The Night Land

And well might be that there were Monsters and Forces gathered together

about that Hill of Life, out of all the Darkness of the World; for the

thing was as a Mighty Mountain that went up measureless into the night;

and spread out upon the earth to the right and to the left of me, so

that it did seem to hold all the world with its might.

And in the nearer slope were there three hundred thousand great

embrasures, as well I did know; there being in all the four sides of the

Redoubt, twelve hundred thousand embrasures, as was set out in the books

of the schools, and upon the cover of Atlas-books as they still quaintly

to be called, and many another place, as might be supposed.

And half a mile upward was the lowest tier of those great window-places,

and above that, countless other tiers. And a great light came out from

them into the darkness; so that I looked up into the night many miles,

and yet did see them in shining rows; and did make separate each

embrasure from its fellow for a great way. But there grew yet more,

above in the mighty distance, so that they were lost in the upward space

of the night, and did seem to me presently but as a constant, glimmering

fire, that did shape a shining Peak into the blackness of the heavens,

dwindling into the utmost height. And thus was that Everlasting

Monument. Then did it come to me that those little things, which I did see to

cluster against the embrasures, were in truth the countless millions of

the Mighty Redoubt; and this I could make out with some plainness in

those lower embrasures, which were the more near to me than they above;

for the Peoples were set against the light within, yet were as small

things like unto insects, in that distance, and within so Huge a Bulk.

And I knew that they looked out upon me, and did watch through their

spy-glasses. And I sent my gaze upwards again along that great Slope of

grey metal, aye! upward again to where it strode glimmering into the

Blackness, and so at last to the little star that did crown that Wonder

of the World in the eternal night. And, for a little, I did stare

towards that far light; for it came from within that Tower of

Observation, where so lately I had spended my life; and I had knowledge

within my heart that the dear Master Monstruwacan did bend the Great

Spy-Glass upon me, through which so oft had I spied. And I raised the

Diskos unto him, in salutation and farewell, though I saw him not at all

through that vast space.