The Night Land

And the whole was sheathed-in at the sides with the grey metal of which

the Redoubt was builded; and each field was pillared, and floored

beneath the soil, with this same compound of wonder; and so was it

secure, and the monsters could not dig into that mighty garden from

without. And all of that Underground Land was lit, where needed, by the

Earth-Current, and that same life-stream fructified the soil, and gave

life and blood to the plants and to the trees, and to every bush and

natural thing.

And the making of those Fields had taken maybe a million years, and the

"dump" thereof had been cast into the "Crack," whence came the

Earth-Current, and which had bottom beyond all soundings. And this

Underground Country had its own winds and air-currents; so that, to my

memory, it was in no ways connected to the monstrous air-shafts of the

Pyramid; but in this I may be mistaken; for it has not been given to me

to know all that is to be known concerning that vast Redoubt; nor by any

one man could so much knowledge be achieved.

Yet that there were wise and justly promoted winds in that Underground

Country, I do know; for healthful and sweet they were, and in the

corn-fields there was the sweet rustle of grain, and the glad, silken

laughter of poppies, all beneath a warm and happy light. And here, did

the millions walk and take excursion, and go orderly or not, even as in

these days. And all this have I seen, and the talk of a thousand lovers in the

gardens of that place, comes back to me; and with it all the memory of

my dear one; and of a faint calling that would seem to whisper about me

at times; but so faint and attenuated, that even I, who had the

Night-Hearing, could not catch its import; and so went, listening ever

the more intently. And oft times calling.

Now there was a Law in the Pyramid, tried and healthful, which held that

no male should have freedom to adventure into the Night Land, before the

age of twenty-two; and no female ever. Yet that, after such age, if a

youth desired greatly to make the adventure, he should receive three

lectures upon the dangers of which we had knowledge, and a strict

account of the mutilatings and horrid deeds done to those who had so

adventured. And if, after this had passed over him, he still desired,

and if he were accounted healthful and sane; then should he be allowed

to make the adventure; and it was accounted honour to the youth who

should add to the knowledge of the Pyramid.