The Night Land

And this way did be all the creatures

of that Country; and truly I do think the Early World did be somewise

like to it; and this to seem to make true that olden saying that extreme

things do meet, as doth be over-apparent; for thus doth it be somewise

to our knowings, as you shall perceive by your Reasonings Upon Olden

Days, and by the showings of this Mine Own Story, for that Deep World to

have put forth natural creatures that did be even as might be those that

did live in the Beginning; though I to make no point of this, but only

that it doth occur to my thought; and all to seem that it did be bred of

Circumstance and Condition; yet this to have no saying whether that

there to be a spiritual-force something deeper than the Circumstance;

for this to be outside of any surety, but not offensive unto my Reason.

But this thinking also neither to offend me, that although much--and

mayhap all--doth be modified and shapen diverse ways by the Circumstance

and the Condition, yet doth there be an inward force that doth be

peculiar each unto each; though, mayhap, to be mixt and made monstrous

or diverse by foul or foolish breeding--as you to have knowledge of in

the bodies of those dread Monsters that did be both Man and Beast. Yet,

also, I here to say that maybe all diverse breeding not to be monstrous;

but this to be beside my point. For I to be now set to tell, as I have

told, that it not to offend me to suppose that there to be this inward

force peculiar to each shaping of all bodies that do hold that wondrous

quality of Life. And if that you ask me that I give example to make

clear my thought, I to say that it doth be reasonable to suppose that

the Force or Spirit of the Human doth be peculiar to the Human, whether

that it to be a Cause of Life, or the Result of that which hath been

evolved out of a Condition. And whether it to be the one way or the

other, you to know that where this Force or Spirit be found untainted,

there is man; and I to be not opposed to think that Man doth be constant

alway in matters of fundament, and neither to have been ever truly

different; though something modified in the body and surely, in the

first, all undeveloped in the lovely things of the spirit, because that

there to be no call to these. Yet, presently, they likewise to come, and

to act upon the flesh with refinings; and likewise, mayhap, there to be

some act of the flesh upon the spirit; and so to the state of this Age

of this our day, and to that far Age of which I do tell. But development

never to make the Human other than the Human; for the development to

have limits peculiar to the Human. And surely, it doth appeal to me,

that the development of Man doth lie between two points, that be not

wondrous wide apart; and Man to have power that he arrive very speedy

from one unto the other, and likewise that he go back so quick, or even

the more hasty. Yet, even did it be ever proved that Man once to be a

fish, I to have no cause to abate the first part of mine argument; but

to have the more need of the thought, that I gain power to accept the

Fact; for I still then to have no occasion that I think Man to have been

truly a Fish, or aught truly different from a Man; but only that he did

be once Modified physically to his need, and to be still possessed of

the Man-Spirit, though all lackt of development. Yet, truly, I to be

less offend in my Reason, if that it be shown that Man did be ever

somewise in his present shape, though mayhap so brutish as the Humpt

Men; but yet I do be ready to consider all matters, and do build no

Walls about my Reason. Yet, neither I to have an over-ready acceptance

of aught, but to need that my Reason shall approve.

And you to perceive, surely, that I here not to speak of that which may

be Afterward, when that all This, our life, be done. For who shall say

how much or how little we then to go forward unto loveliness; and I at

this point to tell you that I do have a wondrous hope of beauteous

things, and of sweet and mighty Uplifting and Furtherance unto that Glad

World which we have beheld the shores of, when that we had stood in

holiness with the Beloved.

And, in verity, I now once more to my story; and to be glad that I am

done at this small setting forth of a matter which did need words,

because that it did have root in this Mine Own Story, and to be grown of

it and from it.

Now, there did be one other thing of note, beside the Sea Beast, whilst

that we did be upon the Seas; and this did be the strangeness of a great

Fire-Hill which did stand in the sea, and we to pass very nigh unto it.

And surely the sea did boil about it, yet not in all places; and there

did be a score great jets that did go upward a monstrous way, and did

roar very plain to us across the sea between; and there did come strange

gruntings from the sea about the base of the Fire-Hill, and these I to

conceive to be made by the upbursting of gases in this place and that;

and surely, it all to make us to know of the great energy that did be

wakeful in that deep Country; and we yet to stare backward upon that

Hill of Fire and Force, for a great while after that we had come past.

Now, beyond this, there to be naught, except that we had a certain care

as we did come to that place where the Great Sea did be broke to smaller

seas; but all to be knit with passages of water, which let us through

upon our way.

And surely, I did show Mine Own Maid those two places where I did sleep

when first I was come into that Country; and she to be sweet in

interest, and alway to have somewhat that she would learn of this and

that.

And so, when that we did be four good days upon the water, as I have

told, we to come to the land, upon a flat place of the shore, where the

Country did slope upward unto the mouth of the First Gorge, of which you

do mind. And this to be in the tenth hour of that day; and we likewise

to have begun that voyage in the tenth hour, as you do remember; and

surely it to have been a sweet and peaceful water-journey; and I to have

been happy, if that all that did be yet before us, to hold so much of

pleasantness and safe goings. But, indeed, there to be much danger yet

to come, as you do know; and we to have our hearts set in courage, and

to go forward to conquer; for surely, if that we to conquer, and to come

safe into our Mighty Home, there to be then that we have all our lives

together in loveliness; and this to be truly a worthy prize and a glory

of the heart, to end and to repay our Stress.

And surely, the Maid and I did presently strand the raft, so well as we

might, and did then to wonder whether any should evermore to behold it

through all Eternity. And we lookt a little, each at the other; and the

Maid then to cut free a small piece of the wood of the raft, to be for

an after remembrance.

And so we to have our gear upon the shore; and the Maid then to give me

aid that I get once more into mine armour; and so I presently to have

the Scrip and the Pouch again to my back, and the Diskos in my hand, and

all in readiness, and the Maid with her bundle (that was now grown

small), and her belt about her body, that she have her knife unto her

hand.

And surely, the Maid then to kneel and to kiss the raft; for memories

did gather upon her; and she there to have one more breaking from all

that did be the first part of her life; and you to give your

understanding, and so to have a quiet sympathy, and to perceive that her

heart did be like that it should stir with a strange trouble of

sorrowing in that moment.

And surely I stoopt then, very gentle and loving, and had Mine Own to

her feet; and I led her from the raft, and she to need that she be near

me; and so we to go forward, and to make upward unto the dark mouth of

the Great Gorge.

And there to be some miles unto our right, that grim and utter huge

Mountain, whereon afar upward in the monstrousness of the night did be

perched those four fire-hills of which I have told. And below them,

there to go upward the great hills of ash, that had been cast down

throughout Eternity. And this thing had the Maid lookt upon for a great

time, and did be never done of her wonder; neither I, nor any human that

ever should have sight of so great a wonder.

And so we to have come presently upward into the high mouth of the

Gorge, and did go onward then into the gloom, a little space, until that

we were come to the place where the Gorge did bend sharp unto the left,

into darkness.

And lo! we made pause here, and turned again unto the Country of Seas,

that we have a last outward look over all that Deep and living Land,

that did be hid so far downward in the everlasting night of the world.

And, in verity, it did be a solemn thing to know that we, mayhap, to be

the last of the olden Humans that should ever to look upon that Country;

and I to wonder, in that moment, whether that the Humpt Men should ever

to develop, in some far eternity, unto the full sweetness of the spirit

of Humanity which I did think to be inward of them. And this to be both

an odd and a natural thought to have then, as I do see. But at that

time, I only to think it, and not to wot or to trouble whether that it

did be odd or otherwise. And I to think that Country did be somewise as

the Olden Time renewed; but truly we to look upon early things with new

eyes.

And we yet to look awhile, and to be husht, and to hark in those last

moments unto the far mutter of the Great Fire-Mountains, and the

Fire-Hills, and the noise of life which did go over that Land; and we

even then to be but a few short pacings off from the silence of the

Great Gorge, which should lead us presently toward the Eternal

Strangeness which did be in the Night Land. And the Maid did hold mine

arm very close, as we lookt our last into the red light of that Deep and

Hid Country of the World, where, in verity, we had come so utter nigh to

our Death.

And presently, I turned, and the Maid slipt her hand into mine, and the

tears did go silent down her face, because of all that did be prest upon

her heart; but yet not to be all of sorrow, for there to be both sorrow

and happiness, and also there did be somewhat of vague emotion that she

never more to look upon that dear island where she had nurst her man

again unto life and well-being; and she to be in mind of all those

places where she to know that in after-life her memory to wander; and

she to have oft-told tales, mayhap, unto her children, of that Country

that they never to see; but only to be for a wonder to them for ever.

And we past then round the Mighty Corner-place of the Gorge, and went

forward, somewhat stumbling, into the gloom.

Now we went sixteen hours very steady, and with naught save the great

darkness to trouble us; and we by this to have been twenty and six hours

since last that we had sleep; and surely this did be a foolishness,

because that I to need that I come into my full strength, ere we reach

the Night Land; and it to be a folly that I should over-tire myself; and

the Maid to have said so much.

And, indeed, then, we came to a safe place for our slumber, and whilst

that we eat and drunk, we made count from my notings of the outward way,

and so did decide that we go no more than sixteen hours' journey each

day through the Gorge, and to sleep alway for eight good hours. And this

we to do, both then, and until that we did be come out of the Great

Gorge, which did take us in all, so much as five days thiswise.

And surely, when that we were come into the light places of the Gorge,

we to be more cheered, as you shall suppose; yet oft did we be half

smothered with the horrid gases that came upward in this part and that,

as you do mind.

And my strength did grow constant, as we journeyed; yet would the Maid

never suffer that I carry her; but went alway very light and clever, and

was grown, in truth, set unto this constant wander.

And at this place and that, I to make pause that I show Mine Own those

places where I did slumber, and she alway to need that she come unto the

very part, and that she stand for a little moment where I did lie so

lonesome, as I went outward unto that despairful searching. And alway

she then to be utter tender with me, and to be something lacking of

speech, because of the calling of her heart.

And surely, Mine Own did be alway now to ask me when that we should be

come unto the Night Land; and to require how far it should be, and to be

taken with a growing of excitement, very dear and natural; and, in

verity, I to be almost so much so as she; and to wonder what she to

think of the Mighty Redoubt, and of all that strange and monstrous Land.

And, above all these, I to be shaken unto my very heart, that I have the

Maid speedy unto safety; lest, after all, even though we to have come so

far, there somewhat to happen of woe. And all this did make it a hard

thing that we not to begin to race, and to exceed the hours that we did

set; but truly we had wisdom in this matter, and slumbered alway after

the sixteenth hour.

And we never to see aught of life in all that great and desolate Gorge;

for there did be only the gas-burnings, and the boulders and the stark

rocks, and oft the rank smellings of the gases. And alway an utter and

everlasting quiet; save when some lonesome gas-fire did oddly to moan

or to whistle, and the whistling to sound very dree across the great

waste of the Gorge, and likewise the moaning to be but a thing to make

the loneliness to be felt in the heart; and the Maid to feel thus with

me.

And alway, as I did know, she to think in her heart that I did come

through that place alone to make a searching for her into the unknown

lands of the world; and surely, I did be but a natural man if that I was

something happy in my heart that Mine Own so to ponder and to remember;

for thereby did her love seem ever to grow. And likewise, a man doth be

glad in his spirit and natural pride, that his Maid to know that he hath

done wholesomely of his best for her need. And you but to think upon the

love-days, and to hear the echoes of those dear proud thoughts that did

so to swell in you; and doth not all to go so strangely with familiar

pain in the old way?

Now it was upon the fifth day, in about the seventh hour, that I heard

oddwhiles a sound in this place and that of the Gorge, as that the rocks

made husht and strange sounds at us. And I to have the Maid instant very

nigh to me, and the Diskos to my hand, and we then to go onward with a

great caution.

And thrice we did pass places where gas-fires did burn and dance, and

made oft a low moaning, and somewhiles a little whistling; and the other

sounds yet to come oddly from the rocks, in this place and that, very

strange and unthought of, yet to be something familiar.

And sudden, it did come to me that there to be a far-away noise in these

sounds; though they to seem to come from this place and that almost to

mine elbow, as you should say. And lo! I knew then that I harked unto

little echoings, that did be caught by the near rocks, and to come from

some far and mighty sound. And this should be surely the monstrous

piping of the Great Gas Fountain, that you do well mind. And, in verity,

I told Mine Own in a moment; and she to be all eager with me, because

that this did be both a wondrous thing, and to be also a landmark to

show that we did be nigh to come out of the Gorge, and our journey to

come the more near unto an ending.

And surely we lookt ahead very earnest; and there to be so many strange

and leaping fires to our front, that we not to be very sure which did be

the far and monstrous dance of the Great Gas Fountain; for truly it to

be yet so distant that the near gas-fires did make more upon the eye up

all of a weary length of the Gorge, than did the great dance of the

far-off fire, that was now so small, by the distance.

And presently, when that we were gone onward something more, we to see

that there went a lightening and a darkening afar along the Gorge, so

that the background of the night was made to lose somewhat of the

intensity of its darkness, as with constant shudders of light; and this

to be surely the far away dance of the flame of the Great Gas Fountain.

And we then to watch alway as we journeyed, and to see how that the

vague shudderings of light did grow in the distance of the night, and

did merge and become known presently in a strange uplifting and falling

of a far away blue flame.

And the sound now to come more steady, and to grow in a long while into a

monstrous piping, very great and wonderful, and having a constant change

in the note.

And we to come past the last of the lesser fires, and to be in that part

of the Gorge which did be fireless, save for the great upward dance of

the Gas Fountain, which did now to be grown huge and plain-seen, and did

make a quaking light over all the Gorge.

And so in the end, we to be come very nigh to the dance of the monstrous

flame; and did be half stunned by the noise, which did be now an utter and

furious roaring, as you shall remember; and the Maid and I did stand as

but two lonesome strangers in the mouth-part of that deep and desolate

Gorge, and did stare voiceless unto the great flaw; and mine arm did be

about the Maid, and she to stand very nigh to me; and neither to speak;

and surely, how should we anywise; for the noise did be so huge.

And after that we had stared a great while, we turned that we look each

at the other; and we kist very sober, there in the light from the

monster flame. And afterward, we did stare again at the Flame, and soon

turned, and lookt all ways, and did marvel to see the great throw of the

light go blue and spreading and strange unto great distances.

And a while we did be watching the way that the far-off side of the

Gorge did come plain to sight, when that the Flame did leap; and, truly,

that did seem a far and lonesome Place, as that a lost and forgot world

of desolate mountains did be there.

And lo! we now to look that we should see somewhat of the way that our

journey to go; and surely naught to be clear shown save when the Flame

did rise oddwhiles to a monstrous height; and this to be because of the

huge rocks that did stand about the Flame. Yet something I was abled to

show the Maid of the bottom part of the Mighty and Utter Monster Slope

that did be the last way of our journey, ere we were come to the Night

Land.

And we then to go onward for about a good mile, that we be not so

deafened by the noise of the Gas Fountain; and it did be now beyond the

seventeenth hour; so that we eat and drunk, and made our rest in a

secure place among the great boulders.

And lo! when that we waked, we eat and drunk again, and did be something

silent, as we to gaze at the Flame dancing monstrous, and lonesome and

all set about with the stark and mighty Rocks, which did be like unto

giants of silence that did watch forever. And presently, we had our gear

upon us, and we went forward toward the utter dark of the Mighty Slope;

and we began that huge climb, that should last through days in an

eternity of night.

And oft in the first hours did we turn about from our blind stumblings,

and gaze downward out of the long height, unto the loom of the Flame,

that did shudder far below in the night, and made a quaking light in

that far darkness. And so did we leave it to dance forever through

Eternity in that deep and lost place of the world; and we bent all our

will and our strength unto the climb.

And this way went we stumbling for sixteen great hours; and by that time

had come to a pace proper for that task, and to be something numbed, and

seeming grown unreal, because of the affecting of the Darkness.

And lo! for eight days then did we go upward forever through that most

dreadful night. And after the first day, we crept alway upon our hands

and our knees, and I to go in the front, and had the Diskos ready upon

my hip. And I took two of the straps from the pouch and the scrip, and

so had a certain length; and I set them from the waist-belt of the Maid

unto mine own belt, and so did know ever that she came close after me.

And we made journeys sixteen hours long, and did eat and drink at the

sixth and the twelfth hours, and likewise we eat and drank ere we slept,

and again upon our wakings; and our slumber-time to go alway somewheres

about eight good hours; for thus did I be heedful that we have all our

strength for that dreadness of the journey, which did be yet before us,

across the fear and horrid terror of the Night Land.

And oft, at this time and that, I was utter sickened and a-wearied of

reaching forward and upward forever, and making blind fumblings that I

find a way about great boulders and the rocks and holes that did be in

our path in the dark; for it to seem that we went lost from all life and

knowing, in a blackness that should be never slackened from about us.

And I, these times, to make a pause, and to call softly unto Mine Own

that she creep up nigh unto me; and I then to take her into mine arms,

out of the utter blackness of that night. And so to give and to have

comfort.

And surely, Mine Own did whisper once unto me, that she did be stunned

with love and wonder in the heart; for she to never cease to know that I

did adventure through this great night, that I find her. And this thing

did make me very warm in my heart, as you shall think; but yet I to stop

her speech with a gentle kiss; and she then to know that she be dumb

concerning her thought in this matter; yet she never to cease from

remembering it, and did be the more stirred with the trouble of her

lovely secret worship; for, in verity, she to have me to be for her

hero; and this to make me in the same moment both something shamed and

greatly proud.

And so we to be together, and after such pause, to go forward again,

with a new courage.

And surely it did be a great comfort to me to think that, because we to

go upward and not downward, we be not like to fall over any hid cliff in

the night; for I to have now some little knowing of the Slope, from mine

outward journey; yet to remember upon that monstrous pit that I then to

escape, and so to go with care.

And, indeed, upon the second day, I had Mine Own to creep more nigh with

me, and I then to have but one strap between us, and the other I set a

stone into, and did cast the stone alway before us, as upon the outward

way. And you to mind you of this, if you but to think a little minute.

And oft in those weary days in the Darkness, did I make gentle

whisperings through the blackness, unto Mine Own, that I give cheer unto

her; and she alway to answer, very sweet and loving; yet ever husht, as

I did be; and in verity, it did be as that we could not set our voices

loud upon that Mighty Slope, lest some enchantment come upon us, as it

might be said. And, indeed, each time that I cast the stone, the noise

of the stone to make a little trouble and dismalness in mine ears; for

all did be so quiet and desolate and lost in night, that it to make us

to need to be likewise so quiet, and to desire that we might go upward

so silent as shadows.

Now, surely, I must tell here how that the Maid to have alway at waking

that same awaredness that I did have upon the Outward Way, that somewhat

did be nigh to us, and to seem to have been concerned with our waking;

and I likewise to have also the same knowledge, as before. And oft as we

did go, I to feel that somewhat did go near to us. And this to put

something of a fear upon me, because that I was ever anxious for Mine

Own; and I to have her to be alway the more nigh to me, and did set the

strap from her to me, even when that she slept; so that she not to be

touched, and I to lack to know. Yet she to have no fear concerning this

thing; but to feel in her spirit that it did be a force that had no evil

intent unto us; but more, neither she nor I to know; and I, in truth, to

come in the end used to it; save that I did be, as I have told, anxious

in all that did concern the life and well-being of My Beloved.

And so did we go onward through those eight days.

And it soon to be grown cold, so that we both to need the cloak over us

in our slumbers; but in the journey-hours to need naught; for the

upward-going did surely heat us very well.

And there also to be come presently a change and a seeming of thinness

into the air; and the Maid to remark upon this, and likewise that the

water-powder now to be that it not to fizz so plentiful.

And we went upward, as it did seem forever, and journeyed very husht

and steadfast; and likewise did halt at set times, that we eat and

drink; and did alway sit then very close and quiet and in love. And so

alway to go never beyond sixteen hours' journey each day, and very

weariful even so much; for it to be a sore and constant labour of

climbing.

And I to learn the hour alway, by a little shining of the Diskos upon my

time-dial, which I have told did be somewise as the watch of this our

present Age. Yet, truly, I also to learn that I made somewhat of a

constant number of forward-throws of the stone in an hour; and the Maid

to be the first to discover this, as she did creep behind me and harked

steadfast and quiet unto the clatter of the stone, each time that I cast

it. And she sometimes to call low to me that it now to be this time or

that time; and I to look at my Dial, as I have told, and oft to find

that she did be curiously right.

Yet otherwhiles, we to have no thought to count; but made a constant

husht talk one to the other; and did grow odd times, that it did seem to

us that we did be two spirits there in an Everlasting Darkness, that had

quiet speech one to the other, and to be seeming gone from our bodies.

And we then to need that we look each at the other, that we know truly

that we yet to live and to be indeed with the Beloved. And I then alway

to make the Diskos spin a little, yet something more than when I should

see the hour; and, in verity, our faces then to show pale and strange

seeming in that luminous glowing of the great weapon in the Darkness;

and we to look very eager and an hungered of love, each at the other;

and so to need that we be held loving by the Beloved, and so to have

comfort and assuredness; and afterward to have peace to go onward again.

And it did be one such time as these, that Mine Own to give me a love

name she had called me in those olden days of this Age; and which

surely I had not heard since Mirdath died. And, in verity, you to have

dear understanding with me, how that I then to be all troubled with

vague troubles and ghostly love-aches in the heart; and likewise, I did

be all set about in a moment by the olden enchantment and speechless

glamour that did be so long hid and lost in the Spaces of Memory, where

surely the spirit doth wander such oddwhiles, husht unto a dumb

tearlessness and to know in the same moment both Agony and the voiceless

Glory and lost Delight of the Hath-Been; so that it doth be as that you

wandered in the spirit between the sorrowful pain of the Sunset, and the

Promise of the Dawn which doth be builded upon the Need and Hope of the

soul, and doth also to have an essence of pain within it; because that

these do be knit with Longing which doth be the essential pang of

Memory. And so, mayhap, you to have gone with me; for you to have also

strange thoughts that do come out of the years, and do hurt the heart,

even whilst that the heart doth hunger of that which doth so pain. Yet,

truly, Mine Own did be now with me, as you do know so that I had joy

all about my heart; yet did all the years of my lost delights and of my

pain, be in the spaces of my memory, and Mine Own now to have stirred

all; so that no words that did be ever shaped of man should help me to

have ease in speech.

And Mine Own Maid to know how it did be with me; and she to have said

the thing, scarce wotting, even as her spirit did set it through her

lips; and she before then to have forgot so utter as I; and now she to

be stirred likewise with me; so that, in verity, we to hold hands in the

great Darkness upon the Slope, and to wait till the pain and strange

trouble did go somewhat from our hearts; and we to have power again to

know truly that we did be again together in sweet verity, after a mighty

Eternity.

And thus did we go, and even in that strange Night to have an

everlasting coming together; so that surely our two spirits to be nigh

made one, somewise; and this to be that sweet and holy thing which I do

name Love; and it to be my glory and Astonishment that Love hath come

unto me. And with you that have love, I am as a Brother in holy delight;

but with all that have not known Love, or to have missed Love, I am a

Mourner, and my heart to pray that they to know this Wonder, ere they

die; for else shall they die so green and bitter as they be born, and to

have grown nowise unto Ripeness, which doth be Charity--the end of life

and the Crown of Humanity.

And surely I to go forward again now with my telling. And you to know

that on the eighth day upon the Slope, about the end of the ninth hour,

there to be an upward seeming of light, afar before us in the Darkness,

and did show as a dull and vague sheen above us in the night. And truly,

I to know that we did be come at last a-near unto the Night Land.

And we went upward then very eager through the dark; and the dim shine

did grow, ever; so that we soon to see it very plain, as a looming of

light afar upward. And we ever to climb and to go onward. And lo! in the

fourteenth hour of that day, we came up slowly out of the Night upon the

Slope, and stood at the ending of that strange road Where The Silent

Ones Walk.

And surely it did be as that I was come home, and to have set my feet

again upon familiar Lands; and this to bring to you how far off I did

seem to have gone; and now to be come again to a Known Place.

And we went upward upon the Road, until that we did truly have topt the

Slope, and at last to look out over all the wonder and mystery of that

Land. And I never to be rid of the utter gladness of knowing that I was

come there again, after so strange a journey, and that Mine Own had I

brought with me, out of all the unknown world. Yet, truly, I also never

to have forgetting that this familiar Land of Strangeness did be the

last test and the greatest dreadfulness of our journey; and anxiousness

did hang upon me; for I now to have to take the preciousness of Mine Own

among and beyond all that Danger of Horrid Forces and of Monstrous

Things and Beast Men, and the like.

And truly, I did be like to trouble.

And, in verity, I did stare with a fierce eagerness unto the far-off

place in the middle part of the Night Land, where did be the Mighty

Pyramid; and surely it there to shine in the midst of the land, and did

be mine Home, where never had I dared hope I should return. And I set

mine arm very swift and eager about the Maid, and pointed, so that she

see quickly the wonder and safe Mightiness of that which did be our

Refuge for all our life to come, if but that we to win unto it. And the

Maid to look with a great and earnest soberness and a lovely gladness

and utter soul and heart interest, unto that Place that bare me, and

where I to have come from, and now to take her.

And long and long she lookt; and sudden came round unto me, and set her

arms quick about my neck, and burst unto a strange and happy weeping.

And I to hold her gentle to me, and let her cry very natural, until that

she was something unpent.

And lo! when that she was eased, she to stand close beside me, and to

look again unto the Mighty Pyramid; and afterward, as she to steady, she

to ask an hundred questions, so utter eager and so to thrill with joy

and excitement, as that she did be a glad child. And an hundred

questions I answered, and showed her new things and Wonders uncounted.

And of all strangeness that she then to see, there did none so to shake

her in the spirit with terror as did that dreadful and Horrid House,

which did be the House of Silence. And it was as that her very being did

know and be repulsed of some Horror that did concern and be in that

House; so that she to want to hide in the bushes that did be anigh to

the Road; and truly, I to think this wise, and to remember and to be

ware suddenly that we did be indeed come now into the Power of

Monstrosity which did be utter and forever abroad in that Land.

And surely, we went then in among the bushes that did grow clumpt upon

the side of the Road, as you to remember; and afterward, I calmed this

new fear that had come so quick upon Mine Own; and she then to peer

forth with me from the bushes, and to have renewed sight over the Land.

And the House of Silence to stand upon that low hill of which you do

know; and did not be a very great way off, somewise toward the right.

Yet, as you shall have remembering, it did take me some long and bitter

hours upon mine outward way, ere I did be come from under the shadow of

it, as we do say, unto the top-part of the Mighty Slope.

But this to have been in the main, because of the utter care that I did

need to bring me safe past the House; for I to have gone long and weary

upon my hands and knees among the bushes, as you remember; and oft to

pause, and to be so still as Death, lest that the Power of the House to

have become aware of my passing. And truly, we to need again so utter a

care, when that we make to go past, unto our Mighty Home; and this to be

heavy upon my heart, and I to be in the same moment anxious that we have

haste to the trial, and yet very willing, if it might be, that we not

make it forever.

And, indeed, after that we had peered a good while from the bushes, I to

consider that we do well to eat now, and afterward to have a safe place

for our slumber, so that we go fresh to the horrid dangers and

dreadfulness that did be before us upon our way.

And we then to look about, and soon to find a great boulder that did be

set with the bushes. And we made our place for sleep against the

boulder, and the bushes went all around, so that we did be complete hid.

And, in verity, we to be very cold, as we had been those two past days,

whilst that we made toward the top of the Mighty Slope. And now we to

have the full chill of the Night Land, and did be very glad to have the

cloak, so that we eat and drank whilst that we sat together, and the

cloak round us. And afterward, the Maid set the cloak about us for our

sleep; and we then to kiss very sober, and I with anxiousness in the

heart; but she with less, because she to have rest in me.

And so we lay down to our sleep, and the Diskos ready in my hand; and my

spirit wakeful against any terror that should come anigh to us in our

slumber; and the Maid I warned to be likewise wary.

And surely we slept and waked, and there had gone eight good hours, and

naught was come anigh to us to harm us. And we eat and drank, and did

hark oft, and lookt out from among the bushes; but there did be naught

abroad to set dread upon our spirits; and so we did be more content, and

well rest and a-ready for the further journeying.

Now I had the Maid to wear the cloak, because of the chill of the Land;

but she in the first to refuse, save I also to have it in my turn; but

truly, I did feel that it should smother me, and that I need all my

freedom of my body, lest there come any thing sudden upon us; and all

this I showed Mine Own, and also that we should have weary work, and to

creep much, so that I should be warm by my labour of going, and she

likewise, mayhap. And she then to consent, because she saw that I did be

earnest and to burn with anxiousness; yet had me to promise that I take

the cloak, if that the chill of the Land gat me anywise bitter.

Now we made a pause, when that we have our gear upon us, and we lookt

well out over the Land; and surely alway our eyes did gaze in the ending

upon that far Wonder of Light and Safeness, which did be the Mighty

Pyramid; and I to be never ceased from telling Mine Own this thing and

that thing concerning the Great Refuge; and she to be constant stunned

unto silence and delight of wonder, and anon shaken unto a multitude of

questionings, so that truly we did be as that we never to have done

making known one unto the other.

Now, as you have knowledge, the House of Silence stood upon a low hill,

and the Road did bend about the bottom of the hill; and this way did I

come, when that I was on mine outward way.

Yet now there to be a new plan of journeying come into my mind; for, as

you do remember, I did take somewise of eleven great days from the

Pyramid unto the top-part of the Mighty Slope, because that I had gone

diversely and round about to the North-West of the Plain of Blue Fire.

And surely, as now I lookt, it did seem that we should try a short

passage, and thereby be come free out of all danger in but a space of

four or five days, if only we to succeed. And I stood a good while very

husht and anxious, and did consider this new way, and did presently

point it out to the Maid, how that we saw the Mighty Redoubt straight to

the back of the low hill where stood the House of Silence, and mayhap we

might chance to find a safe going that way, and that I did ponder

thatwise. For, indeed, as you do know, we must go nigh past the House,

even did we return by the long journeying, and this to be because that

the bushes did make a cover only near to the Road, and all to be a

country of bare rock beyond the bushes on that side of the Road, which

did be to the North and West.

Now, presently, I had formed my intention regarding our way, and told

all to Mine Own, and how that we to have alway an utter caution; and the

danger I made so plain to her as I did know it, and she then to beware

in her heart the need there to be of care and wiseness forever, as we

did go. And we then to make forward into the Night Land, and to be gone

from the top-part of that great deep, in which there to be hid strange

lands, as you do know. And surely, it to be like that none should ever

to go that way again for an eternity, or maybe forever.

And so went we forward, with a new caution.

And we came out from among the bushes upon the North-West of the Road,

and crost unto the Eastward side; and here the bushes to grow very

plentiful, so that I led on with a cheerfulness of hope within my heart.

And alway I went so far to the South-East as the bushes would give us

their cover, and this way I made that we should scarce to pass within a

great mile of the dread and horrid House; though, in verity, this to be

most dreadful close.

And we walked then for six hours, and went sometimes creeping, and oft

stoopt, and ever with a great caution.

And in the sixth hour we made a rest, and eat and drank, and afterward

went forward again.

And in the tenth hour were we come something nigh unto the House; for

truly, we to be off from the Road Where The Silent Ones Walk, and so to

go more straightly, and alway to save distance. And we kept so far

outward from the House as we might; but could pass it not more than a

great mile off, because that the bushes did have their margin near upon

our left, as we went; and there to be barenness of rock beyond; and

fire-holes in this part and that amid the starkness of the rocky spaces,

that should be like to show us very plain, if that we came outward from

the bushes.

And moreover, there went upward into the everlasting night one of those

Towers of Silence, which did be in this part and that part of the land,

and were thought to hold Strange Watchers. And the Tower stood great and

monstrous afar off in the midst of the naked rocks, showing very grey

and dim, save when the flare of some great fire did beat upward in the

Land, and sent huge and monstrous lights upon it. And we to have need

alway now to remember this Tower, and to keep the more so to the

sheltered hiding of the bushes. Yet, in verity, we to have little

thought of aught, save of the grim and threatening terror and

monstrousness which did stand forever upon that low hill, and did be the

House of Silence.

And in the eleventh hour, we did go creeping from bush unto bush, and

did be as shadows that went in the mixt greyness and odd shinings of

that Land. And the grim and dreadful House did be now unto our right,

and did loom huge and utter silent above us in the night. And the lights

of the House did shine steadfast and deathless with a noiseless shining,

as that they shone out of the quiet of some drear and unnatural

Eternity. And there did a seeming of Unholiness to brood in the air, and

a sense of all and deathly Knowledge; so that, surely, our hiding did

seem but a futile thing unto our spirits; for it was to us as that we

did be watched quiet and alway by a Power, as we slipt gentle from bush

unto bush.

And when the twelfth hour did be nigh, we to begin to draw clear of the

House; and surely there to come somewhat of ease into my brain and

heart; for it did be as that we should come clear of all harm.

And I turned to the Maid, that I whisper gentle and loving encouragement

unto her. And lo! in that moment, Mine Own gave out a sudden low

sobbing, and was gone still upon the earth. And, truly, my heart did

seem to die in me; for I knew that there did be directed a Force out of

the House of Silence, which did be aimed unto the Spirit of Mine Own

Maid. And I caught the Maid instant into mine arms, and I set my body

between her body and the dreadness of the House; and surely, my spirit

to perceive that there beat out at her a dreadful Force, which did have

in it an utter Silence and a bleakness of Desolation. And lo! I saw in a

moment that the Force had no power to slay me; but did surely make to

slay the Maid. And I set my Spirit and my Will about her, for a shield,

if this might be, and I had her to mine arms as that she did be mine own

babe.

And I stood upright, for there did be no more use to hide; and I knew

that I must walk forever until that I have Mine Own to the Shelter of

the Mighty Refuge, or to walk until I die; for only with speed might I

save her from the dread and horrid Malice of that Force.

And I set free the Diskos from my hip, and had it in mine arms beside

the Maid, and I strode forward out of the bushes, and put forth my

strength that I journey with an utter speed. And ever my Spirit did know

of that monstrous Force which did be direct upon us, to the Destruction

of Mine Own Maid.

And odd whiles, as I walkt, I called Mine Own by her olden love name,

and by the new name of Naani; but never did she move or seem even that

she lived; and surely my heart sickened within me with a mighty despair,

so that a constant madness did begin to thrill in me and to make me

something monstrous in strength, with my fierce agony and intentness to

save. And one hope only had I, that I bring her yet living into the

Shelter of the Mighty Refuge; and so, swift, to the care of the Doctors.

And lo! I did strive to be wise in my despair; for I made a quick

halting soon, and I warmed a broth of the tablets and water upon a hot

rock, and strove that I set some of the broth between the closed lips of

Mine Own Maid; yet did it be useless, as I to have known before in my

heart. And alway I kept my body and my Will and my Spirit and my Love

between the Maid and the dreadfulness of the House. And I made some of

the water, and dasht it upon the face of Mine Own, and I chafed her

hands; but truly it to have no use; neither did I truly to think it

should be like to.

And I wiped her face then, and harked to her dear heart; and surely it

did beat, very slow and husht. And afterward, I wrapt her in the cloak.

And I forced myself then that I eat some of the tablets, and I drank a

great lot of the water, for a fever did seem to burn in me, and moreover

I to mean that I lack not for strength to my task.

And I set my gear upon me very speedy, and I lifted Mine Own Beloved,

that did be now so husht, that once had been so merry and dearly

naughty. And surely, I nigh choked as the thought uprase in me; but I

set it back, and did but go the more furious. And surely no man did ever

go so fast and constant upon his feet, through an eternity; for I was

come again to my strength, and there did be a madness of intention and

despair upon me; and I went on forever.

And at each sixth hour when I stopt very brief to eat and to drink, I

made to bring Mine Own to her senses; yet she never to come, and alway

her heart to grow the more feeble; so that in the end I did utter fear

to hark; and did but set food and drink into me, and onward again with

an utter fierceness.

And why there came not any Sweet Power of Goodness to help me in my

strait, I never to know; but did call desperate upon all Good things to

aid me, as I went, to save Mine Own. But there naught to come; so that I

had grown into cursings, but that I did not to lose my wisdom to any

useless foolishness. And alway, as I went, I to see the Land blindly,

and oft vague and grey as that I did look at naught real, and again with

strange flashings of light, and the glare of fires; and anon to see the

Land as it did be, and all odd whiles to have now to me the feel of a

dread and monstrous dreaming.

And surely I sped forever through the dreadful hours, and went neither

to the right nor to the left, neither did I strive to hide in the bushes

nor to evade aught, for I knew that the Maid died slowly in mine arms,

and there to be no more gain in life, save by speed, that I have her

swift to the Mighty Pyramid to the care of the Doctors. And a great and

despairing madness grew ever within me.

And thrice I to have a vague memory that there came creatures at me,

from the dark of the Land; but surely I slew them with the Diskos, and

have no remembering thereof, only that mine anger did boil in me, and I

to know once that the Diskos did run blood in my hand.

And lo! there to come sudden unto my spirit the knowledge that the

aether of the world did be stirred. And, indeed, I did be surely sighted

by the great Millions of the Mighty Pyramid. And they to have seen me

come forward into the sight of the spy-glasses, and that I did bring a

maid in mine arms out of all the night of the world.

And truly, as I did after learn, the dear Master Monstruwacan had

discovered me great hours before; for there had been a steadfast watch

kept in the Tower of Observation for my returning, if that ever I should

return; and the might of the Great Spy-Glass had shown me plain a good

while gone, and that I did carry somewhat, that was surely the maid that

I did go to find. Yet had the Master given an order that no word be set

abroad to the Peoples, of this discovering, lest that the emotions of

the Millions to tell overmuch unto the evil Powers of the Land. But now

had the Millions also come unto knowledge; for many had ceased not to

watch through their spy-glasses, and the news to travel very speedy

through the cities; and surely now there did be a constant spiritual

noise in the night, to be heard only of the Spirit, yet to suffice to

wake and to warn all that Land.

And truly, as I after to learn, the Master Monstruwacan did know by the

instruments that there came a force out of the House of Silence, and

this to trouble him greatly; so that he set the word through the

Pyramid, by the Hour-Slips, that all the Peoples strive to contain their

emotion, lest they bring an Harm and a Destruction upon me, by warning

the Land with the greatness of their feelings.

Yet, in verily, this did be useless; for the Peoples did be very human,

and could nowise check their gladness and great wonder and excitement;

for it was to them so great a wonder almost as we should suffer if that

a man in this Age should go beyond Death in search of his Beloved; and

afterward to come backward unto the Living; and, surely, in such case,

how mighty should be our amazement; and this to be somewise how they did

be; yet with it also a sweet and natural gladness and strong welcoming,

which doth be the true beat of the Human Heart unto the Wanderer.

And presently, and through all the time that I came forward across the

Land, there did be mayhaps an hundred million that did never cease to

watch me from the embrasures, from the View-Tables, and from all

vantages. Yet, for a long while, only they which possessed strong

spying-glasses did be abled to see me truly, for I was a great way off.

And millions did but stare vainly unto that part where I was said to be;

and the Hour-Slips to come out four times in the hour, and to tell aught

that did be known. And so shall you perceive that Humanity did but have

grown the more Human.

And, in verity, I went forward with all my strength, and did drive

heedless through the miles and the night, and scarce conscious of aught,

because of the aching madness of despair that did grow ever within me;

for I knew that Mine Own Maid died alway in mine arms, as I did carry

her.

And later, a monstrous space of hours it to seem, I knew that I was come

to that part of the Road, where it did bend somewhat unto the Vale Of

Red Fire; and this did be something anigh to that wilderness where the

Youths did fight with the giant-men.

And I came over the Road, and urged my body utter furious across the

Land. And, surely, in that moment when I cross the Road, great numbers

of the Millions did see me, that had not seen before. And there went a

shaking in the aether of the World, because of the sudden emotion of so

mighty a Multitude; and lo! it did be as that in that moment the Land

was at last waked; for there came from far away unto the Eastward, a

faint and dreadful laughter, as that a monstrous Being laught unto

Itself in some lost and dreadful country. And the Laughter passed over

the Land, and did echo strangely, as it did seem, in this part and that

part, and presently to go rolling round in the far and hid West Lands,

and to be as that it wandered awhile amid the far mountains of the Outer

Lands, and was presently lost from my hearing.

And my heart chilled a little maybe; but yet did I not care over-much;

for I to lack all if that I lackt Death, if that I not to be given power

to save Mine Own. Yet did I make a little pause, so that I gat the knife

from the belt of the Maid, and did also to bare the Capsule; for if that

there came a Destruction upon us, I to make instant sure that Mine Own

Maid be safe unto death, and I then to go quickly with the Capsule.

And afterward I again upon my way.

And ever upon each sixth hour I did stop that I eat and drink, and did

onward again, even as a machine; for I commanded myself to this duty of

victual, that I lack not my strength unto the saving of the Maid. Yet,

truly, I did seem to choke alway as I strove with the tablets.

And lo! ever as I went forward did the Land awake; and my spirit to know

that Great Forces did be abroad, restless. And the Monsters to begin

wild roamings, because that they also to know of the Unrest that did be

come into the Land. And there to go presently odd roarings across the

Land, from night unto night. And I to go forward the more desperate, and

to step neither to the right nor to the left; but to make direct unto my

Mighty Home.

And the Vale of Red Fire did be soon afar off unto my right, and the

bulk of the Watcher of the North-East to be somewise unto my left,

before me; and the great back to be toward me. And truly, I lookt at the

Brute-Force, and it did be as that I drew nigh unto a Mountain of

Watchfulness; and above it in the everlasting night did be the blue

shining of the luminous ring, and the ring shed a light downward over

the Monster-Force; and the shoulders did be huge and humpt, even as two

small hills, and it lookt forever from me through eternity unto the

Pyramid. And this to be plain, though I did be a great way off from it.

And sudden, as I went, there came Somewhat out of a bush unto my left,

and rose up at me, very long and tall; and surely it did be some kind of

a man, and came at me. And my fury and my despair came inward upon me in

a moment, so that I troubled not to set down the Maid, but leaped at the

thing, where it did be yet half hid in the dark. And lo! it died in

pieces, and the Diskos did roar to content my heart an instant. And I

then onward again the more savage, so that my heart did be a dreadful

thing within me.

And a great while I went then, and do have a vague remembering that this

time and that there came things at me from out of the dark; but surely

they to have died very speedy, that I not to remember more.

And the hours did pass in spaces of time that did be made of terror and

numbness and an utter and evergrowing fury of despair. And I did be at

last as that I did burn inward with a grim and dreadful energy, and to

seem to grow the less tired, and to come over the Land with a stronger

ease and somewhat as that I did desire things to come unto me, that I

have something to ease my heart; for lo! Mine Own Maid did be dying in

mine arms as I carried her; and I to be in a bleak and sickened dread,

so that I lacked all courage now to listen unto her heart, as I have

told; and went burning, and dry and hot in the eyes.

And ever there sounded the roarings across the Land; and there did be

added presently lower and more horrid and dread noises. And later I

heard a far thudding of the earth; and in a little there went past me a

great Man, running so heavy that he did make a shaking as he past me;

yet, in verity, by a sweet mercy, he saw me not, and was gone onward in

a moment and lost utter into the night. And the aether of the world to

be full of the trouble of the Peoples, as the Man past me; and afterward

there to be a stirring of glad thankfulness. And truly, alway my spirit

did know strangely as in a dream, that the Millions set their sympathy

and pity and help about me, and did girt me about with Human love and

with encouragement and with uplifted thoughts. Yet, in verity, did all

be as water beside the fierce wine of my love and despair, which did

urge me onward in a natural lacking of all dread, save for Mine Own. And

truly this doth be the way of Love, and shall make fearless the heart of

the weakest. And there to be prayers in the night, and all the aether to

be surged with the spiritual trouble and callings and cryings of the

Millions; so that, indeed, if that my spirit so to hear these things, it

to be conceived that these do pass outward into the Everlasting, and to

break upon the Shore of Eternity in an anguish, even as a visible foam

of supplication.

And surely the unity of love of the Millions did make a natural Force

about me; for, in verity, the Force that did come from the House to seem

to be somewhat eased from the Maid; yet there to be no surety in this;

for all did be desperation and turmoil in my heart, and I to have but

one thought in my brain, that I bring Mine Own swift across the Land

unto the Mighty Pyramid, and so unto the Doctors.

And lo! there stole presently from afar the deep and dreadful baying of

the Hounds; so that I knew we did be surely dead, save that a miracle

should happen. And I askt in my heart in a fierce and mad fashion why

that they did not to rig one of the olden shooting weapons, that they

shoot from the Pyramid, and so to give me some aid in mine extremity.

And behold, even as I did be so bitter, there went afar upward in the

everlasting night, where did shine the Last Light, the sharp flashings

of the Set Speech; and I did warm in my heart a little with hope; for

the Master Monstruwacan did see that I was now all discovered, and there

to be no more use for silence, and did speak straight and helpful unto

me. And I made to read the Set Speech, but mine eyes had been mad and

near blinded with lost hope. But in a moment I saw clear. And behold,

the dear Master Monstruwacan bid me to keep good my courage, for that

they did have made ready three of the olden weapons; and moreover, they

to save me, even if that they have to turn loose the Earth-Current over

the Land. And he commended me with Honour, and that I strive forward yet

a little while; for that an Hundred Thousand Men did be Prepared, and

did even then go downward in their armour by the Lifts.

And surely, as you shall think, my heart eased a little in me, and there

burned somewhat of a hope in my spirit that I yet to bring Mine Own

unto the Doctors, ere it be too late.

And the baying of the Hounds did grow nearer in the night; and there to

grow ever the roarings over the Land; and a sense of Evil and

monstrousness to be abroad in all the night.

And lo! I to have come by this so that the Watcher of the North-East did

be backward upon my left; and I lookt keen and fearful now at the

Monster-Force; and behold, the great bell-ear did quiver continually, so

that I saw the Monster made somewhat known unto all the Land. And the

Monster did look as ever, unto the Pyramid; and did be a great and

silent Hill of Life that did lean toward the Pyramid; and the light from

the Ring came downward upon the monstrous hide, which did be set in vast

folds and wrinkles upon it. And the Monster to know of me; yet never to

move, neither to show life, save that the ear did quiver so horridly.

And I knew that they made some great preparation in the Pyramid for our

defence; for all the night did begin now to shake and to quiver with the

mighty beat of the Earth-Current.