he deed is
done I'll speak with you and you shall choose, Strangers, whether you
will die your own masters, or live on to serve me. Now there is one
problem that is left to me to solve--whether I can save a certain
land--do not ask which it is, Humphrey, though I see the question in
your eyes--or must let it go with the rest. I only answer you that
I will do my best because you love it. So farewell for a while, and,
Preacher, be advised by me and do not aim too high again."

"It doesn't matter where I aim," answered Bastin sturdily, "or whether
I hit or miss, since there is something much bigger than me waiting to
deal with you. The countries that you think you are going to destroy
will sleep quite as well tomorrow as they do tonight, Oro."

"Much better, I think, Preacher, since by then they will have left
sorrow and pain and wickedness and war far behind them."

"Where are we to go?" I asked.

"The Lady Yva will show you," he answered, waving his hand, and once
more bent over his endless calculations.

Yva beckoned to us and we turned and followed her down the hall. She led
us to a street near the gateway of the temple and thence into one of the
houses. There was a portico to it leading to a court out of which opened
rooms somewhat in the Pompeian fashion. We did not enter the rooms, for
at the end of the court were a metal table and three couches also of
metal, on which were spread rich-looking rugs. Whence these came I do
not know and never asked, but I remember that they were very beautiful
and soft as velvet.

"Here you may sleep," she said, "if sleep you can, and eat of the food
that you have brought with you. Tomorrow early I will call you when it
is time for us to start upon our journey into the bowels of the earth."

"I don't want to go any deeper than we are," said Bastin doubtfully.

"I think that none of us want to go, Bastin," she answered with a sigh.
"Yet go we must. I pray of you, anger the Lord Oro no more on this or
any other matter. In your folly you tried to kill him, and as it chanced
he bore it well because he loves courage. But another time he may strike
back, and then, Bastin--"

"I am not afraid of him," he answered, "but I do not like tunnels.
Still, perhaps it would be better to accompany you than to be left in
this place alone. Now I will unpack the food."

Yva turned to go.

"I must leave you," she said, "since my father needs my help. The matter
has to do with the Force that h