The Night Land

Then the Master Monstruwacan sent word to the Master Watchman that his

wardership had been outraged, and that people left the great Pyramid in

the Sleep-Time; for this was against the Law; and none ever went out

into the Night Land, save the Full Watch were posted to the Great Door;

and at a due time, when all were wakeful; for the Opening Of The Door

was made known to all the Millions of the Great Redoubt; so that all

might be aware; and know that no foolishness was done without their

wotting.

Moreover, ere any had power to leave the Pyramid, they must pass The

Examination, and Be Prepared; and some of this have I set out already.

And so stern was the framing of the Law, that there were yet the metal

pegs upon the inner side of the Great Gate, where had been stretched the

skin of one who disobeyed; and was flayed and his hide set there to be a

warning in the Early Days. Yet the tradition was remembered; for, as I

might say it, we lived very close about the place; and Memory had no

room whereby she might escape.

Now the Master Watchman, when he heard that which the Master

Monstruwacan had to tell, went hastily with some of the Central Watch

from the Watch-Dome, to the Great Gate; and he found the men of the

Sleep-Time Watch, with the Warder of the Gate, all bound, and stopt in

the mouth, so that none could make outcry.

And he freed them, and learned that nigh five hundred young men, from

the Upper Cities, by the bigness of their chests, had come upon them

suddenly, and bound them, and escaped into the night through the

Eye-Gate in the top of the Great Gate.

And the Master Watchman was angry, and demanded why that none had called

by the instruments of the Watch House; but lo! some had made to call

thus, and found them unable to wake the recorders which lay in the

central Watch-Dome; for there had been tampering.

Now, after this, they made certain new rules and Laws concerning the

order of Watching, and made tests of the lesser instruments of the

inward Pyramid, nightly, upon the coming of the Sleep-Time, which was,

even in that strange age, by tradition called the Night, as I have given

hint; though hitherto, until the way of my story was known, I have used

a word for the sleep hours that was yet not of that time; but somewhat

an invention to make this history free from the confusion of "night" and

"day," when, in truth, it was always night without upon the world. Yet,

after this, shall I keep to mine use the luxury of the true names of

that time; and yet, how strange is it that the truth should be of so

little to our thinking.