The Night Land

Now, after that destruction which had come upon the Ten-thousand, and

the fresh assurance that was upon us of the terror of the Night Land, it

may be known that there could be no more thought to succour. Though, in

truth, those Youths that went now upon the Road Where The Silent Ones

Walk were far beyond our aid.

Yet might it be thought that we should have signalled to them, calling

by the Home-Call, which was that great Voice which went forth from the

Machine above the sealed base of the Mighty Pyramid. But this we might

not do; for then we gave signal to the Monsters of that Land, that some

were even now abroad from the Pyramid; yet we could no more than hope

that the Evil Forces had no wotting of them; for, in verity, none might

ever know the knowledge or the Ignorance which those Powers did possess.

Yet, it must be kept to the mind that we knew even then there was an

Influence abroad in the Land, strange and quiet; so that the Instruments

did not more than make record of it. And as I have surely set down ere

now, we had belief that it did come from that House of Silence, afar in

the Night Land, upon that low hill to the North of the Great Road. And

many among the Monstruwacans feared that it was directed upon the

Youths; but of this there could be no surety; and we could but wait and

watch. Now, about this time those poor Youths did draw nigh to that part of the

Road Where The Silent Ones Walk, where it turned more swiftly to the

North; and they to be now at no mighty distance from that grim and

horrid House. And presently we knew that the Influence had a greater Power in the

Land; and I had an assuredness that it came from the House; yet no

certain proof was this. But I set out my feelings to the Master

Monstruwacan; and he had trust in them and in my power; moreover, he

also had belief within himself that some secret Power came out from the

House of Silence.

And some talk there was at times that we send the Home-Call into the

night, to give warning to the Youths of our knowledge and our fear; and

to entreat them to make a safe endeavour to return swiftly. Yet was this

an error; and refused by the Master Monstruwacan; for it was not meet

that we put the souls of those Youths in peril, until such time as we

had certainty that they should be lost if we did not bestir ourselves.

For, indeed, this Home-Call was as a mighty Voice, calling over the

world, and did have so exceeding a noise, that it had immediately told

all that Land how that some were yet abroad from the Great Redoubt. And

here will I set down how that the Home-Call had no use in those ages;

but had been a Call in the olden time when yet the great flying-ships

went abroad over the world.