"Aiwah, Effendi. Punishments and rewards are bestowed immediately after death, and those whose proper place is hell are brought to hell, while those who deserve paradise are brought to paradise."
"Then in the third world, what greater rewards are there than the pleasures of paradise? Surely that is infinite happiness?"
"The manifestation of the highest glory of God—that is the supreme reward, Effendi, the meeting of God face to face."
"Then in paradise, in the second world, the saint will not yet see God?"
"La, Effendi. The day of resurrection is the day of the complete manifestation of God's glory, when everyone shall become perfectly aware of the existence of God. On that day every person shall have a complete and open reward for his actions. He shall actually see God."
Michael's thoughts flew to the vision of Akhnaton. If the luminous state was significant of Barzakh, or the second world, perhaps it was only during that period that the spirits were able to return to earth. He was never forgetful of the fact that in Eternity time cannot be measured, yet three thousand years spent in the second world seemed to his human mind a long time of waiting!
They were walking together towards the camp.
"Aiwah, Effendi," Abdul said, "to-morrow we depart at dawn?—the weather grows hotter."
"Yes, Abdul, at dawn. I will be ready—never fear."
"Has the Effendi ever allowed himself to think that the honourable Sitt who left him two weeks ago may have journeyed to the hidden treasure?"