XV
PAST THE HOUSE OF SILENCE
Now it was in the tenth hour of that day, that we put off in the raft;and surely we found the paddles to go very easy and with somewhat ofbalance in the rests which I had set up, as you do mind; and the raft togo forward with not overmuch of labour; so that we stood, the Maid tothe fore paddle and I did be to the hinder one, and we pusht very steadyupon the paddles, and had the raft presently to a speed something lessthan we should walk over the rough way of the Land.
And about the twelfth hour we stopt and eat and drunk, and went on againwith our easy labouring; and truly, when that we gat set to themovement, we scarce to wot that we did aught more than rock somethingfore and back upon our feet; and so the hours to pass, and we to have aconstant gentle speech one with the other, and the Maid oft to look backunto me with love, and to set her lips that she tempt me; but yet toshake her head most dear, when that I would leave my paddle, that I goforward unto her.
And when that the eighteenth hour of that day was come, we to drawinward our paddles, and the Maid set the cloak very nice to be our bed,and afterward we eat and drank, and so presently to our slumber, and didhave sleep, very sound and happy, all in a moment, as it to seem.
And eight good hours after, we did waken both of us, together; and lo!we scarce to mind where we did be for a little moment; but afterward toknow and to perceive that we did be safe and naught to have come untous in our sleep. And surely we laught each in the face of the other; forwe did be so joyous to be wakened each unto the knowledge of the other.And after that we had kist, we washt somewhat in the water of the sea,and so to our food. And when we had eat and drunk, we made again to thepaddling; and went forward thus along the coast very peaceful andcontent all that day.
Now, in all, that voyaging did talk four good days of four-and-twentyhours each, for we made no great haste or labour, but went easy, that Ihave time to gather my strength. And naught to happen in all that time,save that once we did see a great beast to come upward lumbersome out ofthe sea on to the shore, and there did eat and browse upon the herbagein that part; or so it did seem to us; though, truly, we did be over faroff to have surety.
And this beast not to put us into any horror; but only to make us gladthat we be afar off from it; and by this saying, I to mean that it didseem unto us a natural thing; and nowise to have an odour of aughtmonstrous to trouble our spirits. And this way did be all the creaturesof that Country; and truly I do think the Early World did be somewiselike to it; and this to seem to make true that olden saying that extremethings do meet, as doth be over-apparent; for thus doth it be somewiseto our knowings, as you shall perceive by your Reasonings Upon OldenDays, and by the showings of this Mine Own Story, for that Deep World tohave put forth natural creatures that did be even as might be those thatdid live in the Beginning; though I to make no point of this, but onlythat it doth occur to my thought; and all to seem that it did be bred ofCircumstance and Condition; yet this to have no saying whether thatthere to be a spiritual-force something deeper than the Circumstance;for this to be outside of any surety, but not offensive unto my Reason.
But this thinking also neither to offend me, that although much--andmayhap all--doth be modified and shapen diverse ways by the Circumstanceand the Condition, yet doth there be an inward force that doth bepeculiar each unto each; though, mayhap, to be mixt and made monstrousor diverse by foul or foolish breeding--as you to have knowledge of inthe bodies of those dread Monsters that did be both Man and Beast. Yet,also, I here to say that maybe all diverse breeding not to be monstrous;but this to be beside my point. For I to be now set to tell, as I havetold, that it not to offend me to suppose that there to be this inwardforce peculiar to each shaping of all bodies that do hold that wondrousquality of Life. And if that you ask me that I give example to makeclear my thought, I to say that it doth be reasonable to suppose thatthe Force or Spirit of the Human doth be peculiar to the Human, whetherthat it to be a Cause of Life, or the Result of that which hath beenevolved out of a Condition. And whether it to be the one way or theother, you to know that where this Force or Spirit be found untainted,there is man; and I to be not opposed to think that Man doth be constantalway in matters of fundament, and neither to have been ever trulydifferent; though something modified in the body and surely, in thefirst, all undeveloped in the lovely things of the spirit, because thatthere to be no call to these. Yet, presently, they likewise to come, andto act upon the flesh with refinings; and likewise, mayhap, there to besome act of the flesh upon the spirit; and so to the state of this Ageof this our day, and to that far Age of which I do tell. But developmentnever to make the Human other than the Human; for the development tohave limits peculiar to the Human. And surely, it doth appeal to me,that the development of Man doth lie between two points, that be notwondrous wide apart; and Man to have power that he arrive very speedyfrom one unto the other, and likewise that he go back so quick, or eventhe more hasty. Yet, even did it be ever proved that Man once to be afish, I to have no cause to abate the first part of mine argument; butto have the more need of the thought, that I gain power to accept theFact; for I still then to have no occasion that I think Man to have beentruly a Fish, or aught truly different from a Man; but only that he didbe once Modified physically to his need, and to be still possessed ofthe Man-Spirit, though all lackt of development. Yet, truly, I to beless offend in my Reason, if that it be shown that Man did be eversomewise in his present shape, though mayhap so brutish as the HumptMen; but yet I do be ready to consider all matters, and do build noWalls about my Reason. Yet, neither I to have an over-ready acceptanceof aught, but to need that my Reason shall approve.
And you to perceive, surely, that I here not to speak of that which maybe Afterward, when that all This, our life, be done. For who shall sayhow much or how little we then to go forward unto loveliness; and I atthis point to tell you that I do have a wondrous hope of beauteousthings, and of sweet and mighty Uplifting and Furtherance unto that GladWorld which we have beheld the shores of, when that we had stood inholiness with the Beloved.
And, in verity, I now once more to my story; and to be glad that I amdone at this small setting forth of a matter which did need words,because that it did have root in this Mine Own Story, and to be grown ofit and from it.
Now, there did be one other thing of note, beside the Sea Beast, whilstthat we did be upon the Seas; and this did be the strangeness of a greatFire-Hill which did stand in the sea, and we to pass very nigh unto it.And surely the sea did boil about it, yet not in all places; and theredid be a score great jets that did go upward a monstrous way, and didroar very plain to us across the sea between; and there did come strangegruntings from the sea about the base of the Fire-Hill, and these I toconceive to be made by the upbursting of gases in this place and that;and surely, it all to make us to know of the great energy that did bewakeful in that deep Country; and we yet to stare backward upon thatHill of Fire and Force, for a great while after that we had come past.
Now, beyond this, there to be naught, except that we had a certain careas we did come to that place where the Great Sea did be broke to smallerseas; but all to be knit with passages of water, which let us throughupon our way.
And surely, I did show Mine Own Maid those two places where I did sleepwhen first I was come into that Country; and she to be sweet ininterest, and alway to have somewhat that she would learn of this andthat.
And so, when that we did be four good days upon the water, as I havetold, we to come to the land, upon a flat place of the shore, where theCountry did slope upward unto the mouth of the First Gorge, of which youdo mind. And this to be in the tenth hour of that day; and we likewiseto have begun that voyage in the tenth hour, as you do remember; andsurely it to have been a sweet and peaceful water-journey; and I to havebeen happy, if that all that did be yet before us, to hold so much ofpleasantness and safe goings. But, indeed, there to be much danger yetto come, as you do know; and we to have our hearts set in courage, andto go forward to conquer; f
or surely, if that we to conquer, and to comesafe into our Mighty Home, there to be then that we have all our livestogether in loveliness; and this to be truly a worthy prize and a gloryof the heart, to end and to repay our Stress.
And surely, the Maid and I did presently strand the raft, so well as wemight, and did then to wonder whether any should evermore to behold itthrough all Eternity. And we lookt a little, each at the other; and theMaid then to cut free a small piece of the wood of the raft, to be foran after remembrance.
And so we to have our gear upon the shore; and the Maid then to give meaid that I get once more into mine armour; and so I presently to havethe Scrip and the Pouch again to my back, and the Diskos in my hand, andall in readiness, and the Maid with her bundle (that was now grownsmall), and her belt about her body, that she have her knife unto herhand.
And surely, the Maid then to kneel and to kiss the raft; for memoriesdid gather upon her; and she there to have one more breaking from allthat did be the first part of her life; and you to give yourunderstanding, and so to have a quiet sympathy, and to perceive that herheart did be like that it should stir with a strange trouble ofsorrowing in that moment.
And surely I stoopt then, very gentle and loving, and had Mine Own toher feet; and I led her from the raft, and she to need that she be nearme; and so we to go forward, and to make upward unto the dark mouth ofthe Great Gorge.
And there to be some miles unto our right, that grim and utter hugeMountain, whereon afar upward in the monstrousness of the night did beperched those four fire-hills of which I have told. And below them,there to go upward the great hills of ash, that had been cast downthroughout Eternity. And this thing had the Maid lookt upon for a greattime, and did be never done of her wonder; neither I, nor any human thatever should have sight of so great a wonder.
And so we to have come presently upward into the high mouth of theGorge, and did go onward then into the gloom, a little space, until thatwe were come to the place where the Gorge did bend sharp unto the left,into darkness.
And lo! we made pause here, and turned again unto the Country of Seas,that we have a last outward look over all that Deep and living Land,that did be hid so far downward in the everlasting night of the world.
And, in verity, it did be a solemn thing to know that we, mayhap, to bethe last of the olden Humans that should ever to look upon that Country;and I to wonder, in that moment, whether that the Humpt Men should everto develop, in some far eternity, unto the full sweetness of the spiritof Humanity which I did think to be inward of them. And this to be bothan odd and a natural thought to have then, as I do see. But at thattime, I only to think it, and not to wot or to trouble whether that itdid be odd or otherwise. And I to think that Country did be somewise asthe Olden Time renewed; but truly we to look upon early things with neweyes.
And we yet to look awhile, and to be husht, and to hark in those lastmoments unto the far mutter of the Great Fire-Mountains, and theFire-Hills, and the noise of life which did go over that Land; and weeven then to be but a few short pacings off from the silence of theGreat Gorge, which should lead us presently toward the EternalStrangeness which did be in the Night Land. And the Maid did hold minearm very close, as we lookt our last into the red light of that Deep andHid Country of the World, where, in verity, we had come so utter nigh toour Death.
And presently, I turned, and the Maid slipt her hand into mine, and thetears did go silent down her face, because of all that did be prest uponher heart; but yet not to be all of sorrow, for there to be both sorrowand happiness, and also there did be somewhat of vague emotion that shenever more to look upon that dear island where she had nurst her managain unto life and well-being; and she to be in mind of all thoseplaces where she to know that in after-life her memory to wander; andshe to have oft-told tales, mayhap, unto her children, of that Countrythat they never to see; but only to be for a wonder to them for ever.
And we past then round the Mighty Corner-place of the Gorge, and wentforward, somewhat stumbling, into the gloom.
Now we went sixteen hours very steady, and with naught save the greatdarkness to trouble us; and we by this to have been twenty and six hourssince last that we had sleep; and surely this did be a foolishness,because that I to need that I come into my full strength, ere we reachthe Night Land; and it to be a folly that I should over-tire myself; andthe Maid to have said so much.
And, indeed, then, we came to a safe place for our slumber, and whilstthat we eat and drunk, we made count from my notings of the outward way,and so did decide that we go no more than sixteen hours' journey eachday through the Gorge, and to sleep alway for eight good hours. And thiswe to do, both then, and until that we did be come out of the GreatGorge, which did take us in all, so much as five days thiswise.
And surely, when that we were come into the light places of the Gorge,we to be more cheered, as you shall suppose; yet oft did we be halfsmothered with the horrid gases that came upward in this part and that,as you do mind.
And my strength did grow constant, as we journeyed; yet would the Maidnever suffer that I carry her; but went alway very light and clever, andwas grown, in truth, set unto this constant wander.
And at this place and that, I to make pause that I show Mine Own thoseplaces where I did slumber, and she alway to need that she come unto thevery part, and that she stand for a little moment where I did lie solonesome, as I went outward unto that despairful searching. And alwayshe then to be utter tender with me, and to be something lacking ofspeech, because of the calling of her heart.
And surely, Mine Own did be alway now to ask me when that we should become unto the Night Land; and to require how far it should be, and to betaken with a growing of excitement, very dear and natural; and, inverity, I to be almost so much so as she; and to wonder what she tothink of the Mighty Redoubt, and of all that strange and monstrous Land.And, above all these, I to be shaken unto my very heart, that I have theMaid speedy unto safety; lest, after all, even though we to have come sofar, there somewhat to happen of woe. And all this did make it a hardthing that we not to begin to race, and to exceed the hours that we didset; but truly we had wisdom in this matter, and slumbered alway afterthe sixteenth hour.
And we never to see aught of life in all that great and desolate Gorge;for there did be only the gas-burnings, and the boulders and the starkrocks, and oft the rank smellings of the gases. And alway an utter andeverlasting quiet; save when some lonesome gas-fire did oddly to moanor to whistle, and the whistling to sound very dree across the greatwaste of the Gorge, and likewise the moaning to be but a thing to makethe loneliness to be felt in the heart; and the Maid to feel thus withme.
And alway, as I did know, she to think in her heart that I did comethrough that place alone to make a searching for her into the unknownlands of the world; and surely, I did be but a natural man if that I wassomething happy in my heart that Mine Own so to ponder and to remember;for thereby did her love seem ever to grow. And likewise, a man doth beglad in his spirit and natural pride, that his Maid to know that he hathdone wholesomely of his best for her need. And you but to think upon thelove-days, and to hear the echoes of those dear proud thoughts that didso to swell in you; and doth not all to go so strangely with familiarpain in the old way?
Now it was upon the fifth day, in about the seventh hour, that I heardoddwhiles a sound in this place and that of the Gorge, as that the rocksmade husht and strange sounds at us. And I to have the Maid instant verynigh to me, and the Diskos to my hand, and we then to go onward with agreat caution.
And thrice we did pass places where gas-fires did burn and dance, andmade oft a low moaning, and somewhiles a little whistling; and the othersounds yet to come oddly from the rocks, in this place and that, verystrange and unthought of, yet to be something familiar.
And sudden, it did come to me that there to be a far-away noise in thesesounds; though they to seem to come from this place and that almost tomine elbow, as you should say. And lo! I knew then that I harked untolittle echoings, that did be
caught by the near rocks, and to come fromsome far and mighty sound. And this should be surely the monstrouspiping of the Great Gas Fountain, that you do well mind. And, in verity,I told Mine Own in a moment; and she to be all eager with me, becausethat this did be both a wondrous thing, and to be also a landmark toshow that we did be nigh to come out of the Gorge, and our journey tocome the more near unto an ending.
And surely we lookt ahead very earnest; and there to be so many strangeand leaping fires to our front, that we not to be very sure which did bethe far and monstrous dance of the Great Gas Fountain; for truly it tobe yet so distant that the near gas-fires did make more upon the eye upall of a weary length of the Gorge, than did the great dance of thefar-off fire, that was now so small, by the distance.
And presently, when that we were gone onward something more, we to seethat there went a lightening and a darkening afar along the Gorge, sothat the background of the night was made to lose somewhat of theintensity of its darkness, as with constant shudders of light; and thisto be surely the far away dance of the flame of the Great Gas Fountain.And we then to watch alway as we journeyed, and to see how that thevague shudderings of light did grow in the distance of the night, anddid merge and become known presently in a strange uplifting and fallingof a far away blue flame.
And the sound now to come more steady, and to grow in a long while into amonstrous piping, very great and wonderful, and having a constant changein the note.
And we to come past the last of the lesser fires, and to be in that partof the Gorge which did be fireless, save for the great upward dance ofthe Gas Fountain, which did now to be grown huge and plain-seen, and didmake a quaking light over all the Gorge.
And so in the end, we to be come very nigh to the dance of the monstrousflame; and did be half stunned by the noise, which did be now an utter andfurious roaring, as you shall remember; and the Maid and I did stand asbut two lonesome strangers in the mouth-part of that deep and desolateGorge, and did stare voiceless unto the great flaw; and mine arm did beabout the Maid, and she to stand very nigh to me; and neither to speak;and surely, how should we anywise; for the noise did be so huge.
And after that we had stared a great while, we turned that we look eachat the other; and we kist very sober, there in the light from themonster flame. And afterward, we did stare again at the Flame, and soonturned, and lookt all ways, and did marvel to see the great throw of thelight go blue and spreading and strange unto great distances.
And a while we did be watching the way that the far-off side of theGorge did come plain to sight, when that the Flame did leap; and, truly,that did seem a far and lonesome Place, as that a lost and forgot worldof desolate mountains did be there.
And lo! we now to look that we should see somewhat of the way that ourjourney to go; and surely naught to be clear shown save when the Flamedid rise oddwhiles to a monstrous height; and this to be because of thehuge rocks that did stand about the Flame. Yet something I was abled toshow the Maid of the bottom part of the Mighty and Utter Monster Slopethat did be the last way of our journey, ere we were come to the NightLand.
And we then to go onward for about a good mile, that we be not sodeafened by the noise of the Gas Fountain; and it did be now beyond theseventeenth hour; so that we eat and drunk, and made our rest in asecure place among the great boulders.
And lo! when that we waked, we eat and drunk again, and did be somethingsilent, as we to gaze at the Flame dancing monstrous, and lonesome andall set about with the stark and mighty Rocks, which did be like untogiants of silence that did watch forever. And presently, we had our gearupon us, and we went forward toward the utter dark of the Mighty Slope;and we began that huge climb, that should last through days in aneternity of night.
And oft in the first hours did we turn about from our blind stumblings,and gaze downward out of the long height, unto the loom of the Flame,that did shudder far below in the night, and made a quaking light inthat far darkness. And so did we leave it to dance forever throughEternity in that deep and lost place of the world; and we bent all ourwill and our strength unto the climb.
And this way went we stumbling for sixteen great hours; and by that timehad come to a pace proper for that task, and to be something numbed, andseeming grown unreal, because of the affecting of the Darkness.
And lo! for eight days then did we go upward forever through that mostdreadful night. And after the first day, we crept alway upon our handsand our knees, and I to go in the front, and had the Diskos ready uponmy hip. And I took two of the straps from the pouch and the scrip, andso had a certain length; and I set them from the waist-belt of the Maidunto mine own belt, and so did know ever that she came close after me.
And we made journeys sixteen hours long, and did eat and drink at thesixth and the twelfth hours, and likewise we eat and drank ere we slept,and again upon our wakings; and our slumber-time to go alway somewheresabout eight good hours; for thus did I be heedful that we have all ourstrength for that dreadness of the journey, which did be yet before us,across the fear and horrid terror of the Night Land.
And oft, at this time and that, I was utter sickened and a-wearied ofreaching forward and upward forever, and making blind fumblings that Ifind a way about great boulders and the rocks and holes that did be inour path in the dark; for it to seem that we went lost from all life andknowing, in a blackness that should be never slackened from about us.
And I, these times, to make a pause, and to call softly unto Mine Ownthat she creep up nigh unto me; and I then to take her into mine arms,out of the utter blackness of that night. And so to give and to havecomfort.
And surely, Mine Own did whisper once unto me, that she did be stunnedwith love and wonder in the heart; for she to never cease to know that Idid adventure through this great night, that I find her. And this thingdid make me very warm in my heart, as you shall think; but yet I to stopher speech with a gentle kiss; and she then to know that she be dumbconcerning her thought in this matter; yet she never to cease fromremembering it, and did be the more stirred with the trouble of herlovely secret worship; for, in verity, she to have me to be for herhero; and this to make me in the same moment both something shamed andgreatly proud.
And so we to be together, and after such pause, to go forward again,with a new courage.
And surely it did be a great comfort to me to think that, because we togo upward and not downward, we be not like to fall over any hid cliff inthe night; for I to have now some little knowing of the Slope, from mineoutward journey; yet to remember upon that monstrous pit that I then toescape, and so to go with care.
And, indeed, upon the second day, I had Mine Own to creep more nigh withme, and I then to have but one strap between us, and the other I set astone into, and did cast the stone alway before us, as upon the outwardway. And you to mind you of this, if you but to think a little minute.
And oft in those weary days in the Darkness, did I make gentlewhisperings through the blackness, unto Mine Own, that I give cheer untoher; and she alway to answer, very sweet and loving; yet ever husht, asI did be; and in verity, it did be as that we could not set our voicesloud upon that Mighty Slope, lest some enchantment come upon us, as itmight be said. And, indeed, each time that I cast the stone, the noiseof the stone to make a little trouble and dismalness in mine ears; forall did be so quiet and desolate and lost in night, that it to make usto need to be likewise so quiet, and to desire that we might go upwardso silent as shadows.
Now, surely, I must tell here how that the Maid to have alway at wakingthat same awaredness that I did have upon the Outward Way, that somewhatdid be nigh to us, and to seem to have been concerned with our waking;and I likewise to have also the same knowledge, as before. And oft as wedid go, I to feel that somewhat did go near to us. And this to putsomething of a fear upon me, because that I was ever anxious for MineOwn; and I to have her to be alway the more nigh to me, and did set thestrap from her to me, even when that she slept; so that she not to betouched, and I to lack to know. Yet she to have no fear
concerning thisthing; but to feel in her spirit that it did be a force that had no evilintent unto us; but more, neither she nor I to know; and I, in truth, tocome in the end used to it; save that I did be, as I have told, anxiousin all that did concern the life and well-being of My Beloved.
And so did we go onward through those eight days.
And it soon to be grown cold, so that we both to need the cloak over usin our slumbers; but in the journey-hours to need naught; for theupward-going did surely heat us very well.
And there also to be come presently a change and a seeming of thinnessinto the air; and the Maid to remark upon this, and likewise that thewater-powder now to be that it not to fizz so plentiful.
And we went upward, as it did seem forever, and journeyed very hushtand steadfast; and likewise did halt at set times, that we eat anddrink; and did alway sit then very close and quiet and in love. And soalway to go never beyond sixteen hours' journey each day, and veryweariful even so much; for it to be a sore and constant labour ofclimbing.
And I to learn the hour alway, by a little shining of the Diskos upon mytime-dial, which I have told did be somewise as the watch of this ourpresent Age. Yet, truly, I also to learn that I made somewhat of aconstant number of forward-throws of the stone in an hour; and the Maidto be the first to discover this, as she did creep behind me and harkedsteadfast and quiet unto the clatter of the stone, each time that I castit. And she sometimes to call low to me that it now to be this time orthat time; and I to look at my Dial, as I have told, and oft to findthat she did be curiously right.
Yet otherwhiles, we to have no thought to count; but made a constanthusht talk one to the other; and did grow odd times, that it did seem tous that we did be two spirits there in an Everlasting Darkness, that hadquiet speech one to the other, and to be seeming gone from our bodies.And we then to need that we look each at the other, that we know trulythat we yet to live and to be indeed with the Beloved. And I then alwayto make the Diskos spin a little, yet something more than when I shouldsee the hour; and, in verity, our faces then to show pale and strangeseeming in that luminous glowing of the great weapon in the Darkness;and we to look very eager and an hungered of love, each at the other;and so to need that we be held loving by the Beloved, and so to havecomfort and assuredness; and afterward to have peace to go onward again.
And it did be one such time as these, that Mine Own to give me a lovename she had called me in those olden days of _this_ Age; and whichsurely I had not heard since Mirdath died. And, in verity, you to havedear understanding with me, how that I then to be all troubled withvague troubles and ghostly love-aches in the heart; and likewise, I didbe all set about in a moment by the olden enchantment and speechlessglamour that did be so long hid and lost in the Spaces of Memory, wheresurely the spirit doth wander such oddwhiles, husht unto a dumbtearlessness and to know in the same moment both Agony and the voicelessGlory and lost Delight of the Hath-Been; so that it doth be as that youwandered in the spirit between the sorrowful pain of the Sunset, and thePromise of the Dawn which doth be builded upon the Need and Hope of thesoul, and doth also to have an essence of pain within it; because thatthese do be knit with Longing which doth be the essential pang ofMemory. And so, mayhap, you to have gone with me; for you to have alsostrange thoughts that do come out of the years, and do hurt the heart,even whilst that the heart doth hunger of that which doth so pain. Yet,truly, Mine Own did be now with me, as you do know so that I had joyall about my heart; yet did all the years of my lost delights and of mypain, be in the spaces of my memory, and Mine Own now to have stirredall; so that no words that did be ever shaped of man should help me tohave ease in speech.
And Mine Own Maid to know how it did be with me; and she to have saidthe thing, scarce wotting, even as her spirit did set it through herlips; and she before then to have forgot so utter as I; and now she tobe stirred likewise with me; so that, in verity, we to hold hands in thegreat Darkness upon the Slope, and to wait till the pain and strangetrouble did go somewhat from our hearts; and we to have power again toknow truly that we did be again together in sweet verity, after a mightyEternity.
And thus did we go, and even in that strange Night to have aneverlasting coming together; so that surely our two spirits to be nighmade one, somewise; and this to be that sweet and holy thing which I doname Love; and it to be my glory and Astonishment that Love hath comeunto me. And with you that have love, I am as a Brother in holy delight;but with all that have not known Love, or to have missed Love, I am aMourner, and my heart to pray that they to know this Wonder, ere theydie; for else shall they die so green and bitter as they be born, and tohave grown nowise unto Ripeness, which doth be Charity--the end of lifeand the Crown of Humanity.
And surely I to go forward again now with my telling. And you to knowthat on the eighth day upon the Slope, about the end of the ninth hour,there to be an upward seeming of light, afar before us in the Darkness,and did show as a dull and vague sheen above us in the night. And truly,I to know that we did be come at last a-near unto the Night Land.
And we went upward then very eager through the dark; and the dim shinedid grow, ever; so that we soon to see it very plain, as a looming oflight afar upward. And we ever to climb and to go onward. And lo! in thefourteenth hour of that day, we came up slowly out of the Night upon theSlope, and stood at the ending of that strange road Where The SilentOnes Walk.
And surely it did be as that I was come home, and to have set my feetagain upon familiar Lands; and this to bring to you how far off I didseem to have gone; and now to be come again to a Known Place.
And we went upward upon the Road, until that we did truly have topt theSlope, and at last to look out over all the wonder and mystery of thatLand. And I never to be rid of the utter gladness of knowing that I wascome there again, after so strange a journey, and that Mine Own had Ibrought with me, out of all the unknown world. Yet, truly, I also neverto have forgetting that this familiar Land of Strangeness did be thelast test and the greatest dreadfulness of our journey; and anxiousnessdid hang upon me; for I now to have to take the preciousness of Mine Ownamong and beyond all that Danger of Horrid Forces and of MonstrousThings and Beast Men, and the like.
And truly, I did be like to trouble.
And, in verity, I did stare with a fierce eagerness unto the far-offplace in the middle part of the Night Land, where did be the MightyPyramid; and surely it there to shine in the midst of the land, and didbe mine Home, where never had I dared hope I should return. And I setmine arm very swift and eager about the Maid, and pointed, so that shesee quickly the wonder and safe Mightiness of that which did be ourRefuge for all our life to come, if but that we to win unto it. And theMaid to look with a great and earnest soberness and a lovely gladnessand utter soul and heart interest, unto that Place that bare me, andwhere I to have come from, and now to take her.
And long and long she lookt; and sudden came round unto me, and set herarms quick about my neck, and burst unto a strange and happy weeping.And I to hold her gentle to me, and let her cry very natural, until thatshe was something unpent.
And lo! when that she was eased, she to stand close beside me, and tolook again unto the Mighty Pyramid; and afterward, as she to steady, sheto ask an hundred questions, so utter eager and so to thrill with joyand excitement, as that she did be a glad child. And an hundredquestions I answered, and showed her new things and Wonders uncounted.
And of all strangeness that she then to see, there did none so to shakeher in the spirit with terror as did that dreadful and Horrid House,which did be the House of Silence. And it was as that her very being didknow and be repulsed of some Horror that did concern and be in thatHouse; so that she to want to hide in the bushes that did be anigh tothe Road; and truly, I to think this wise, and to remember and to beware suddenly that we did be indeed come now into the Power ofMonstrosity which did be utter and forever abroad in that Land.
And surely, we went then in among the bushes that did grow clumpt uponthe side of the Road, as you to remember;
and afterward, I calmed thisnew fear that had come so quick upon Mine Own; and she then to peerforth with me from the bushes, and to have renewed sight over the Land.
And the House of Silence to stand upon that low hill of which you doknow; and did not be a very great way off, somewise toward the right.Yet, as you shall have remembering, it did take me some long and bitterhours upon mine outward way, ere I did be come from under the shadow ofit, as we do say, unto the top-part of the Mighty Slope.
But this to have been in the main, because of the utter care that I didneed to bring me safe past the House; for I to have gone long and wearyupon my hands and knees among the bushes, as you remember; and oft topause, and to be so still as Death, lest that the Power of the House tohave become aware of my passing. And truly, we to need again so utter acare, when that we make to go past, unto our Mighty Home; and this to beheavy upon my heart, and I to be in the same moment anxious that we havehaste to the trial, and yet very willing, if it might be, that we notmake it forever.
And, indeed, after that we had peered a good while from the bushes, I toconsider that we do well to eat now, and afterward to have a safe placefor our slumber, so that we go fresh to the horrid dangers anddreadfulness that did be before us upon our way.
And we then to look about, and soon to find a great boulder that did beset with the bushes. And we made our place for sleep against theboulder, and the bushes went all around, so that we did be complete hid.
And, in verity, we to be very cold, as we had been those two past days,whilst that we made toward the top of the Mighty Slope. And now we tohave the full chill of the Night Land, and did be very glad to have thecloak, so that we eat and drank whilst that we sat together, and thecloak round us. And afterward, the Maid set the cloak about us for oursleep; and we then to kiss very sober, and I with anxiousness in theheart; but she with less, because she to have rest in me.
And so we lay down to our sleep, and the Diskos ready in my hand; and myspirit wakeful against any terror that should come anigh to us in ourslumber; and the Maid I warned to be likewise wary.
And surely we slept and waked, and there had gone eight good hours, andnaught was come anigh to us to harm us. And we eat and drank, and didhark oft, and lookt out from among the bushes; but there did be naughtabroad to set dread upon our spirits; and so we did be more content, andwell rest and a-ready for the further journeying.
Now I had the Maid to wear the cloak, because of the chill of the Land;but she in the first to refuse, save I also to have it in my turn; buttruly, I did feel that it should smother me, and that I need all myfreedom of my body, lest there come any thing sudden upon us; and allthis I showed Mine Own, and also that we should have weary work, and tocreep much, so that I should be warm by my labour of going, and shelikewise, mayhap. And she then to consent, because she saw that I did beearnest and to burn with anxiousness; yet had me to promise that I takethe cloak, if that the chill of the Land gat me anywise bitter.
Now we made a pause, when that we have our gear upon us, and we looktwell out over the Land; and surely alway our eyes did gaze in the endingupon that far Wonder of Light and Safeness, which did be the MightyPyramid; and I to be never ceased from telling Mine Own this thing andthat thing concerning the Great Refuge; and she to be constant stunnedunto silence and delight of wonder, and anon shaken unto a multitude ofquestionings, so that truly we did be as that we never to have donemaking known one unto the other.
Now, as you have knowledge, the House of Silence stood upon a low hill,and the Road did bend about the bottom of the hill; and this way did Icome, when that I was on mine outward way.
Yet now there to be a new plan of journeying come into my mind; for, asyou do remember, I did take somewise of eleven great days from thePyramid unto the top-part of the Mighty Slope, because that I had gonediversely and round about to the North-West of the Plain of Blue Fire.
And surely, as now I lookt, it did seem that we should try a shortpassage, and thereby be come free out of all danger in but a space offour or five days, if only we to succeed. And I stood a good while veryhusht and anxious, and did consider this new way, and did presentlypoint it out to the Maid, how that we saw the Mighty Redoubt straight tothe back of the low hill where stood the House of Silence, and mayhap wemight chance to find a safe going that way, and that I did ponderthatwise. For, indeed, as you do know, we must go _nigh_ past the House,even did we return by the long journeying, and this to be because thatthe bushes did make a cover only near to the Road, and all to be acountry of bare rock beyond the bushes on that side of the Road, whichdid be to the North and West.
Now, presently, I had formed my intention regarding our way, and toldall to Mine Own, and how that we to have alway an utter caution; and thedanger I made so plain to her as I did know it, and she then to bewarein her heart the need there to be of care and wiseness forever, as wedid go. And we then to make forward into the Night Land, and to be gonefrom the top-part of that great deep, in which there to be hid strangelands, as you do know. And surely, it to be like that none should everto go that way again for an eternity, or maybe forever.
And so went we forward, with a new caution.
And we came out from among the bushes upon the North-West of the Road,and crost unto the Eastward side; and here the bushes to grow veryplentiful, so that I led on with a cheerfulness of hope within my heart.And alway I went so far to the South-East as the bushes would give ustheir cover, and this way I made that we should scarce to pass within agreat mile of the dread and horrid House; though, in verity, this to bemost dreadful close.
And we walked then for six hours, and went sometimes creeping, and oftstoopt, and ever with a great caution.
And in the sixth hour we made a rest, and eat and drank, and afterwardwent forward again.
And in the tenth hour were we come something nigh unto the House; fortruly, we to be off from the Road Where The Silent Ones Walk, and so togo more straightly, and alway to save distance. And we kept so faroutward from the House as we might; but could pass it not more than agreat mile off, because that the bushes did have their margin near uponour left, as we went; and there to be barenness of rock beyond; andfire-holes in this part and that amid the starkness of the rocky spaces,that should be like to show us very plain, if that we came outward fromthe bushes.
And moreover, there went upward into the everlasting night one of thoseTowers of Silence, which did be in this part and that part of the land,and were thought to hold Strange Watchers. And the Tower stood great andmonstrous afar off in the midst of the naked rocks, showing very greyand dim, save when the flare of some great fire did beat upward in theLand, and sent huge and monstrous lights upon it. And we to have needalway now to remember this Tower, and to keep the more so to thesheltered hiding of the bushes. Yet, in verity, we to have littlethought of aught, save of the grim and threatening terror andmonstrousness which did stand forever upon that low hill, and did be theHouse of Silence.
And in the eleventh hour, we did go creeping from bush unto bush, anddid be as shadows that went in the mixt greyness and odd shinings ofthat Land. And the grim and dreadful House did be now unto our right,and did loom huge and utter silent above us in the night. And the lightsof the House did shine steadfast and deathless with a noiseless shining,as that they shone out of the quiet of some drear and unnaturalEternity. And there did a seeming of Unholiness to brood in the air, anda sense of all and deathly Knowledge; so that, surely, our hiding didseem but a futile thing unto our spirits; for it was to us as that wedid be watched quiet and alway by a Power, as we slipt gentle from bushunto bush.
And when the twelfth hour did be nigh, we to begin to draw clear of theHouse; and surely there to come somewhat of ease into my brain andheart; for it did be as that we should come clear of all harm.
And I turned to the Maid, that I whisper gentle and loving encouragementunto her. And lo! in that moment, Mine Own gave out a sudden lowsobbing, and was gone still upon the earth. And, truly, my heart didseem to die in me; for I knew t
hat there did be directed a Force out ofthe House of Silence, which did be aimed unto the Spirit of Mine OwnMaid. And I caught the Maid instant into mine arms, and I set my bodybetween her body and the dreadness of the House; and surely, my spiritto perceive that there beat out at her a dreadful Force, which did havein it an utter Silence and a bleakness of Desolation. And lo! I saw in amoment that the Force had no power to slay me; but did surely make toslay the Maid. And I set my Spirit and my Will about her, for a shield,if this might be, and I had her to mine arms as that she did be mine ownbabe.
And I stood upright, for there did be no more use to hide; and I knewthat I must walk forever until that I have Mine Own to the Shelter ofthe Mighty Refuge, or to walk until I die; for only with speed might Isave her from the dread and horrid Malice of that Force.
And I set free the Diskos from my hip, and had it in mine arms besidethe Maid, and I strode forward out of the bushes, and put forth mystrength that I journey with an utter speed. And ever my Spirit did knowof that monstrous Force which did be direct upon us, to the Destructionof Mine Own Maid.
And odd whiles, as I walkt, I called Mine Own by her olden love name,and by the new name of Naani; but never did she move or seem even thatshe lived; and surely my heart sickened within me with a mighty despair,so that a constant madness did begin to thrill in me and to make mesomething monstrous in strength, with my fierce agony and intentness tosave. And one hope only had I, that I bring her yet living into theShelter of the Mighty Refuge; and so, swift, to the care of the Doctors.
And lo! I did strive to be wise in my despair; for I made a quickhalting soon, and I warmed a broth of the tablets and water upon a hotrock, and strove that I set some of the broth between the closed lips ofMine Own Maid; yet did it be useless, as I to have known before in myheart. And alway I kept my body and my Will and my Spirit and my Lovebetween the Maid and the dreadfulness of the House. And I made some ofthe water, and dasht it upon the face of Mine Own, and I chafed herhands; but truly it to have no use; neither did I truly to think itshould be like to.
And I wiped her face then, and harked to her dear heart; and surely itdid beat, very slow and husht. And afterward, I wrapt her in the cloak.
And I forced myself then that I eat some of the tablets, and I drank agreat lot of the water, for a fever did seem to burn in me, and moreoverI to mean that I lack not for strength to my task.
And I set my gear upon me very speedy, and I lifted Mine Own Beloved,that did be now so husht, that once had been so merry and dearlynaughty. And surely, I nigh choked as the thought uprase in me; but Iset it back, and did but go the more furious. And surely no man did evergo so fast and constant upon his feet, through an eternity; for I wascome again to my strength, and there did be a madness of intention anddespair upon me; and I went on forever.
And at each sixth hour when I stopt very brief to eat and to drink, Imade to bring Mine Own to her senses; yet she never to come, and alwayher heart to grow the more feeble; so that in the end I did utter fearto hark; and did but set food and drink into me, and onward again withan utter fierceness.
And why there came not any Sweet Power of Goodness to help me in mystrait, I never to know; but did call desperate upon all Good things toaid me, as I went, to save Mine Own. But there naught to come; so that Ihad grown into cursings, but that I did not to lose my wisdom to anyuseless foolishness. And alway, as I went, I to see the Land blindly,and oft vague and grey as that I did look at naught real, and again withstrange flashings of light, and the glare of fires; and anon to see theLand as it did be, and all odd whiles to have now to me the feel of adread and monstrous dreaming.
And surely I sped forever through the dreadful hours, and went neitherto the right nor to the left, neither did I strive to hide in the bushesnor to evade aught, for I knew that the Maid died slowly in mine arms,and there to be no more gain in life, save by speed, that I have herswift to the Mighty Pyramid to the care of the Doctors. And a great anddespairing madness grew ever within me.
And thrice I to have a vague memory that there came creatures at me,from the dark of the Land; but surely I slew them with the Diskos, andhave no remembering thereof, only that mine anger did boil in me, and Ito know once that the Diskos did run blood in my hand.
And lo! there to come sudden unto my spirit the knowledge that theaether of the world did be stirred. And, indeed, I did be surely sightedby the great Millions of the Mighty Pyramid. And they to have seen mecome forward into the sight of the spy-glasses, and that I did bring amaid in mine arms out of all the night of the world.
And truly, as I did after learn, the dear Master Monstruwacan haddiscovered me great hours before; for there had been a steadfast watchkept in the Tower of Observation for my returning, if that ever I shouldreturn; and the might of the Great Spy-Glass had shown me plain a goodwhile gone, and that I did carry somewhat, that was surely the maid thatI did go to find. Yet had the Master given an order that no word be setabroad to the Peoples, of this discovering, lest that the emotions ofthe Millions to tell overmuch unto the evil Powers of the Land. But nowhad the Millions also come unto knowledge; for many had ceased not towatch through their spy-glasses, and the news to travel very speedythrough the cities; and surely now there did be a constant spiritualnoise in the night, to be heard only of the Spirit, yet to suffice towake and to warn all that Land.
And truly, as I after to learn, the Master Monstruwacan did know by theinstruments that there came a force out of the House of Silence, andthis to trouble him greatly; so that he set the word through thePyramid, by the Hour-Slips, that all the Peoples strive to contain theiremotion, lest they bring an Harm and a Destruction upon me, by warningthe Land with the greatness of their feelings.
Yet, in verily, this did be useless; for the Peoples did be very human,and could nowise check their gladness and great wonder and excitement;for it was to them so great a wonder almost as we should suffer if thata man in this Age should go beyond Death in search of his Beloved; andafterward to come backward unto the Living; and, surely, in such case,how mighty should be our amazement; and this to be somewise how they didbe; yet with it also a sweet and natural gladness and strong welcoming,which doth be the true beat of the Human Heart unto the Wanderer.
And presently, and through all the time that I came forward across theLand, there did be mayhaps an hundred million that did never cease towatch me from the embrasures, from the View-Tables, and from allvantages. Yet, for a long while, only they which possessed strongspying-glasses did be abled to see me truly, for I was a great way off.
And millions did but stare vainly unto that part where I was said to be;and the Hour-Slips to come out four times in the hour, and to tell aughtthat did be known. And so shall you perceive that Humanity did but havegrown the more Human.
And, in verity, I went forward with all my strength, and did driveheedless through the miles and the night, and scarce conscious of aught,because of the aching madness of despair that did grow ever within me;for I knew that Mine Own Maid died alway in mine arms, as I did carryher.
And later, a monstrous space of hours it to seem, I knew that I was cometo that part of the Road, where it did bend somewhat unto the Vale OfRed Fire; and this did be something anigh to that wilderness where theYouths did fight with the giant-men.
And I came over the Road, and urged my body utter furious across theLand. And, surely, in that moment when I cross the Road, great numbersof the Millions did see me, that had not seen before. And there went ashaking in the aether of the World, because of the sudden emotion of somighty a Multitude; and lo! it did be as that in that moment the Landwas at last waked; for there came from far away unto the Eastward, afaint and dreadful laughter, as that a monstrous Being laught untoItself in some lost and dreadful country. And the Laughter passed overthe Land, and did echo strangely, as it did seem, in this part and thatpart, and presently to go rolling round in the far and hid West Lands,and to be as that it wandered awhile amid the far mountains of the OuterLands, and was presently lost from my hear
ing.
And my heart chilled a little maybe; but yet did I not care over-much;for I to lack all if that I lackt Death, if that I not to be given powerto save Mine Own. Yet did I make a little pause, so that I gat the knifefrom the belt of the Maid, and did also to bare the Capsule; for if thatthere came a Destruction upon us, I to make instant sure that Mine OwnMaid be safe unto death, and I then to go quickly with the Capsule.
And afterward I again upon my way.
And ever upon each sixth hour I did stop that I eat and drink, and didonward again, even as a machine; for I commanded myself to this duty ofvictual, that I lack not my strength unto the saving of the Maid. Yet,truly, I did seem to choke alway as I strove with the tablets.
And lo! ever as I went forward did the Land awake; and my spirit to knowthat Great Forces did be abroad, restless. And the Monsters to beginwild roamings, because that they also to know of the Unrest that did become into the Land. And there to go presently odd roarings across theLand, from night unto night. And I to go forward the more desperate, andto step neither to the right nor to the left; but to make direct unto myMighty Home.
And the Vale of Red Fire did be soon afar off unto my right, and thebulk of the Watcher of the North-East to be somewise unto my left,before me; and the great back to be toward me. And truly, I lookt at theBrute-Force, and it did be as that I drew nigh unto a Mountain ofWatchfulness; and above it in the everlasting night did be the blueshining of the luminous ring, and the ring shed a light downward overthe Monster-Force; and the shoulders did be huge and humpt, even as twosmall hills, and it lookt forever from me through eternity unto thePyramid. And this to be plain, though I did be a great way off from it.
And sudden, as I went, there came Somewhat out of a bush unto my left,and rose up at me, very long and tall; and surely it did be some kind ofa man, and came at me. And my fury and my despair came inward upon me ina moment, so that I troubled not to set down the Maid, but leaped at thething, where it did be yet half hid in the dark. And lo! it died inpieces, and the Diskos did roar to content my heart an instant. And Ithen onward again the more savage, so that my heart did be a dreadfulthing within me.
And a great while I went then, and do have a vague remembering that thistime and that there came things at me from out of the dark; but surelythey to have died very speedy, that I not to remember more.
And the hours did pass in spaces of time that did be made of terror andnumbness and an utter and evergrowing fury of despair. And I did be atlast as that I did burn inward with a grim and dreadful energy, and toseem to grow the less tired, and to come over the Land with a strongerease and somewhat as that I did desire things to come unto me, that Ihave something to ease my heart; for lo! Mine Own Maid did be dying inmine arms as I carried her; and I to be in a bleak and sickened dread,so that I lacked all courage now to listen unto her heart, as I havetold; and went burning, and dry and hot in the eyes.
And ever there sounded the roarings across the Land; and there did beadded presently lower and more horrid and dread noises. And later Iheard a far thudding of the earth; and in a little there went past me agreat Man, running so heavy that he did make a shaking as he past me;yet, in verity, by a sweet mercy, he saw me not, and was gone onward ina moment and lost utter into the night. And the aether of the world tobe full of the trouble of the Peoples, as the Man past me; and afterwardthere to be a stirring of glad thankfulness. And truly, alway my spiritdid know strangely as in a dream, that the Millions set their sympathyand pity and help about me, and did girt me about with Human love andwith encouragement and with uplifted thoughts. Yet, in verity, did allbe as water beside the fierce wine of my love and despair, which didurge me onward in a natural lacking of all dread, save for Mine Own. Andtruly this doth be the way of Love, and shall make fearless the heart ofthe weakest. And there to be prayers in the night, and all the aether tobe surged with the spiritual trouble and callings and cryings of theMillions; so that, indeed, if that my spirit so to hear these things, itto be conceived that these do pass outward into the Everlasting, and tobreak upon the Shore of Eternity in an anguish, even as a visible foamof supplication.
And surely the unity of love of the Millions did make a natural Forceabout me; for, in verity, the Force that did come from the House to seemto be somewhat eased from the Maid; yet there to be no surety in this;for all did be desperation and turmoil in my heart, and I to have butone thought in my brain, that I bring Mine Own swift across the Landunto the Mighty Pyramid, and so unto the Doctors.
And lo! there stole presently from afar the deep and dreadful baying ofthe Hounds; so that I knew we did be surely dead, save that a miracleshould happen. And I askt in my heart in a fierce and mad fashion whythat they did not to rig one of the olden shooting weapons, that theyshoot from the Pyramid, and so to give me some aid in mine extremity.
And behold, even as I did be so bitter, there went afar upward in theeverlasting night, where did shine the Last Light, the sharp flashingsof the Set Speech; and I did warm in my heart a little with hope; forthe Master Monstruwacan did see that I was now all discovered, and thereto be no more use for silence, and did speak straight and helpful untome. And I made to read the Set Speech, but mine eyes had been mad andnear blinded with lost hope. But in a moment I saw clear. And behold,the dear Master Monstruwacan bid me to keep good my courage, for thatthey did have made ready three of the olden weapons; and moreover, theyto save me, even if that they have to turn loose the Earth-Current overthe Land. And he commended me with Honour, and that I strive forward yeta little while; for that an Hundred Thousand Men did be Prepared, anddid even then go downward in their armour by the Lifts.
And surely, as you shall think, my heart eased a little in me, and thereburned somewhat of a hope in my spirit that I yet to bring Mine Ownunto the Doctors, ere it be too late.
And the baying of the Hounds did grow nearer in the night; and there togrow ever the roarings over the Land; and a sense of Evil andmonstrousness to be abroad in all the night.
And lo! I to have come by this so that the Watcher of the North-East didbe backward upon my left; and I lookt keen and fearful now at theMonster-Force; and behold, the great bell-ear did quiver continually, sothat I saw the Monster made somewhat known unto all the Land. And theMonster did look as ever, unto the Pyramid; and did be a great andsilent Hill of Life that did lean toward the Pyramid; and the light fromthe Ring came downward upon the monstrous hide, which did be set in vastfolds and wrinkles upon it. And the Monster to know of me; yet never tomove, neither to show life, save that the ear did quiver so horridly.
And I knew that they made some great preparation in the Pyramid for ourdefence; for all the night did begin now to shake and to quiver with themighty beat of the Earth-Current.