Part Two In Al-Kyris Chapter 21 The Crimson River

At these unexpected words Theos sprang wildly to his feet. An awful darkness seemed to close in upon him,--and a chaotic confusion of memories began to whirl and drift through his mind like flotsam and jetsam tossed upon a storm-swept sea. The aged and shadowy-looking Zuriel stood motionless, watching him with something of timid pity and mild patience.

"FIVE THOUSAND YEARS!" he muttered hoarsely, pressing his hands into his aching brows, while his eyes again fixed themselves yearningly on the Cross.. "Five thousand years before. ... before WHAT?"

He caught the old man's arm, and in spite of himself, a laugh, wild, discordant, and out of all keeping with his inward emotions, broke from his parched lips,--"Thou doting fool!" he cried almost furiously,--"Why dost thou mock me then with this false image of a hope unrealized? ... Who gave thee leave to add more fuel to my flame of torment? ... What means this symbol to thine eyes? Speak.. speak! What admonition does it hold for thee? ... what promise? ... what menace? ... what warning? ... what love? ... Speak.. speak! O, shall I force confession from thy throat, or must I die unsatisfied and slain by speechless longing! What didst thou say? ... FIVE THOUSAND YEARS? ... Nay, by the gods, thou liest!"--and he pointed excitedly to the sacred Emblem,--"I tell thee that Holy Sign is as familiar to my suffering soul as the chiming of bells at sunset! ... as well known to my sight as the unfolding of flowers in the fields of spring! ... What shall be done or said of it, in. five thousand years, that has not already been said and done?"