedhand。Ifollowedherfeelingverysick,andpromptlysatdown。ThencameBickleywiththeairofthevirtuousheroofaromancewalkingapirate’splank,andalsosatdown。OnlyBastinhesitateduntilthestonebegantomoveaway。Thenwithanejaculationof\"Heregoes!\"hejumpedovertheinterveningcrackofspaceandlandedinthemiddleofuslikeasackofcoal。HadInotbeenseatedreallyIthinkhewouldhaveknockedmeofftherock。Asitwas,withonehandhegrippedmebythebeardandwiththeothergraspedYva’srobe,ofneitherofwhichwouldheleavegoforquitealongtime,althoughweforcedhimontohisface。Thelanternwhichheheldflewfromhisgraspanddescendedtheshaftonitsownaccount。

  \"Yousillyfool!\"exclaimedBickleywhoseperturbationshoweditselfinanger。\"Theregoesoneofourlamps。\"

  \"Hangthelamp!\"mutteredtheprostrateBastin。\"Weshan’twantitinHeaven,ortheotherplaceeither。\"

  NowthestonewhichhadquiveredalittlebeneaththeimpactofBastin,steadieditselfagainandwithaslowandmajesticmovementsailedtotheothersideofthegulf。Thereitfelttheforceofgravity,orperhapstheweightofthereturningairpressedonit,whichIdonotknow。Atanyrateitbegantofall,slowlyatfirst,thenmoreswiftly,andafterwardsatanincrediblepace,sothatinafewsecondsthemouthofthepitaboveusgrewsmallandpresentlyvanishedquiteaway。IlookedupatYvawhowasstandingcomposedlyinthemidstofourprostrateshapes。Shebentdownandcalledinmyear:

  \"Alliswell。Theheatbegins,butitwillnotendureforlong。\"

  InoddedandglancedovertheedgeofthestoneatBastin’slanternwhichwassailingalongsideofus,tillpresentlywepassedit。Bastinhadlititbeforewestarted,Ithinkinamomentofaberration,anditburnedforquitealongwhile,showinglikeastarwhentheshaftgrewdarkerasitdidbydegrees,acircumstancethattestifiestotheexcellenceofthemake,whichisoneadvertisednottogooutinanywind。Notthatwefeltwind,orevendraught,perhapsbecauseweweretravellingwithit。

  Thenweenteredtheheatzone。Aboutthistherewasnodoubt,fortheperspirationburstoutallovermeandtheburningairscorchedmylungs。AlsoTommythrusthisheadfrombeneaththecloakwithhistonguehangingoutandhismouthwideopen。

  \"Holdyourbreaths!\"criedYva,andweobeyeduntilwenearlyburst。AtleastIdid,butwhathappenedtotheothersIdonotknow。

  Fortunatelyitwassoonoverandtheairbegantogrowcoolagain。Bynowwehadtravelledanenormousdistance,itseemedtobemilesonmiles,andInoticedthatourterrificspeedwasslackening,alsothattheshaftgrewmorenarrow,tillatlengththerewereonlyafewfeetbetweentheedgeofthestoneanditswalls。Theresultofthis,orsoIsupposed,wasthatthecompressedairactedasabuffer,lesseningourmomentum,tillatlengththehugestonemovedbutveryslowly。

  \"Bereadytofollowme,\"criedYvaagain,andwerosetoourfeet,thatis,BickleyandIdid,butpoorBastinwassemi—

  comatose。ThestonestoppedandYvasprangfromittoarockplatformlevelwithwhichitlay。Wefollowed,draggingBastinbetweenus。Aswedidsosomethinghitmegentlyonthehead。ItwasBastin’slamp,whichIseized。

  \"Wearesafe。Sitdownandrest,\"saidYva,leadingusafewpacesaway。

  Weobeyedandpresentlybythedimlightsawthestonebegintostiragain,thistimeupwards。Inanothertwentysecondsitwasawayonitsnever—endingjourney。

  \"Doesitalwaysgoonlikethat?\"saidBastin,sittingupandstaringafterit。

  \"Tensofthousandsofyearsagoitwasjourneyingthus,andtensofthousandsofyearshenceitwillstillbejourneying,orsoIthink,\"shereplied。\"Whynot,sincethestrengthofthedraughtneverchangesandthereisnothingtowearitexcepttheair?\"

  Somehowthevisionofthishugestone,firstloosedandsetinmotionbyheavenknowswhatagency,travellingfromaeontoaeonupanddownthatshaftinobediencetosomelawIdidnotunderstand,impressedmyimaginationlikeanightmare。IndeedI

  oftendreamofittothisday。

  Ilookedaboutme。Wewereinsomecavernousplacethatcouldbebutdimlyseen,forherethelightthatfloweddowntheshaftfromtheuppercaveswhereitwasmysteriouslycreated,scarcelyshone,andoftenindeedwasentirelycutoff,whentheever—

  journeyingstonewasinthenarrowestpartsofthepassage。I

  couldsee,however,thatthiscavernstretchedawaybothtorightandleftofus,whileIfeltthatfromtheleft,aswesatfacingtheshaft,theredrewdownastrongblastoffreshairwhichsuggestedthatsomewhere,howeverfaraway,itmustopenontotheupperworld。Fortherestitsbottomandwallsseemedtobesmoothasthoughtheyhadbeenplanedinthepastagesbytheactionofcosmicforces。Bickleynoticedthisthefirstandpointeditouttome。Wehadlittletimetoobserve,however,forpresentlyYvasaid:

  \"Ifyouarerested,friends,Iprayyoulightthoselampsofyours,sincewemustwalkawhileindarkness。\"

  Wedidandstarted,stilltravellingdownhill。YvawalkedaheadwithmeandTommywhoseemedsomewhatdepressedandclungclosetoourheels。Theothertwofollowed,arguingstrenuouslyaboutI

  knownotwhat。Itwastheirwayofworkingoffirritationandalarms。

  IaskedYvawhatwasabouttohappen,foragreatfearoppressedme。

  \"Iamnotsure,Beloved,\"sheansweredinasweetandgentlevoice,\"whodonotknowallOro’ssecrets,butasIthink,greatthings。Wearenowdeepinthebowelsoftheworld,andpresently,perhaps,youwillseesomeofitsmightyforceswhereofyourignorantraceshavenoknowledge,doingtheireverlastingwork。\"

点击下载App,搜索"When the World Shook",免费读到尾