ll. But for these two _human_ beings there within
possible reach, he must have closed his eyes and swooned.

For a tempest that seemed to toss loose stars about the sky swept round
about him, pouring up the pillared avenue in front of the procession. A
blast of giant energy, of liberty, came through. Forwards and backwards,
circling spirally about him like a whirlwind, came this revival of Life
that sought to dip itself once more in matter and in form. It came to
the accurate out-line of its form they had traced for it. He held his
mind steady enough to realise that it was akin to what men call a
"descent" of some "spiritual movement" that wakens a body of believers
into faith--a race, an entire nation; only that he experienced it in
this brief, concentrated form before it has scattered down into ten
thousand hearts. Here he knew its source and essence, behind the veil.
Crudely, unmanageable as yet, he felt it, rushing loose behind
appearances. There was this amazing impact of a twisting, swinging force
that stormed down as though it would bend and coil the very ribs of the
old stubborn hills. It sought to warm them with the stress of its own
irresistible life-stream, to beat them into shape, and make pliable
their obstinate resistance. Through all things the impulse poured and
spread, like fire at white heat.

Yet nothing visible came as yet, no alteration in the actual landscape,
no sign of change in things familiar to his eyes, while impetus thus
fought against inertia. He perceived nothing form-al. Calm and untouched
himself, he lay outside the circle of evocation, watching, waiting,
scarcely daring to breathe, yet well aware that any minute the scene
would transfer itself from memory that was subjective to matter that was
objective.

And then, in a flash, the bridge was built, and the transfer was
accomplished. How or where he did not see, he could not tell. It was
there before he knew it--there before his normal, earthly sight. He saw
it, as he saw the hands he was holding stupidly up to shield his face.
For this terrific release of force long held back, long stored up,
latent for centuries, came pouring down the empty Wadi bed prepared for
its reception. Through stones and sand and boulders it came in an
impetuous hurricane of power. The liberation of its life appalled him.
All that was free, untied, responded instantly like chaff; loose objects
fled towards it; there was a yielding in the hills and precipices;