Through the cloudy substance, Carse could make out dimly a naked form of more than human strength and beauty, so vital and instinct with life that it seemed a terrible thing to prison it in that narrow space. The face also was beautiful, dark and imperious and stormy even now with the eyes closed as though in death.
But there could be no death in this place. It was beyond time and without time there is no decay and Rhiannon would have all eternity to lie there, remembering his sin.
While he stared, Carse realized that the alien being had withdrawn from him so gently and carefully that there had been no shock. His mind was still in touch with the mind of Rhiannon but the strange dualism was ended. The Cursed One had released him.
Yet, through that sympathy that still existed between these two minds that had been one for so long, Carse heard Rhiannon’s passionate call—a mental cry that pulsed far out along the pathway through space and time.
“My brothers of the Quiru, hear me! I have undone my ancient crime.”
Again he called with all the wild strength of his will. There was a period of silence, of nothingness and then, gradually, Carse sensed the approach of other minds, grave and powerful and stern.
He would never know from what far world they had come. Long ago the Quiru had gone out by this road that led beyond the universe, to cosmic regions forever outside his ken. And now they had come back briefly in answer to Rhiannon’s call.
Dim and shadowy, Carse saw godlike forms come slowly into being, tenuous as shining smoke in the gloom.
“Let me go with you, my brothers! For I have destroyed the Serpent and my sin is redeemed.”
It seemed that the Quiru pondered, searching Rhiannon’s heart for truth. Then at last one stepped forward and laid his hand upon the coffin. The subtle fires died within it.