Part 47 (1/2)
When I heard this I was overwhelmed and could not answer Also I remembered a certain confused picture which Yva had shown to us in the Temple of Nyo But supported by his disbelief, Bickley asked:
”And how often does the balance of which you speak come this way, Lord Oro?”
”Once only in many years; the number is my secret, Bickley,” he replied
”Then there is every reason to hope that it will not trouble us,”
remarked Bickley with a suspicion of mockery in his voice
”Do you think so, you learned Bickley?” asked Oro ”If so, I do not
Unless one awry, that Traveller of which I tell should presently be with us Hearken now! What is that sound we hear?”
As he spoke there reached our ears the first, far-off murmurs of a dreadful music I cannot describe it in words because that is i like to the buzz of a thousand hu-tops such as are loved by children because of their weird song
”Back to the wall!” cried Oro triumphantly ”The ti a while behind and overtaking us with long, deterht, now and again glanced at my face with a look that was half anxious and half pitiful Also twice she stooped and patted Toh not quite at the spot whence we had started to exarooved roads At least I think this was so, since now for the first time I observed a kind of littlein its rocky face It stood about five feet from its floor level, and was perhaps ten inches square, not more In short, except for its shape it resembled a shi+p's porthole rather than aIts substance appeared to be talc, or soh it, after Oro had cast aside soht In fact it was a search-light so far as concerned one of its purposes
By thisor porthole lay a pile of cloaks, also four objects which looked like Zulu battle shi+elds cut in some unknown metal or material
Very deftly, very quietly, Yva lifted these cloaks and wrapped one of them about each of us, and while she was thus employed I noticed that they were of a substance very siown she wore, which I have described, but harder Next she gave one of theus hold theh certain slits in them in which were eyepieces that appeared to be of the sahtFurther, she coainst the rock wall, at certain spots which she indicated with great precision, and whateveror heard on no account to move
So there we stood, Bickley next to me, and beyond him Bastin Then Yva took the fourth shi+eld, as I noted a er one than ours, and placed herself between ht or porthole On the other side of this was Oro who had no shi+eld
These arrange that time occupied all our attention When they were coan to reassert theht hand upon what seeh stone rod, in shape not unlike that hich railway points are moved He shouted to us to stand still and keep the shi+elds over our faces Then very gently he pressed upon the lever The porthole sank the fraction of an inch, and instantly there leapt fro, which shot across the blackness in front and, as lightning does, revealed far, far away another wall, or rather cliff, like that against which we leant
”All works well,” exclai his hand froth which I have stored will benoise carew in volume
”I say,” said Bickley, ”as you know, I have been sceptical, but I don't like this business Oro, what are you going to do?”
”Sink half the world beneath the seas,” said Oro, ”and raise up that which I drowned o But as you do not believe that I have this power, Bickley, why do you ask such questions?”
”I believe that you have it, which hy I tried to shoot you yesterday,” said Bastin ”For your soul's sake I beg you to desist from an attempt which I am sure will not succeed, but which will certainly involve your eternal damnation, since the failure will be no fault of yours”
Then I spoke also, saying:
”I implore you, Lord Oro, to let this business be I do not know exactly how much or how little you can do, but I understand that your object is to slay men by millions in order to raise up another world of which you will be the absolute king, as you were of soency or otherwise No good can come of such ambitions Like Bastin, for your soul's sake I pray you to let them be”