Here, before the golden doors on which the lightning glimmered fitfully,
we descended and were led by white-robed men bearing lanterns, through
various courts to the inner sanctuary of the god, on the threshold of
which I crossed myself, not loving the company of heathen idols. So far
as I could see by the lamplight it was a great and glorious place, and
everywhere that the eye fell was gold--places of gold on the walls,
offerings of gold upon the floor, stars of gold upon the roof. The
strange thing about this holy place, however, was that it seemed to be
quite empty except for the aforesaid gold. There was neither altar nor
image--nothing but a lamp-lit void.

Here all prostrated themselves, save I alone, and prayed in silence.
When they rose again, in a whisper I asked of Kari where was the god.
To which he answered: "Nowhere, yet everywhere." This I thought a true
saying, and indeed so solemn was that place that I felt as though I were
surrounded by that which is divine.

After a while the priests, who were gorgeously apparelled, led us across
the sanctuary to a door that opened upon some stairs. Down these stairs
we went into a long passage that seemed to run beneath the earth, for
the air in it was heavy. When we had walked a hundred paces or more
in this narrow place, we came to other steps and another door, passing
through which we found ourselves in a second temple, smaller than that
which we had visited, but like to it rich with gold. In the centre of
this temple sat the image of a man rudely fashioned of gold.

"Behold Rimac the Speaker!" whispered Kari.

"How can gold speak?" I asked.

Kari made no answer.

Presently the priests began to mutter prayers and incantations that I
thought unholy, after which they laid offerings of what looked like
raw flesh set in cups of gold before the idol, that I thought unholier
still. Lastly they drew back and asked of what we would learn.

I made no answer who did not like the business. Nor did Kari say
anything, but Quilla spoke out boldly, saying that we would learn of the
future and what would befall us.

Now there was a long silence, and I confess that fear got hold of me,
for it seemed to me as though spirits were moving in the air and through
the darkness behind us--yes, as though I could hear their whisperings
and the rustle of their wings. Suddenly, at the end of this silence, the
golden image in front of us began to glow as though it were molten, and