Bastin believed my story readily enough, saying that Oro was a peculiar person who no doubt had ways of coming and going which we did not understand.  His point was, however, that he did not in the least wish to visit Nyo any more.  The wonders of its underground palaces and temples had no charms for him.  Also he did not think he could do any good by going, since after “sucking him as dry as an orange” with reference to religious matters “that old vampire-bat Oro had just thrown him away like the rind,” and, he might add, “seemed no better for the juice he had absorbed.”

“I doubt,” continued Bastin, “whether St. Paul himself could have converted Oro, even if he performed miracles before him.  What is the use of showing miracles to a man who could always work a bigger one himself?”

In short, Bastin’s one idea, and Bickley’s also for the matter of that, was to get away to the main island and thence escape by means of the boat, or in some other fashion.

I pointed out that Oro had said we must obey at the peril of our lives; indeed that he had put it even more strongly, using words to the effect that if we did not he would kill us.

“I’d take the risk,” said Bickley, “since I believe that you dreamt it all, Arbuthnot.  However, putting that aside, there is a natural reason why you should wish to go, and for my own part, so do I in a way.  I want to see what that old fellow has up his extremely long sleeve, if there is anything there at all.”

“Well, if you ask me, Bickley,” I answered, “I believe it is the destruction of half the earth, or some little matter of that sort.”

At this suggestion Bickley only snorted, but Bastin said cheerfully: 

“I dare say.  He is bad enough even for that.  But as I am quite convinced that it will never be allowed, his intentions do not trouble me.”

I remarked that he seemed to have carried them out once before.

“Oh! you mean the Deluge.  Well, no doubt there was a deluge, but I am sure that Oro had no more to do with it than you or I, as I think I have said already.  Anyhow it is impossible to leave you to descend into that hole alone.  I suggest, therefore, that we should go into the sepulchre at the time which you believe Oro appointed, and see what happens.  If you are not mistaken, the Glittering Lady will come there to fetch us, since it is quite certain that we cannot work the lift or whatever it is, alone.  If you are mistaken we can just go back to bed as usual.”

“Yes, that’s the best plan,” said Bickley, shortly, after which the conversation came to an end.

All that day and the next I watched and waited in vain for the coming of Yva, but no Yva appeared.  I even went as far as the sepulchre, but it was as empty as were the two crystal coffins, and after waiting a while I returned.  Although I did not say so to Bickley, to me it was evident that Oro, as he had said, was determined to cut off all communication between us.