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strange plaything； it is not necessary to kill me。 Let me return to the
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people I have left； and by the chasm through which I descended。 With a
slight help from you I 152might do so now。 You； by the aid of your
wings； could fasten to the rocky ledge within the chasm the cord that you
found； and have no doubt preserved。 Do but that； assist me but to the
spot from which I alighted； and I vanish from your world for ever； and as
surely as if I were among the dead。〃
〃The chasm through which you descended！ Look round； we stand
now on the very place where it yawned。 What see you？ Only solid
rock。 The chasm was closed； by the orders of Aph…Lin； as soon as
communication between him and yourself was established in your trance；
and he learned from your own lips the nature of the world from which you
came。 Do you not remember when Zee bade me not question you as to
yourself or your race？ On quitting you that day； Aph…Lin accosted me；
and said； 'No path between the stranger's home and ours should be left
unclosed； or the sorrow and evil of his home may descend to ours。 Take
with thee the children of thy band； smite the sides of the cavern with your
vril staves till the fall of their fragments fills up every chink through which
a gleam of our lamps could force its way。'〃
As the child spoke； I stared aghast at the blind rocks before me。
Huge and irregular； the granite masses； showing by charred discolouration
where they had been shattered； rose from footing to roof…top； not a cranny！
〃All hope； then； is gone；〃 I murmured； sinking down on the craggy
wayside； 〃and I shall nevermore see the sun。〃 I covered my face with my
hands； and prayed to Him whose presence I had so often forgotten when
the heavens had declared His handiwork。 I felt His presence in the
depths of the nether earth； and amidst the world of the grave。 I looked up；
taking comfort and courage from my prayers； and； gazing with a quiet
smile into the face of the child； said； 〃Now； if thou must slay me； strike。〃
Taee shook his head gently。 〃Nay；〃 he said； 〃my father's request is
not so formally made as to leave me no choice。 I will speak with him；
and may prevail to save thee。 Strange 153that thou shouldst have that
fear of death which we thought was only the instinct of the inferior
creatures； to whom the convictions of another life has not been vouchsafed。
With us； not an infant knows such a fear。 Tell me； my dear Tish；〃 he
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continued after a little pause； 〃would it reconcile thee more to departure
from this form of life to that form which lies on the other side of the
moment called 'death；' did I share thy journey？ If so； I will ask my father
whether it be allowable for me to go with thee。 I am one of our
generation destined to emigrate； when of age for it； to some regions
unknown within this world。 I would just as soon emigrate now to regions
unknown； in another world。 The All…Good is no less there than here。
Where is he not？〃
〃Child；〃 said I； seeing by Taee's countenance that he spoke in serious
earnest； 〃it is crime in thee to slay me； it were a crime not less in me to say；
'Slay thyself。' The All…Good chooses His own time to give us life； and his
own time to take it away。 Let us go back。 If； on speaking with thy
father； he decides on my death； give me the longest warning in thy power；
so that I may pass the interval in self…preparation。〃
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CHAPTER XXIX。
In the midst of those hours set apart for sleep and constituting the
night of the Vril…ya； I was awakened from the disturbed slumber into
which I had not long fallen； by a hand on my shoulder。 I started and
beheld Zee standing beside me。
154〃Hush；〃 she said in a whisper； let no one hear us。 Dost thou think
that I have ceased to watch over thy safety because I could not win thy
love？ I have seen Taee。 He has not prevailed with his father； who had
meanwhile conferred with the three sages who； in doubtful matters； he
takes into council； and by their advice he has ordained thee to perish when
the world re…awakens to life。 I will save thee。 Rise and dress。〃
Zee pointed to a table by the couch on which I saw the clothes I had
worn on quitting the upper world； and which I had exchanged
subsequently for the more picturesque garments of the Vril…ya。 The
young Gy then moved towards the casement and stepped into the balcony；
while hastily and wonderingly I donned my own habiliments。 When I
joined her on the balcony； her face was pale and rigid。 Taking me by the
hand； she said softly； 〃See how brightly the art of the Vril…ya has lighted
up the world in which they dwell。 To…morrow the world will be dark to
me。〃 She drew me back into the room without waiting for my answer；
thence into the corridor； from which we descended into the hall。 We
passed into the deserted streets and along the broad upward road which
wound beneath the rocks。 Here； where there is neither day nor night； the
Silent Hours are unutterably solemn… the vast space illumined by mortal
skill is so wholly without the sight and stir of mortal life。 Soft as were
our footsteps； their sounds vexed the ear； as out of harmony with the
universal repose。 I was aware in my own mind； though Zee said it not；
that she had decided to assist my return to the upper world； and that we
were bound towards the place from which I had descended。 Her silence
infected me and commanded mine。 And now we approached the chasm。
It had been re…opened； not presenting； indeed； the same aspect as when I
had emerged from it； but through that closed wall of rock before which I
had last stood with Taee； a new clift had been riven； and along its
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blackened sides still glimmered sparks and smouldered embers。 My
upward gaze could not； however； 155penetrate more than a few feet into
the darkness of the hollow void； and I stood dismayed； and wondering
how that grim ascent was to be made。
Zee divined my doubt。 〃Fear not；〃 said she； with a faint smile； 〃your
return is assured。 I began this work when the Silent Hours commenced；
and all else were asleep； believe that I did not paused till the path back
into thy world was clear。 I shall be with thee a little while yet。 We do