The World's Desire: Large Print

I THE PROPHETS OF THE APURA"These things are not without the Gods," said the Wanderer, who was called Eperitus, when he had heard all the tale of Rei the Priest, son of Pames, the Head Architect, theCommander of the Legion of Amen. Then he sat silent for a while, and at last raised his eyesand looked upon the old man."Thou hast told a strange tale, Rei. Over many a sea have I wandered, and in many a landI have sojourned. I have seen the ways of many peoples, and have heard the voices of theimmortal Gods. Dreams have come to me and marvels have compassed me about. It hasbeen laid upon me to go down into Hades, that land which thou namest Amenti, and to lookon the tribes of the Dead; but never till now have I known so strange a thing. For markthou, when first I beheld this fair Queen of thine I thought she looked upon me strangely, asone who knew my face. And now, Rei, if thou speakest truth, she deems that she has met mein the ways of night and magic. Say, then, who was the man of the vision of the Queen, theman with dark and curling locks, clad in golden armour after the fashion of the Ach answhom ye name the Aquaiusha, wearing on his head a golden helm, wherein was fixed abroken spear?""Before me sits such a man," said Rei, "or perchance it is a God that my eyes behold.""No God am I," quoth the Wanderer, smiling, "though the Sidonians deemed me nothingless when the black bow twanged and the swift shafts flew. Read me the riddle, thou thatart instructed."Now the aged Priest looked upon the ground, then turned his eyes upward, and withmuttering lips prayed to Thoth, the God of Wisdom. And when he had made an end ofprayer he spoke."Thou art the man," he said. "Out of the sea thou hast come to bring the doom of love onthe Lady Meriamun and on thyself the doom of death. This I knew, but of the rest I knownothing. Now, I pray thee, oh thou who comest in the armour of the North, thou whose faceis clothed in beauty, and who art of all men the mightiest and hast of all men the sweetestand most guileful tongue, go back, go back into the sea whence thou camest, and the landswhence thou hast wandered."