"It is not by any means authentic," he was saying, "and certain parts which you have taken for truth are nothing more or less than allegory and fable, while other apparent prophecies were not written by the people you 'suppose, but by men long after the events had happened, so are not prophecies at all."
"Mother, mother," cried Iddo, looking up with tears in her eyes, "do you hear what the man is saying about our Guide Book?"
But before her mother had time to answer, a loud voice rang out, which Iddo recognised at once as that of Chisleu, the stranger with whom they had just been talking.
"That's a lie," he cried, "no one need believe it. The book is true from beginning to end."
Then there arose an uproar.
"Let the preacher alone," cried one, "he says he has studied the question, and moreover confesses that he himself is journeying to the Radiant City. Let him speak. If he has anything to teach us let him do it."
"But it is false," cried Chisleu, "don't listen to him. He's a wolf in sheep's clothing."
"Take the intruder away," shouted some of the bystanders, "we wish to hear what the preacher has to say. It may be true or it may be false, but we wish to hear him."
"Come away, dear," said her mother to Iddo, "it won't do us any good to listen."
"But," said Iddo, "what did he mean? No one ever doubts, surely, the truth of the Guide Book? If it is not true, how shall we ever find our way to the Radiant City, or indeed how do we know that there is a Radiant City to find?" she added, sobbing.