"And it was you who taught it to her," he went on."You are guilty, all three of you, and therefore I am left with none to serve me in my age; therefore also my mighty schemes are overthrown.""Also, Oro, if you speak truth, therefore half the world is saved," I added quietly, "and one has left it of whom it was unworthy.""You think that these civilisations of yours, as you are pleased to call them, are saved, do you?" he sneered."Yet, even if Bickley were right and I should die and become powerless, Itell you that they are already damned.I have studied them in your books and seen them with my eyes, and I say that they are rotten before ever they are ripe, and that their end shall be the end of the Sons of Wisdom, to die for lack of increase.That is why I would have saved the East, because in it alone there is increase, and thence alone can rise the great last race of man which I would have given to your children for an heritage.
Moreover, think not that you Westerners have done with wars.Itell you that they are but begun and that the sword shall eat you up, and what the sword spares class shall snatch from class in the struggle for supremacy and ease."Thus he spoke with extraordinary and concentrated bitterness that I confess would have frightened me, had I been capable of fear, which at the moment I was not.Who is afraid when he has lost all?
Nor was Bastin alarmed, if for other reasons.
"I think it right to tell you, Oro," he said, "that the only future you need trouble about is your own.God Almighty will look after the western civilisations in whatever way He may think best, as you may remember He did just now.Only I am sure you won't be here to see how it is done."Again fury blazed in Oro's eyes.
"At least I will look after you, you half-bred dogs, who yap out ill-omened prophecies of death into my face.Since the three of you loved my daughter whom you brought to her doom, and were by her beloved, if differently, I think it best that you should follow on her road.How? That is the question? Shall I leave you to starve in these great caves?--Nay, look not towards the road of escape which doubtless she pointed out to you, for, as Humphrey knows, I can travel swiftly and I will make sure that you find it blocked.Or shall I--" and he glanced upwards at the great globes of wandering fire, as though he purposed to summon them to be our death, as doubtless he could have done.
"I do not care what you do," I answered wearily."Only I would beg you to strike quickly.Yet for my friends I am sorry, since it was I who led them on this quest, and for you, too, Tommy," Iadded, looking at the poor little hound."You were foolish, Tommy," I went on, "when you scented out that old tyrant in his coffin, at least for our own sake."Indeed the dog was terribly scared.He whined continually and from time to time ran a little way and then returned to us, suggesting that we should go from this horror-haunted spot.
Lastly, as though he understood that it was Oro who kept us there, he went to him and jumping up, licked his hand in a beseeching fashion.
The super-man looked at the dog and as he looked the rage went out of his face and was replaced by something resembling pity.
"I do not wish the beast to die," he muttered to himself in low reflective tones, as though he thought aloud, "for of them all it alone liked and did not fear me.I might take it with me but still it would perish of grief in the loneliness of the caves.Moreover, she loved it whom I shall see no more; yes, Yva--" as he spoke the name his voice broke a little."Yet if Isuffer them to escape they will tell my story to the world and make me a laughingstock.Well, if they do, what does it matter?
None of those Western fools would believe it; thinking that they knew all; like Bickley they would mock and say that they were mad, or liars."Again Tommy licked his hand, but more confidently, as though instinct told him something of what was passing in Oro's mind.Iwatched with an idle wonder, marvelling whether it were possible that this merciless being would after all spare us for the sake of the dog.
So, strange to say, it came about, for suddenly Oro looked up and said:
"Get you gone, and quickly, before my mood changes.The hound has saved you.For its sake I give you your lives, who otherwise should certainly have died.She who has gone pointed out to you, I doubt not, a road that runs to the upper air.I think that it is still open.Indeed," he added, closing his eyes for a moment, "I see that it is still open, if long and difficult.Follow it, and should you win through, take your boat and sail away as swiftly as you can.Whether you die or live I care nothing, but my hands will be clean of your blood, although yours are stained with Yva's.Begone! and my curse go with you."Without waiting for further words we went to fetch our lanterns, water-bottles and bag of food which we had laid down at a little distance.As we approached them I looked up and saw Oro standing some way off.The light from one of the blue globes of fire which passed close above his head, shone upon him and made him ghastly.Moreover, it seemed to me as though approaching death had written its name upon his malevolent countenance.
I turned my head away, for about his aspect in those sinister surroundings there was something horrible, something menacing and repellent to man and of him I wished to see no more.Nor indeed did I, for when I glanced in that direction again Oro was gone.Isuppose that he had retreated into the shadows where no light played.