The Night Land

And in all the Pyramid was there a great silence; for the bellowing of

the Home-Call bred a quietness, because of that which it did portend;

and it was swiftly known by the millions that the Master Monstruwacan

did plead for the souls of the Youths; and there went forth,

unknowingly, a counter-force from the Mighty Pyramid, by reason of the

prayers and soul-wishings of the countless millions.

And the counter-force was plain to my inward hearing, and beat all the

aether of the world into a surge of supplication; so that it stunned my

spirit with the great power of it. And it seemed to me, as it were,

that there was a vast spiritual-noise in all the night; and I spied

tremblingly through the Great Spy-Glass, and lo! the Youths did cease

from their swift running, and were come together in a crowd, and had a

seeming to be confused; as might some who have waked suddenly from

sleep, to find that they walked in their sleep, and had come to a

strange place. Then came there a great roar from all the millions that spied from the

embrasures--from nigh five hundred thousand embrasures they did look,

and I count not the great View-Tables. And the shouting rose up like to

the roaring of a mighty wind of triumph, yet was it over-early to sound

for victory. For the counter-force which came from the intensity of so

many wills blent to one intent, was brake, and the Evil Force which came

forth out of the House did draw the Youths again; so that they heeded

not their salvation; but turned once again to their running.

And the Mighty Pyramid was full of a shaken silence, and immediately of

lamentation and sorrow and horror at this thing. But in that moment

there did happen a fresh wonder; for there grew suddenly before those

poor Youths, billows of mist--as it had been of pure white fire, shining

very chill; yet giving no light upon them.

And the mist of cold fire stayed their way, so that we had knowledge

that there fought for the souls of them, one of those sweet Powers of

Goodness, which we had belief did strive to ward our spirits at all

times from those Forces of Evil and Destruction. And all the millions

saw the thing; but some with a great clearness, and many doubtful; yet

were all advanced more in spiritual sight and hearing than the normal

Peoples of this Age. But of them all, none had the Night-Hearing, to know a soul having

speech in the aether half across the world. Yet, as I have said, some

there had been aforetime who were thus given the Hearing, even as was I.