For Regan did not know that they were saved. He had no time to see what had happened.
“But still I live,” he cried, “and we shall reach the planet sun of Jupiter after a time! I will take courage! It is only a custom of man to expect companionship! One can exist just as well without it! No human voice! No human love! No kiss! No help! No words! I will go on alone! I can go on alone!”
Then for awhile he was silent, looking about him. After a time he said:
“It will not do; there is no one to cheat save myself and my own soul! Shall I try to lie to it? Oh! tortured soul! If I only could believe!”
Regan cast himself beside the molten flood, waiting his doom.
“Rondah! Rondah! I shall never see you!” he moaned. “Did you die in the snow? Where are you? From what place do you see me? Oh! my love, my love!”
The air grew sulphurous with smoke. The rocks fell between him and the sea, and others fell between him and the lava.
He was too lethargic to look. The habit of the globe had seized upon him! He fell asleep for years! For people are a part of that globe which they inhabit. They do not realize it, but they breathe, move, think, exist, according to its spirit, as a portion of it!
If world still call to world, as they did when the morning stars sang together, the voices are of different attunement, but they blend in one grand chord of harmony.
Jupiter marched on, attended by his satellites.