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come in a ship that so easily is wrecked? Why did you not journey
through the air, or better still, pass through space, leaving
your bodies asleep, as, being instructed, doubtless you can do?"
"As regards your first question," I answered, "there are no
aircraft known that can make so long a journey."
"And as regards the second," broke in Bickley, "we did not do
so because it is impossible for men to transfer themselves to
other places through space either with or without their bodies.".
At this information the Glittering Lady lifted her arched
eyebrows and smiled a little, while Oro said:
"I perceive that the new world has advanced but a little way on
the road of knowledge."
Fearing that Bastin was about to commence an argument, I began
to ask questions in my turn.
"Lord Oro and Lady Yva," I said, "we have told you something of
ourselves and will tell you more when you desire it. But pardon
us if first we pray you to tell us what we burn to know. Who are
you? Of what race and country? And how came it that we found you
sleeping yonder?"
"If it be your pleasure, answer, my Father," said Yva.
Oro thought a moment, then replied in a calm voice:
"I am a king who once ruled most of the world as it was in my
day, though it is true that much of it rebelled against me, my
councillors and servants. Therefore I destroyed the world as it
was then, save only certain portions whence life might spread to
the new countries that I raised up. Having done this I put myself
and my daughter to sleep for a space of two hundred and fifty
thousand years, that there might be time for fresh civilisations
to arise. Now I begin to think that I did not allot a sufficiency
of ages, since I perceive from what you tell me, that the
learning of the new races is as yet but small."
Bickley and I looked at each other and were silent. Mentally we
had collapsed. Who could begin to discuss statements built upon
such a foundation of gigantic and paralysing falsehoods?
Well, Bastin could for one. With no more surprise in his voice
than if he were talking about last night's dinner, he said:
"There must be a mistake somewhere, or perhaps I misunderstand
you. It is obvious that you, being a man, could not have
destroyed the world. That could only be done by the Power which
made it and you."
I trembled for the results of Bastin's methods of setting out
the truth. To my astonishment, however, Oro replied:
"You speak wisely, Priest, but the Power you name may use
instruments to accomplish its decrees. I am such an instrument."
"Quite so," said Bastin, "just like anybody else. You have more
knowledge of the truth than I thought. But pray, how did you
destroy the world?"
"Using my wisdom to direct the forces that are at work in the
heart of this great globe, I drowned it with a deluge, causing
one part to sink and another to rise, also changes of climate
which completed the work."
"That's quite right," exclaimed Bastin delightedly. "We know
all about the Deluge, only you are not mentioned in connection
with the matter. A man, Noah, had to do with it when he was six
hundred years old."
"Six hundred?" said Oro. "That is not very old. I myself had
seen more than a thousand years when I lay down to sleep."
"A thousand!" remarked Bastin, mildly interested. "That is
unusual, though some of these mighty men of renown we know lived
over nine hundred."
Here Bickley snorted and exclaimed:
"Nine hundred moons," he means.
"I did not know Noah," went on Oro. "Perhaps he lived after my
time and caused some other local deluge. Is there anything else
you wish to ask me before I leave you that I may study this map
writing?"
"Yes," said Bastin. "Why were you allowed to drown your world?"
"Because it was evil, Priest, and disobeyed me and the Power I
serve."
"Oh! thank you," said Bastin, "that fits in exactly. It was
just the same in Noah's time."
"I pray that it is not just the same now," said Oro, rising.
"To-morrow we will return, or if I do not who have much that I
must do, the lady my daughter will return and speak with you
further."
through the air, or better still, pass through space, leaving
your bodies asleep, as, being instructed, doubtless you can do?"
"As regards your first question," I answered, "there are no
aircraft known that can make so long a journey."
"And as regards the second," broke in Bickley, "we did not do
so because it is impossible for men to transfer themselves to
other places through space either with or without their bodies.".
At this information the Glittering Lady lifted her arched
eyebrows and smiled a little, while Oro said:
"I perceive that the new world has advanced but a little way on
the road of knowledge."
Fearing that Bastin was about to commence an argument, I began
to ask questions in my turn.
"Lord Oro and Lady Yva," I said, "we have told you something of
ourselves and will tell you more when you desire it. But pardon
us if first we pray you to tell us what we burn to know. Who are
you? Of what race and country? And how came it that we found you
sleeping yonder?"
"If it be your pleasure, answer, my Father," said Yva.
Oro thought a moment, then replied in a calm voice:
"I am a king who once ruled most of the world as it was in my
day, though it is true that much of it rebelled against me, my
councillors and servants. Therefore I destroyed the world as it
was then, save only certain portions whence life might spread to
the new countries that I raised up. Having done this I put myself
and my daughter to sleep for a space of two hundred and fifty
thousand years, that there might be time for fresh civilisations
to arise. Now I begin to think that I did not allot a sufficiency
of ages, since I perceive from what you tell me, that the
learning of the new races is as yet but small."
Bickley and I looked at each other and were silent. Mentally we
had collapsed. Who could begin to discuss statements built upon
such a foundation of gigantic and paralysing falsehoods?
Well, Bastin could for one. With no more surprise in his voice
than if he were talking about last night's dinner, he said:
"There must be a mistake somewhere, or perhaps I misunderstand
you. It is obvious that you, being a man, could not have
destroyed the world. That could only be done by the Power which
made it and you."
I trembled for the results of Bastin's methods of setting out
the truth. To my astonishment, however, Oro replied:
"You speak wisely, Priest, but the Power you name may use
instruments to accomplish its decrees. I am such an instrument."
"Quite so," said Bastin, "just like anybody else. You have more
knowledge of the truth than I thought. But pray, how did you
destroy the world?"
"Using my wisdom to direct the forces that are at work in the
heart of this great globe, I drowned it with a deluge, causing
one part to sink and another to rise, also changes of climate
which completed the work."
"That's quite right," exclaimed Bastin delightedly. "We know
all about the Deluge, only you are not mentioned in connection
with the matter. A man, Noah, had to do with it when he was six
hundred years old."
"Six hundred?" said Oro. "That is not very old. I myself had
seen more than a thousand years when I lay down to sleep."
"A thousand!" remarked Bastin, mildly interested. "That is
unusual, though some of these mighty men of renown we know lived
over nine hundred."
Here Bickley snorted and exclaimed:
"Nine hundred moons," he means.
"I did not know Noah," went on Oro. "Perhaps he lived after my
time and caused some other local deluge. Is there anything else
you wish to ask me before I leave you that I may study this map
writing?"
"Yes," said Bastin. "Why were you allowed to drown your world?"
"Because it was evil, Priest, and disobeyed me and the Power I
serve."
"Oh! thank you," said Bastin, "that fits in exactly. It was
just the same in Noah's time."
"I pray that it is not just the same now," said Oro, rising.
"To-morrow we will return, or if I do not who have much that I
must do, the lady my daughter will return and speak with you
further."
- dreadful [´dredful]
a.可怕的；讨厌的 (初中英语单词) - visible [´vizəbəl] a.可见的；明显的 (初中英语单词)
- peculiar [pi´kju:liə] a.特有的；奇异的 (初中英语单词)
- extremely [ik´stri:mli] ad.极端地；非常地 (初中英语单词)
- uncertain [ʌn´sə:tn] a.不定的；不可靠的 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- shallow [´ʃæləu] a.肤浅的；表面的 (初中英语单词)
- moreover [mɔ:´rəuvə] ad.再者，此外，而且 (初中英语单词)
- suspicion [sə´spiʃən] n.怀(猜)疑；嫌疑 (初中英语单词)
- energy [´enədʒi] n.活力，精力；能力 (初中英语单词)
- suggestion [sə´dʒestʃən] n.建议，提议；暗示 (初中英语单词)
- trousers [´trauzəz] n.裤子，长裤 (初中英语单词)
- moisture [´mɔistʃə] n.潮湿；温度；水份 (初中英语单词)
- beggar [´begə] n.乞丐 (初中英语单词)
- appreciate [ə´pri:ʃieit] v.评价；珍惜；感激 (初中英语单词)
- priest [pri:st] n.教士；牧师；神父 (初中英语单词)
- evidently [´evidəntli] ad.明显地 (初中英语单词)
- costume [´kɔstju:m] n.服装(试样)；女装 (初中英语单词)
- chiefly [´tʃi:fli] ad.主要地；尤其 (初中英语单词)
- relative [´relətiv] a.有关系的 n.亲属 (初中英语单词)
- hidden [´hid(ə)n] hide 的过去分词 (初中英语单词)
- convert [kən´və:t, ´kɔnvə:t] v.转变 n.改变信仰者 (初中英语单词)
- spiritual [´spiritʃuəl] a.精神(上)的；神圣的 (初中英语单词)
- instruction [in´strʌkʃən] n.教育；训练；指导 (初中英语单词)
- instance [´instəns] n.例子，实例，例证 (初中英语单词)
- astonish [ə´stɔniʃ] vt.使惊讶；使惊异 (初中英语单词)
- presently [´prezəntli] ad.不久；目前 (初中英语单词)
- doubtless [´dautlis] ad.无疑地；大概，多半 (初中英语单词)
- transfer [træns´fə:] v.&n.迁移；调动；转让 (初中英语单词)
- perceive [pə´si:v] vt.察觉；看出；领悟 (初中英语单词)
- advanced [əd´vɑ:nst] a.先进的；高级的 (初中英语单词)
- commence [kə´mens] vt.&vi.开始 (初中英语单词)
- argument [´ɑ:gjumənt] n.辩论；争论；论证 (初中英语单词)
- therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)
- foundation [faun´deiʃən] n.建立；基金；地基 (初中英语单词)
- obvious [´ɔbviəs] a.明显的；显而易见的 (初中英语单词)
- astonishment [ə´stɔniʃmənt] n.吃惊；惊异 (初中英语单词)
- wisdom [´wizdəm] n.智慧，聪明，才智 (初中英语单词)
- translate [trænz´leit, træns-] v.翻译；解释；说明 (高中英语单词)
- previously [´pri:viəsli] ad.预先；以前 (高中英语单词)
- volcano [vɔl´keinəu] n.火山 (高中英语单词)
- hurried [´hʌrid] a.仓促的，慌忙的 (高中英语单词)
- hideous [´hidiəs] a.丑陋的，可怕的 (高中英语单词)
- vengeance [´vendʒəns] n.报复，复仇 (高中英语单词)
- industrious [in´dʌstriəs] a.勤勉的，刻苦的 (高中英语单词)
- seeing [si:iŋ] see的现在分词 n.视觉 (高中英语单词)
- unpleasant [ʌn´plezənt] a.不愉快的；不合意的 (高中英语单词)
- studied [´stʌdid] a.故意的；有计划的 (高中英语单词)
- straighten [´streitn] v.弄直；矫正；整理 (高中英语单词)
- awkward [´ɔ:kwəd] a.笨拙的；为难的 (高中英语单词)
- heathen [´hi:ðən] n.异教徒 (高中英语单词)
- strictly [´striktli] ad.严格地 (高中英语单词)
- saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)
- gigantic [dʒai´gæntik] a.巨大的 (高中英语单词)
- wisely [´waizli] ad.明智地，聪明地 (高中英语单词)
- mighty [´maiti] a.强有力的 ad.很 (高中英语单词)
- renown [ri´naun] n.名望 vt.使有名望 (高中英语单词)
- carcass [´kɑ:kəs] n.(动物的)尸体 (英语四级单词)
- whence [wens] ad.从何处；从那里 (英语四级单词)
- cordially [´kɔ:djəli] ad.热诚地；亲切地 (英语四级单词)
- peculiarly [pi´kju:liəli] ad.特有地；古怪地 (英语四级单词)
- wondrous [´wʌndrəs] a.极好的 ad.惊人地 (英语四级单词)
- setting [´setiŋ] n.安装；排字；布景 (英语四级单词)
- mildly [´maildli] ad.温和地；适度地 (英语四级单词)
- preaching [´pri:tʃiŋ] n.说教 a.说教的 (英语六级单词)
- departed [di´pɑ:tid] a.已往的；已故的 (英语六级单词)
- clerical [´klerikəl] a.牧师的；教士的 (英语六级单词)
- waistcoat [´weskət, ´weiskəut] n.背心，马甲 (英语六级单词)
- retired [ri´taiəd] a.退休的；通职的 (英语六级单词)
- malicious [mə´liʃəs] a.恶意的；预谋的 (英语六级单词)
- cyclone [´saikləun] n.旋风，飓风 (英语六级单词)
- deluge [´delju:dʒ] n.大洪水 vt.泛滥 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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