“But thou wilt. In so much as thou wilt imperil immortality thou must suffer. Be of good cheer. Whatever pain may come will soon pass. Nothing of the real love and union between thee will ever cease to be.”
“The seventh labor,” Akaza continued, after a thoughtful pause, “is the slaying of the vampire of procrastination—the temptation to halt in the path of duty. Thou wilt naturally think thy work completed when thou art allowed to return to Atlantis.”
“Why not?”
“Thou wilt not return to Poseidon’s kingdom for many days. Atlantis is doomed.”
“Akaza, what art thou saying?” In his excitement Yermah shook the hierophant’s arm vigorously.
“Thou art forbidden to give to others what thou hast learned. The world needs thee more than thou canst imagine. Thou art now facing the eighth labor of initiation.”
“I know this. But is it not true that I shall tip the spires of the temple building? Must I not do this with mine own hands?”
“Thou must subjugate all internal and external hindrances first.”
“What is that, if not what I have already mentioned? Was it not so from the beginning? In each colony visited have I not obeyed the laws? This year finishes my sojourn away from Atlantis. Thou wilt remember that I am to have my wish when the last labor has been completed.”
“So thou shalt.”