The Night Land

And, forthwith, I called the Master-Word into the night; but no answer

did there come for a while, and then a faint thrilling of the aether

about me, and the weak pulse of the Master-Word in the night, sent by a

far voice, strangely distant. And I knew that the voice was the voice of

Naani; and I put a question through all the darkness of the dead world,

whether she were within the Lesser Redoubt, and safe thus far.

And presently, there came a faint disturbance about me, and a small

voice in my soul, speaking weakly and out of an infinite distance; and I

knew that far away through the night Naani spoke feebly, with her

brain-elements; and that she abode within the Lesser Pyramid; but that

she too had heard that strange pulse of the Master-Word in the night,

and that message: "We are coming! We are coming!" And vastly had this

thing disturbed her, waking her within her sleep; so that she knew not

what to think; save that we were devising some method to come to them.

But this I removed from doubt, saying that she must not build on vain

hoping; for I would not have her doubly tortured by the vanity of such

believing. And, thereafter, having said such things as I might, though

few they were, to comfort her, I bade her, gently, to sleep; and turned

therewith to the Master Monstruwacan, who waited in quiet patience; and

had no knowledge of that which I had heard and sent; for his hearing was

but the normal; though his brain and heart were such as made me to love

him. And I told the Master Monstruwacan many things as I put my clothing

about me; how that there had indeed been the calling of the Master-Word;

but not by any of that Lesser Redoubt; but that, to my belief, it had

come from nigh about the Great Pyramid. Moreover, it was sent by no

instrument; as I wotted that he did guess; but, as it seemed to me, by

the brain-elements of many, calling in unison.

And all this did I set out to the Master Monstruwacan; and with

something uncertain of fear and trouble in my heart; yet with a blind

expectation; as, indeed, who would not. Though, no longer was I shaken

by that first thought of Her nearness.

And I said to the Master Monstruwacan that we should go to the Tower of

Observation, and search the Night Lands with the great spy-glass.

And we did this, and lo! presently, we saw a great number of men pass

over the Electric Circle that went about the Pyramid; yet they came not

to us; but went outwards towards the blackness and the strange fires

and hideous mysteries of the Night Land. And we ceased from spying, and

looked swiftly at one another, and knew in our hearts that some had left

the Mighty Pyramid in the Sleep-Time.