As the sound of the tolling clock died out across the Plains of Ofrid,a man opened his eyes on the planet far away and saw for the firsttime the place in which he had spent one hundred years.
He awoke with neither fright nor surprise but rather with a sense ofwonder. He arose slowly from the great bed upon which he had lain andallowed his attention to roam about the strange place in which hefound himself.
In the wall opposite the bed there was set a full length mirror and asthe man turned he saw himself for the first time; a tall,broadly-muscled figure of heroic proportions. Completely naked, hisbody was reflected as masculine perfection in every detail.
For a few moments, the man stared at the body as though it belonged tosomeone else. Then he spoke musingly. "You did your work well, Portox,my friend."
The sound of his own voice startled him but not so much so as thecontent of the words. A baffled expression touched his handsome face.Who was Portox? And what work had he done? What place was this--andfor that matter, who was he himself, this naked figure which lookedback at him from the glittering mirror?
The questions were annoying because he felt that he knew the answers.Yet they would not come within reach of his conscious mind.
He had little time to ponder this enigma however because at thatmoment he became aware of a second presence in the room. He turned. Aman stood just inside the open door.
The naked one stared at the other with an interest that left no roomfor self-consciousness nor shame. "Who are you?" he asked.
"My name is John Pride," the man answered. He was a man of erectbearing and though there was wonder and surprise in his voice he borehimself with a quiet dignity. "And now," he added, "may I ask you thesame question?"
* * * * *
The naked man looked down at his own body and for the first timeseemed conscious of its nudity. He glanced around the room and saw arobe of royal purple lying across a chair by the bed. He stepped overand lifted the robe and put it on. As he was tying the rich purplecord around his waist he looked frankly back at John Pride and said,"I do not know. I honestly do not know."
John Pride said, "I have wondered what I would find in thiscavern--wondered through the years. Only in my wildest fancies did Itell myself that a fellow human--or even a living creature--awaited mehere. But now I find this is true."
The younger man regarded his visitor with a calmness that belied anywariness between them. John Pride noted this with admiration andrespect. The young man said, "Won't you be seated?" and when his guestwas comfortable, regarded him with a smile. "Perhaps there are somethings we should talk over."
"Perhaps there are. You say you do not know your own name?"
"That only begins to sum up my ignorance. I am not only unaware of myidentity but I haven't the faintest notion of what this placeis--where it is--or how I came here."
It was John Pride's turn to stare. While doing so, he analyzed theyounger man keenly. He saw honesty and an inner warmth that attractedhim. There was something almost godlike in the clean lines of the bodyhe had seen and in the face. These things coupled with what he alreadyknew, intrigued him mightily and he resolved to approach this strangeaffair with an open mind and not play the role of the unbelievingcynic. It was time to go ahead.
* * * * *
John Pride said, "First, are you aware that there is another in thismansion--or was?"
"I did not even know this was a mansion. It seems only one room."
"It is an enormous structure set deep in the forest."
"This other one--?"
"A very old man. He died as I arrived here tonight."
"You do not know his name or how came he here?"
"I have a vague idea."
The young man's dazzling blue eyes narrowed in thought. "A while agoyou said you have wondered through the years as to what you would findin this room. That indicates you were aware of its existence."
"True. Perhaps at this point I had better tell you the completestory--as much of it as I know."
"I would be in your debt."
"No, I will merely be discharging the last of a very old obligation."
With that, John Pride took from his pocket a small leather coveredbook. He handled it gently, almost with affection, and said, "This wasmy father's notebook. In it, is an account of this remarkable affair,put down by my great grandfather and handed down through the line.When my father died he placed it in my hand saying it entailed anobligation both business and personal and it was my obligation as wellas his.
"I have read the account of what transpired many times and with yourpermission I will put it into my own words. Then, when I am done, Iwill give you the book and the affair will be over so far as I and myfamily are concerned."
John Pride had settled back in his chair and was just ready to beginwhen the young man held up a sudden hand. "Just one moment--please,"he said, and a look of concentration came upon his face. Then he wenton and his words took the form of a rhyme:
"An ape, a boar, a stallion, A land beyond the stars. A virgin's feast, a raging beast, A prison without bars."
He flushed and added: "I don't know why I was possessed to recite thatdoggerel at just this moment but there is something strange about it.Strange in that I have a feeling it was taught to me at some longdistant time in the past. I sense that it is very important towhatever destiny awaits me. Yet I know not who taught me the verse norwhat it means."
"That verse is inscribed in this book and I believe I know how itentered your mind and memory. I believe too, that I understand how youare able to converse with me though you know nothing of this land oreven this room," John Pride said quietly.
"Then please tell me!"
"I think it better that I start at the beginning rather than give youthe story piece-meal. That way, your mind will be better able toassimilate and to judge."
"I await your pleasure," the young man said with impatience he stroveto conceal.
"Very well," John Pride said, his eyes growing vague with a far-awaylook.