They saw the ocean, drop by drop, falling through the silver rocks into the emerald sea.
“How long shall I be here?” mused the guide. “Until, drop by drop, the sea of the Sun Island has swallowed the seas of the star! How many drops are there in your seas, Regan? When they are all gone you will be sole monarch of the most lovely star whirling in this portion of the heavenly constellations!
“Let me tell you what you are destined to do here. Not to dwell with bird people nor to wait for the development of elf men. Here is your own race. You have now to select for your outside world twelve such as you choose, and of these will be the kingdoms of the future. Look never for a human soul to evolve from a vegetable nor to rise into the body of a goblin elf man.
“As the star floats you shall teach it all things; make better laws than ever Earth dreamed of; create a paradise! Man should learn to lay each stone to stand for a thousand years. Your records should be on walls of amber, not in books of silver.
“Among the bird people there is no sin, but the human race is still burdened with its taint. When the star is builded with colossal cities, the sea spanned with silver bridges, the hills scintillating with diamond forests, whether or not sin be eradicated remains with you, Regan. Rondah has saved all the bird people; to save humanity is for the king of the star! Come yet further!”
Like a giant marble statue given a life he seemed as he moved in grandeur, the radiance of his robes blinding them. The crowd about were wrapped in cloud-mist of pink, and folds of rainbow were their draperies. The music of the many footfalls was like the tinkling of numberless silver bells.
“Would you see a remembrance of the pre-Adamites?”
There rose before them a vision of altars, robed priests and cloudy incense, flowers, gold, mystery of musical incantation.
“That is one of the old fair scenes of worship. So did primeval man worship a mystery above him.”
Then the vision fled. Another rose.