"The truth, O lord!" said the high priest slowly. "Have I not sought it all my life?"
Croft nodded. "Aye, priest of Zitu, I think you have. Wouldst hear the truth of those things Abbu told you from my mouth?"
Zud leaned forward somewhat quickly. For an instant an eager light gleamed in his eyes before they met Croft's steadily watching, and then wavered.
"Lord!" he faltered, "lord!"
Croft told him the tale.
For that was the plan which had filled his mind—to tell it; to narrate to Zud the truth; to explain those things which had been done, and the how of each act so fully as he could inside the other's comprehension, to convince him by word of mouth if he might, or, failing that, to win his consent to a practical test.
While he talked time dragged on, and by degrees Zud relaxed his pose, of something like overborne embarrassment.
His attitude now became that of an amazed and eager attention. His eyes lighted and his breathing quickened, and now and then he moistened his lips with his tongue. By degrees his excitement increased, until he was gripping the arms of his chair and leaning toward Croft, in a posture which seemed no more than physical reflex of his mental determination to miss no single word.
"Thou—thou sayest a man may leave his body at will?" he stammered as Croft paused.