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>>>>> ├ONTINUED FROM ╨ART ╘WO <<<<< "╘HE ╟OLDEN ╦EY: ┴ ┬OY ┴ND ┴ ╟IRL ╔N ╘HE ╟ARDEN ╧F ┼DEN", ┬Y: ╟EORGE ═AC─ONALD. [╨┴╥╘ ╘╚╥┼┼: ├HAPTERS ╓╔╔╔ ╘HROUGH ╪ (╙TORY ┼ND) ╔NCLUSIVE.] ├HAPTER ╓╔╔╔: ╘HE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ┼ARTH 1176: ╙HE WENT DOWN THE WINDING-STAIR, 1177: TILL SHE BEGAN TO FEAR THERE WAS NO END 1178: TO IT. ╙TILL DOWN AND DOWN IT WENT, 1179: ROUGH AND BROKEN, WITH SPRINGS OF WATER 1180: BURSTING OUT OF THE ROCKS AND RUNNING 1181: DOWN THE STEPS BESIDE HER. ╔T WAS QUITE 1182: DARK ABOUT HER, AND YET SHE COULD SEE. 1183: ╞OR AFTER BEING IN THAT BATH, PEOPLE'S 1184: EYES ALWAYS GIVE OUT A LIGHT THEY CAN 1185: SEE BY. ╘HERE WERE NO CREEPING THINGS 1186: IN THE WAY. ┴LL WAS SAFE AND PLEASANT 1187: THOUGH SO DARK AND DAMP AND DEEP. 1188: ┴T LAST THERE WAS NOT ONE STEP 1189: MORE, AND SHE FOUND HERSELF IN A 1190: GLIMMERING CAVE. ╧N A STONE IN 1191: THE MIDDLE OF IT SAT A FIGURE WITH 1192: ITS BACK TOWARDS HER -- THE FIGURE OF 1193: AN OLD MAN BENT DOUBLE WITH AGE. ╞ROM 1194: BEHIND SHE COULD SEE HIS WHITE BEARD 1195: SPREAD OUT ON THE ROCKY FLOOR IN FRONT 1196: OF HIM. ╚E DID NOT MOVE AS SHE ENTERED, 1197: SO SHE PASSED ROUND THAT SHE MIGHT 1198: STAND BEFORE HIM AND SPEAK TO HIM. ╘HE 1199: MOMENT SHE LOOKED IN HIS FACE, SHE SAW 1200: THAT HE WAS A YOUTH OF MARVELLOUS 1201: BEAUTY. ╚E SAT ENTRANCED WITH THE 1202: DELIGHT OF WHAT HE BEHELD IN A MIRROR 1203: OF SOMETHING LIKE SILVER, WHICH LAY 1204: ON THE FLOOR AT HIS FEET, AND WHICH 1205: FROM BEHIND SHE HAD TAKEN FOR HIS 1206: WHITE BEARD. ╚E SAT ON, HEEDLESS OF 1207: HER PRESENCE, PALE WITH THE JOY OF 1208: HIS VISION. ╙HE STOOD AND WATCHED HIM. 1209: ┴T LENGTH, ALL TREMBLING, SHE SPOKE. 1210: ┬UT HER VOICE MADE NO SOUND. ┘ET THE 1211: YOUTH LIFTED UP HIS HEAD. ╚E SHOWED 1212: NO SURPRISE, HOWEVER, AT SEEING HER -- 1213: ONLY SMILED A WELCOME. 1214: "┴RE YOU THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE 1215: ┼ARTH?" ╘ANGLE HAD SAID. 1216: ┴ND THE YOUTH ANSWERED, AND 1217: ╘ANGLE HEARD HIM, THOUGH NOT WITH HER 1218: EARS: "╔ AM. ╫HAT CAN ╔ DO FOR YOU?" 1219: "╘ELL ME THE WAY TO THE COUNTRY 1220: WHENCE THE SHADOWS FALL." 1221: "┴H! ╘HAT ╔ DO NOT KNOW. ╔ ONLY 1222: DREAM ABOUT IT MYSELF. ╔ SEE ITS 1223: SHADOWS SOMETIMES IN MY MIRROR: THE 1224: WAY TO IT ╔ DO NOT KNOW. ┬UT ╔ THINK 1225: THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╞IRE MUST KNOW. 1226: ╚E IS MUCH OLDER THAN ╔ AM. ╚E IS 1227: THE OLDEST MAN OF ALL." 1228: "╫HERE DOES HE LIVE?" 1229: "╔ WILL SHOW YOU THE WAY TO HIS 1230: PLACE. ╔ NEVER SAW HIM MYSELF." 1231: ╙O SAYING, THE YOUNG MAN ROSE, 1232: AND THEN STOOD FOR A WHILE GAZING AT 1233: ╘ANGLE. 1234: "╔ WISH ╔ COULD SEE THAT COUNTRY 1235: TOO," HE SAID. "┬UT ╔ MUST MIND MY 1236: WORK." 1237: ╚E LED HER TO THE SIDE OF THE 1238: CAVE, AND TOLD HER TO LAY HER EAR 1239: AGAINST THE WALL. 1240: "╫HAT DO YOU HEAR?" HE ASKED. 1241: "╔ HEAR," ANSWERED ╘ANGLE, "THE 1242: SOUND OF A GREAT WATER RUNNING INSIDE 1243: THE ROCK." 1244: "╘HAT RIVER RUNS DOWN TO THE 1245: DWELLING OF THE OLDEST MAN OF ALL -- 1246: THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╞IRE. ╔ WISH ╔ COULD 1247: GO TO SEE HIM. ┬UT ╔ MUST MIND MY WORK. 1248: ╘HAT RIVER IS THE ONLY WAY TO HIM." 1249: ╘HEN THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ┼ARTH 1250: STOOPED OVER THE FLOOR OF THE CAVE, 1251: RAISED A HUGE STONE FROM IT, AND LEFT 1252: IT LEANING. ╔T DISCLOSED A GREAT HOLE 1253: THAT WENT PLUMB-DOWN. 1254: "╘HAT IS THE WAY," HE SAID. 1255: "┬UT THERE ARE NO STAIRS." 1256: "┘OU MUST THROW YOURSELF IN. 1257: ╘HERE IS NO OTHER WAY." 1258: ╙HE TURNED AND LOOKED HIM FULL 1259: IN THE FACE -- STOOD SO FOR A WHOLE 1260: MINUTE, AS SHE THOUGHT: IT WAS A 1261: WHOLE YEAR -- THEN THREW HERSELF 1262: HEADLONG INTO THE HOLE. ├HAPTER ╔╪: ╘HE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╞IRE 1263: ╫HEN SHE CAME TO HERSELF, SHE 1264: FOUND HERSELF GLIDING DOWN FAST AND 1265: DEEP. ╚ER HEAD WAS UNDER WATER, BUT 1266: THAT DID NOT SIGNIFY, FOR WHEN SHE 1267: THOUGHT ABOUT IT, SHE COULD NOT 1268: REMEMBER THAT SHE HAD BREATHED ONCE 1269: SINCE HER BATH IN THE CAVE OF THE ╧LD 1270: ═AN OF THE ╙EA. ╫HEN SHE LIFTED UP HER 1271: HEAD A SUDDEN AND FIERCE HEAT STRUCK 1272: HER, AND SHE SANK IT AGAIN INSTANTLY, 1273: AND WENT SWEEPING ON. 1274: ╟RADUALLY THE STREAM GREW 1275: SHALLOWER. ┴T LENGTH SHE COULD HARDLY 1276: KEEP HER HEAD UNDER. ╘HEN THE WATER 1277: COULD CARRY HER NO FARTHER. ╙HE ROSE 1278: FROM THE CHANNEL, AND WENT STEP FOR 1279: STEP DOWN THE BURNING DESCENT. ╘HE 1280: WATER CEASED ALTOGETHER. ╘HE HEAT 1281: WAS TERRIBLE. ╙HE FELT SCORCHED TO 1282: THE BONE, BUT IT DID NOT TOUCH HER 1283: STRENGTH. ╔T GREW HOTTER AND HOTTER. 1284: ╙HE SAID, "╔ CAN BEAR IT NO LONGER." 1285: ┘ET SHE WENT ON. 1286: ┴T THE LONG LAST, THE STAIR ENDED 1287: AT A RUDE ARCHWAY IN AN ALL BUT GLOWING 1288: ROCK. ╘HROUGH THIS ARCHWAY ╘ANGLE FELL 1289: EXHAUSTED INTO A COOL MOSSY CAVE. ╘HE 1290: FLOOR AND WALLS WERE COVERED WITH 1291: MOSS-GREEN, SOFT, AND DAMP. ┴ LITTLE 1292: STREAM SPOUTED FROM A RENT IN THE 1293: ROCK AND FELL INTO A BASIN OF MOSS. 1294: ╙HE PLUNGED HER FACE INTO IT AND DRANK. 1295: ╘HEN SHE LIFTED HER HEAD AND LOOKED 1296: AROUND. ╘HEN SHE ROSE AND LOOKED AGAIN. 1297: ╙HE SAW NO ONE IN THE CAVE. ┬UT THE 1298: MOMENT SHE STOOD UPRIGHT SHE HAD A 1299: MARVELLOUS SENSE THAT SHE WAS IN THE 1300: SECRET OF THE EARTH AND ALL ITS WAYS. 1301: ┼VERYTHING SHE HAD SEEN, OR LEARNED 1302: FROM BOOKS; ALL THAT HER GRANDMOTHER 1303: HAD SAID OR SUNG TO HER; ALL THE TALK 1304: OF THE BEASTS, BIRDS, AND FISHES; ALL 1305: THAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER ON HER JOURNEY 1306: WITH ═OSSY, AND SINCE THEN IN THE HEART 1307: OF THE EARTH WITH THE ╧LD MAN AND THE 1308: ╧LDER MAN -- ALL WAS PLAIN: SHE 1309: UNDERSTOOD IT ALL, AND SAW THAT 1310: EVERYTHING MEANT THE SAME THING, THOUGH 1311: SHE COULD NOT HAVE PUT IT INTO WORDS 1312: AGAIN. 1313: ╘HE NEXT MOMENT SHE DESCRIED, IN A 1314: CORNER OF THE CAVE, A LITTLE NAKED 1315: CHILD, SITTING ON THE MOSS. ╚E WAS 1316: PLAYING WITH BALLS OF VARIOUS COLOURS 1317: AND SIZES, WHICH HE DISPOSED IN STRANGE 1318: FIGURES UPON THE FLOOR BESIDE HIM. ┴ND 1319: NOW ╘ANGLE FELT THAT THERE WAS 1320: SOMETHING IN HER KNOWLEDGE WHICH WAS 1321: NOT IN HER UNDERSTANDING. ╞OR SHE KNEW 1322: THERE MUST BE AN INFINITE MEANING IN 1323: THE CHANGE AND SEQUENCE AND INDIVIDUAL 1324: FORMS OF THE FIGURES INTO WHICH THE 1325: CHILD ARRANGED THE BALLS, AS WELL AS 1326: IN THE VARIED HARMONIES OF THEIR 1327: COLOURS, BUT WHAT IT ALL MEANT SHE 1328: COULD NOT TELL. ╚E WENT ON BUSILY, 1329: TIRELESSLY, PLAYING HIS SOLITARY GAME, 1330: WITHOUT LOOKING UP, OR SEEMING TO KNOW 1331: THAT THERE WAS A STRANGER IN HIS 1332: DEEP-WITHDRAWN CELL. ─ILIGENTLY AS A 1333: LACE-MAKER SHIFTS HER BOBBINS, HE 1334: SHIFTED AND ARRANGED HIS BALLS. ╞LASHES 1335: OF MEANING WOULD NOW PASS FROM THEM TO 1336: ╘ANGLE, AND NOW AGAIN ALL WOULD BE NOT 1337: MERELY OBSCURE, BUT UTTERLY DARK. ╙HE 1338: STOOD LOOKING FOR A LONG TIME, FOR 1339: THERE WAS FASCINATION IN THE SIGHT; AND 1340: THE LONGER SHE LOOKED THE MORE AN 1341: INDESCRIBABLE VAGUE INTELLIGENCE WENT 1342: ON ROUSING ITSELF IN HER MIND. ╞OR 1343: SEVEN YEARS SHE HAD STOOD THERE 1344: WATCHING THE NAKED CHILD WITH HIS 1345: COLOURED BALLS, AND IT SEEMED TO HER 1346: LIKE SEVEN HOURS, WHEN ALL AT ONCE THE 1347: SHAPE THE BALLS TOOK, SHE KNEW NOT WHY, 1348: REMINDED HER OF THE ╓ALLEY OF ╙HADOWS, 1349: AND SHE SPOKE: 1350: "╫HERE IS THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE 1351: ╞IRE?" SHE SAID. 1352: "╚ERE ╔ AM," ANSWERED THE CHILD, 1353: RISING AND LEAVING HIS BALLS ON THE 1354: MOSS. "╫HAT CAN ╔ DO FOR YOU?" 1355: ╘HERE WAS SUCH AN AWFULNESS OF 1356: ABSOLUTE REPOSE ON THE FACE OF THE 1357: CHILD THAT ╘ANGLE STOOD DUMB BEFORE 1358: HIM. ╚E HAD NO SMILE, BUT THE LOVE IN 1359: HIS LARGE GREY EYES WAS DEEP AS THE 1360: CENTER. ┴ND WITH THE REPOSE THERE LAY 1361: ON HIS FACE A SHIMMER AS OF MOONLIGHT, 1362: WHICH SEEMED AS IF ANY MOMENT IT MIGHT 1363: BREAK INTO SUCH A RAVISHING SMILE AS 1364: WOULD CAUSE THE BEHOLDER TO WEEP 1365: HIMSELF TO DEATH. ┬UT THE SMILE NEVER 1366: CAME, AND THE MOONLIGHT LAY THERE 1367: UNBROKEN. ╞OR THE HEART OF THE CHILD 1368: WAS TOO DEEP FOR ANY SMILE TO REACH 1369: FROM IT TO HIS FACE. 1370: "┴RE YOU THE OLDEST MAN OF ALL?" 1371: ╘ANGLE AT LENGTH, ALTHOUGH FILLED WITH 1372: AWE, VENTURED TO ASK. 1373: "┘ES, ╔ AM. ╔ AM VERY, VERY OLD. ╔ 1374: AM ABLE TO HELP YOU, ╔ KNOW. ╔ CAN HELP 1375: EVERYBODY." 1376: ┴ND THE CHILD DREW NEAR AND LOOKED 1377: UP IN HER FACE SO THAT SHE BURST INTO 1378: TEARS. 1379: "├AN YOU TELL ME THE WAY TO THE 1380: COUNTRY THE SHADOWS FALL FROM?" SHE 1381: SOBBED. 1382: "┘ES. ╔ KNOW THE WAY QUITE WELL. ╔ 1383: GO THERE MYSELF SOMETIMES. ┬UT YOU 1384: COULD NOT GO MY WAY; YOU ARE NOT OLD 1385: ENOUGH. ╔ WILL SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN 1386: GO." 1387: "─O NOT SEND ME OUT INTO THE GREAT 1388: HEAT AGAIN," PRAYED ╘ANGLE. 1389: "╔ WILL NOT," ANSWERED THE CHILD. 1390: ┴ND HE REACHED UP, AND PUT HIS LITTLE 1391: COOL HAND ON HER HEART. "╬OW," HE SAID, 1392: "YOU CAN GO. ╘HE FIRE WILL NOT BURN 1393: YOU. ├OME." 1394: ╚E LED HER FROM THE CAVE, AND 1395: FOLLOWING HIM THROUGH ANOTHER ARCHWAY, 1396: SHE FOUND HERSELF IN A VAST DESERT OF 1397: SAND AND ROCK. ╘HE SKY OF IT WAS OF 1398: ROCK, LOWERING OVER THEM LIKE SOLID 1399: THUNDERCLOUDS; AND THE WHOLE PLACE WAS 1400: SO HOT THAT SHE SAW, IN BRIGHT 1401: RIVULETS, THE YELLOW GOLD AND WHITE 1402: SILVER AND RED COPPER TRICKLING MOLTEN 1403: FROM THE ROCKS. ┬UT THE HEAT NEVER CAME 1404: NEAR HER. 1405: ╫HEN THEY HAD GONE SOME DISTANCE, 1406: THE CHILD TURNED UP A GREAT STONE, AND 1407: TOOK SOMETHING LIKE AN EGG FROM UNDER 1408: IT. ╚E NEXT DREW A LONG CURVED LINE IN 1409: THE SAND WITH HIS FINGER, AND LAID THE 1410: EGG IN IT. ╚E THEN SPOKE SOMETHING 1411: ╘ANGLE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND. ╘HE EGG 1412: BROKE, A SMALL SNAKE CAME OUT, AND, 1413: LYING IN THE LINE IN THE SAND, GREW AND 1414: GREW TILL HE FILLED IT. ╘HE MOMENT HE 1415: WAS THUS FULL-GROWN, HE BEGAN TO GLIDE 1416: AWAY, UNDULATING LIKE A SEA-WAVE. 1417: "╞OLLOW THAT SERPENT," SAID THE 1418: CHILD. "╚E WILL LEAD YOU THE RIGHT 1419: WAY." 1420: ╘ANGLE FOLLOWED THE SERPENT. ┬UT 1421: SHE COULD NOT GO FAR WITHOUT LOOKING 1422: BACK AT THE MARVELLOUS ├HILD. ╚E STOOD 1423: ALONE IN THE MIDST OF THE GLOWING 1424: DESERT, BESIDE A FOUNTAIN OF RED FLAME 1425: THAT HAD BURST FORTH AT HIS FEET, HIS 1426: NAKED WHITENESS GLIMMERING A PALE ROSY 1427: RED IN THE TORRID FIRE. ╘HERE HE STOOD, 1428: LOOKING AFTER HER, TILL, FROM THE 1429: LENGTHENING DISTANCE, SHE COULD SEE HIM 1430: NO MORE. ╘HE SERPENT WENT STRAIGHT ON, 1431: TURNING NEITHER TO THE RIGHT NOR LEFT. ├HAPTER ╪: ╞ROM ╫HERE THE ╙HADOWS ╞ALL 1432: ═EANTIME ═OSSY HAD GOT OUT OF THE 1433: LAKE OF SHADOWS, AND, FOLLOWING HIS 1434: MOURNFUL, LONELY WAY, HAD REACHED THE 1435: SEA-SHORE. ╔T WAS A DARK, STORMY 1436: EVENING. ╘HE SUN HAD SET. ╘HE WIND WAS 1437: BLOWING FROM THE SEA. ╘HE WAVES HAD 1438: SURROUNDED THE ROCK WITHIN WHICH LAY 1439: THE ╧LD ═AN'S HOUSE. ┴ DEEP WATER 1440: ROLLED BETWEEN IT AND THE SHORE, UPON 1441: WHICH A MAJESTIC FIGURE WAS WALKING 1442: ALONE. ═OSSY WENT UP TO HIM AND SAID, 1443: "╫ILL YOU TELL ME WHERE TO FIND 1444: THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA?" 1445: "╔ AM THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA," THE 1446: FIGURE ANSWERED. "╔ SEE A STRONG KINGLY 1447: MAN OF MIDDLE AGE," RETURNED ═OSSY. 1448: ╘HEN THE ╧LD ═AN LOOKED AT HIM 1449: MORE INTENTLY, AND SAID, "┘OUR SIGHT, 1450: YOUNG MAN, IS BETTER THAN THAT OF MOST 1451: WHO TAKE THIS WAY. ╘HE NIGHT IS STORMY: 1452: COME TO MY HOUSE AND TELL ME WHAT ╔ CAN 1453: DO FOR YOU." 1454: ═OSSY FOLLOWED HIM. ╘HE WAVES FLEW 1455: FROM BEFORE THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ╧LD 1456: ═AN OF THE ╙EA, AND ═OSSY FOLLOWED UPON 1457: DRY SAND. 1458: ╫HEN THEY HAD REACHED THE CAVE, 1459: THEY SAT DOWN AND GAZED AT EACH OTHER. 1460: ╬OW ═OSSY WAS AN OLD MAN BY THIS 1461: TIME. ╚E LOOKED MUCH OLDER THAN THE ╧LD 1462: ═AN OF THE ╙EA, AND HIS FEET WERE VERY 1463: WEARY. 1464: ┴FTER LOOKING AT HIM FOR A MOMENT, 1465: THE ╧LD ═AN TOOK HIM BY THE HAND AND 1466: LED HIM INTO HIS INNER CAVE. ╘HERE HE 1467: HELPED HIM TO UNDRESS, AND LAID HIM IN 1468: THE BATH. ┴ND HE SAW THAT ONE OF HIS 1469: HANDS ═OSSY DID NOT OPEN. 1470: "╫HAT HAVE YOU IN THAT HAND?" HE 1471: ASKED. 1472: ═OSSY OPENED HIS HAND, AND THERE 1473: LAY THE GOLDEN KEY. 1474: "┴H!" SAID THE ╧LD ═AN, "THAT 1475: ACCOUNTS FOR YOUR KNOWING ME. ┴ND ╔ 1476: KNOW THE WAY YOU HAVE TO GO." 1477: "╔ WANT TO FIND THE COUNTRY 1478: WHENCE THE SHADOWS FALL," SAID ═OSSY. 1479: "╔ DARESAY YOU DO. ╙O DO ╔. ┬UT 1480: MEANTIME, ONE THING IS CERTAIN. ╫HAT IS 1481: THAT KEY FOR, DO YOU THINK?" 1482: "╞OR A KEYHOLE SOMEWHERE. ┬UT ╔ 1483: DON'T KNOW WHY ╔ KEEP IT. ╔ NEVER COULD 1484: FIND THE KEYHOLE. ┴ND ╔ HAVE LIVED A 1485: GOOD WHILE, ╔ BELIEVE," SAID ═OSSY, 1486: SADLY. "╔'M NOT SURE THAT ╔'M NOT OLD. 1487: ╔ KNOW MY FEET ACHE." 1488: "─O THEY?" SAID THE ╧LD ═AN, AS IF 1489: HE REALLY MEANT TO ASK THE QUESTION; 1490: AND ═OSSY, WHO WAS STILL LYING IN THE 1491: BATH, WATCHED HIS FEET FOR A MOMENT 1492: BEFORE HE REPLIED, "╬O, THEY DO NOT," 1493: HE ANSWERED. "╨ERHAPS ╔ AM NOT OLD 1494: EITHER." 1495: "╟ET UP AND LOOK AT YOURSELF IN 1496: THE WATER." 1497: ╚E ROSE AND LOOKED AT HIMSELF IN 1498: THE WATER, AND THERE WAS NOT A GREY 1499: HAIR ON HIS HEAD OR A WRINKLE ON HIS 1500: SKIN. 1501: "┘OU HAVE TASTED OF DEATH NOW," 1502: SAID THE ╧LD ═AN. "╔S IT GOOD?" 1503: "╔T IS GOOD," SAID ═OSSY. "╔T IS 1504: BETTER THAN LIFE." 1505: "╬O," SAID THE ╧LD ═AN, "IT IS 1506: ONLY MORE LIFE. ┘OUR FEET WILL MAKE NO 1507: HOLES IN THE WATER NOW." 1508: "╫HAT DO YOU MEAN?" 1509: "╔ WILL SHOW YOU THAT PRESENTLY." 1510: ╘HEY RETURNED TO THE OUTER CAVE, 1511: AND SAT AND TALKED TOGETHER FOR A LONG 1512: TIME. ┴T LENGTH THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA 1513: ROSE, AND SAID TO ═OSSY, 1514: "╞OLLOW ME." ╚E LED HIM UP THE 1515: STAIR AGAIN, AND OPENED ANOTHER DOOR. 1516: ╘HEY STOOD ON THE LEVEL OF THE RAGING 1517: SEA, LOOKING TOWARDS THE EAST. ┴CROSS 1518: THE WASTE OF WATERS, AGAINST THE BOSOM 1519: OF A FIERCE BLACK CLOUD, STOOD THE FOOT 1520: OF A RAINBOW, GLOWING IN THE DARK. 1521: "╘HIS INDEED IS MY WAY," SAID 1522: ═OSSY, AS SOON AS HE SAW THE RAINBOW, 1523: AND STEPPED OUT UPON THE SEA. ╚IS FEET 1524: MADE NO HOLES IN THE WATER. ╚E FOUGHT 1525: THE WIND, AND CLIMBED THE WAVES, AND 1526: WENT ON TOWARDS THE RAINBOW. ╘HE STORM 1527: DIED AWAY. ┴ LOVELY DAY AND A LOVELIER 1528: NIGHT FOLLOWED. ┴ COOL WIND BLEW OVER 1529: THE WIDE PLAIN OF THE QUIET OCEAN. ┴ND 1530: STILL ═OSSY JOURNEYED EASTWARD. ┬UT THE 1531: RAINBOW HAD VANISHED WITH THE STORM. 1532: ─AY AFTER DAY HE HELD ON, AND HE 1533: THOUGHT HE HAD NO GUIDE. ╚E DID NOT SEE 1534: HOW A SHINING FISH UNDER THE WATERS 1535: DIRECTED HIS STEPS. 1536: ╚E CROSSED THE SEA, AND CAME TO A 1537: GREAT PRECIPICE OF ROCK, UP WHICH HE 1538: COULD DISCOVER BUT ONE PATH. ╬OR DID 1539: THIS LEAD HIM FARTHER THAN HALF-WAY UP 1540: THE ROCK, WHERE IT ENDED ON A PLATFORM. 1541: ╚ERE HE STOOD AND PONDERED. ╔T COULD 1542: NOT BE THAT THE WAY STOPPED HERE, ELSE 1543: WHAT WAS THE PATH FOR? ╔T WAS A ROUGH 1544: PATH, NOT VERY PLAIN, YET CERTAINLY A 1545: PATH. ╚E EXAMINED THE FACE OF THE ROCK. 1546: ╔T WAS SMOOTH AS GLASS. ┬UT AS HIS EYES 1547: KEPT ROVING HOPELESSLY OVER IT, 1548: SOMETHING GLITTERED, AND HE CAUGHT 1549: SIGHT OF A ROW OF SMALL SAPPHIRES. ╘HEY 1550: BORDERED A LITTLE HOLE IN THE ROCK. 1551: "╘HE KEYHOLE!" HE CRIED. ╚E TRIED 1552: THE KEY. ╔T FIT. ╔T TURNED. ┴ GREAT 1553: CLANG AND CLASH, AS OF IRON BOLTS ON 1554: HUGE BRAZEN CALDRONS, ECHOED 1555: THUNDEROUSLY WITHIN. ╚E DREW OUT THE 1556: KEY. ╘HE ROCK IN FRONT OF HIM BEGAN TO 1557: FALL. ╚E RETREATED FROM IT AS FAR AS 1558: THE BREADTH OF THE PLATFORM WOULD 1559: ALLOW. 1560: ┴ GREAT SLAB FELL AT HIS FEET. ╔N 1561: FRONT WAS STILL THE SOLID ROCK, WITH 1562: THIS ONE SLAB FALLEN FORWARD OUT OF IT. 1563: ┬UT THE MOMENT HE STEPPED UPON IT, A 1564: SECOND FELL, JUST SHORT OF THE EDGE OF 1565: THE FIRST, MAKING THE NEXT STEP OF A 1566: STAIR, WHICH THUS KEPT DROPPING ITSELF 1567: BEFORE HIM AS HE ASCENDED INTO THE 1568: HEART OF THE PRECIPICE. 1569: ╔T LED HIM INTO A HALL FIT FOR 1570: SUCH AN APPROACH -- IRREGULAR AND RUDE 1571: IN FORMATION, BUT FLOOR, SIDES, 1572: PILLARS, AND VAULTED ROOF, ALL ONE MASS 1573: OF SHINING STONES OF EVERY COLOUR THAT 1574: LIGHT CAN SHOW. ╔N THE CENTER STOOD 1575: SEVEN COLUMNS, RANGED FROM RED TO 1576: VIOLET. ┴ND ON THE PEDESTAL OF ONE OF 1577: THEM SAT A WOMAN, MOTIONLESS, WITH HER 1578: FACE BOWED UPON HER KNEES. ╙EVEN YEARS 1579: HAD SHE SAT THERE WAITING. ╙HE LIFTED 1580: HER HEAD AS ═OSSY DREW NEAR. 1581: ╔T WAS ╘ANGLE. ╚ER HAIR HAD GROWN 1582: TO HER FEET, AND WAS RIPPLED LIKE THE 1583: WINDLESS SEA ON BROAD SANDS. ╚ER FACE 1584: WAS BEAUTIFUL, LIKE HER GRANDMOTHER'S, 1585: AND AS STILL AND PEACEFUL AS THAT OF 1586: THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╞IRE. ╚ER FORM WAS 1587: TALL AND NOBLE. ┘ET ═OSSY KNEW HER AT 1588: ONCE. 1589: "╚OW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE, ╘ANGLE!" 1590: HE SAID, IN DELIGHT AND ASTONISHMENT. 1591: "┴M ╔?" SHE RETURNED. "╧H, ╔ HAVE 1592: WAITED FOR YOU SO LONG! ┬UT YOU, YOU 1593: ARE THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ╙EA. ╬O. ┘OU ARE 1594: LIKE THE ╧LD ═AN OF THE ┼ARTH. ╬O, NO. 1595: ┘OU ARE LIKE THE OLDEST MAN OF ALL. ┘OU 1596: ARE LIKE THEM ALL. ┴ND YET YOU ARE MY 1597: OWN OLD ═OSSY! ╚OW DID YOU COME HERE? 1598: ╫HAT DID YOU DO AFTER ╔ LOST YOU? ─ID 1599: YOU FIND THE KEYHOLE? ╚AVE YOU GOT THE 1600: KEY STILL?" 1601: ╙HE HAD A HUNDRED QUESTIONS TO ASK 1602: HIM, AND HE A HUNDRED MORE TO ASK HER. 1603: ╘HEY TOLD EACH OTHER ALL THEIR 1604: ADVENTURES, AND WERE AS HAPPY AS MAN 1605: AND WOMAN COULD BE. ╞OR THEY WERE 1606: YOUNGER AND BETTER, AND STRONGER AND 1607: WISER, THAN THEY HAD EVER BEEN BEFORE. 1608: ╔T BEGAN TO GROW DARK. ┴ND THEY 1609: WANTED MORE THAN EVER TO REACH THE 1610: COUNTRY WHENCE THE SHADOWS FALL. ╙O 1611: THEY LOOKED ABOUT THEM FOR A WAY OUT OF 1612: THE CAVE. ╘HE DOOR BY WHICH ═OSSY 1613: ENTERED HAD CLOSED AGAIN, AND THERE WAS 1614: HALF A MILE OF ROCK BETWEEN THEM AND 1615: THE SEA. ╬EITHER COULD ╘ANGLE FIND THE 1616: OPENING IN THE FLOOR BY WHICH THE 1617: SERPENT HAD LED HER THITHER. ╘HEY 1618: SEARCHED TILL IT GREW SO DARK THAT THEY 1619: COULD SEE NOTHING, AND GAVE IT UP. 1620: ┴FTER A WHILE, HOWEVER, THE CAVE 1621: BEGAN TO GLIMMER AGAIN. ╘HE LIGHT CAME 1622: FROM THE MOON, BUT IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE 1623: MOON LIGHT, FOR IT GLEAMED THROUGH 1624: THOSE SEVEN PILLARS IN THE MIDDLE, AND 1625: FILLED THE PLACE WITH ALL COLOURS. ┴ND 1626: NOW ═OSSY SAW THAT THERE WAS A PILLAR 1627: BESIDE THE RED ONE, WHICH HE HAD NOT 1628: OBSERVED BEFORE. ┴ND IT WAS OF THE SAME 1629: NEW COLOUR THAT HE HAD SEEN IN THE 1630: RAINBOW WHEN HE SAW IT FIRST IN THE 1631: FAIRY FOREST. ┴ND ON IT HE SAW A 1632: SPARKLE OF BLUE. ╔T WAS THE SAPPHIRES 1633: ROUND THE KEYHOLE. ╚E TOOK HIS KEY. ╔T 1634: TURNED IN THE LOCK TO THE SOUNDS OF 1635: ┴EOLIAN MUSIC. 1636: ┴ DOOR OPENED UPON SLOW HINGES, 1637: AND DISCLOSED A WINDING STAIR WITHIN. 1638: ╘HE KEY VANISHED FROM HIS FINGERS. 1639: ╘ANGLE WENT UP. ═OSSY FOLLOWED. ╘HE 1640: DOOR CLOSED BEHIND THEM. ╘HEY CLIMBED 1641: OUT OF THE EARTH; AND, STILL CLIMBING, 1642: ROSE ABOVE IT. ╘HEY WERE IN THE 1643: RAINBOW. ╞AR ABROAD, OVER OCEAN AND 1644: LAND, THEY COULD SEE THROUGH ITS 1645: TRANSPARENT WALLS THE EARTH BENEATH 1646: THEIR FEET. ╙TAIRS BESIDE STAIRS WOUND 1647: UP TOGETHER, AND BEAUTIFUL BEINGS OF 1648: ALL AGES CLIMBED ALONG WITH THEM. 1649: ╘HEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING UP 1650: TO THE COUNTRY WHENCE THE SHADOWS FALL. 1651: ┴ND BY THIS TIME ╔ THINK THEY MUST 1652: HAVE GOT THERE. 1653: *** ╘╚┼ ┼╬─ *** >>>>> ┼ND OF ╘EXT <<<<<