"How do you know me?" she asked.
"As we all know you,"--came the answer--"Even as YOU have known the inside of a sun-ray!"
She listened, amazed--utterly mystified. Whoever or whatever it was that spoke knew not only her name, but the trend of her earliest studies and theories. The "inside of a sun-ray"! This was what she had only the other day explained to Father Aloysius as being her first experience of real happiness! She tried to set her thoughts in order--to realise her position. Here she was, a fragile human thing, in a flying ship of her own design, held fast by atmospheric force above an unknown city situate somewhere in the Great Desert,--and some one in that city was conversing with her by a method of "wireless" as yet undiscovered by admitted science,--yet communication was perfect and words distinct. Following up the suggestion presented to her she said--
"You are speaking to me in English. Are you all English folk in your city?"
A faint quiver as of laughter vibrated through the "Sound Ray."
"No, indeed! We have no nationality."
"No nationality?"
"None. We are one people. But we speak every language that ever has been spoken in the past, or is spoken in the present. I speak English to you because it is your manner of talk, though not your manner of life."
"How do you know it is not my manner of life?"
"Because you are not happy in it. Your manner of life is ours. It has nothing to do with nations or peoples. You are Morgana."
"And you?" she cried with sudden eagerness--"Oh, who are you that speak to me?--man, woman, or angel? What are the dwellers in your city, if it is in truth a city, and not a dream!"
"Look again and see!" answered the Voice--"Convince yourself!--do not be deceived! You are not dreaming--Look and make yourself sure!"
Impelled to movement, she went to the window which she had left to take up the steering-gear,--and from there saw again the wonderful scene spread out below, the towers, spires, cupolas and bridges, all lit with that mysterious golden luminance like smouldering sunset fire.
"It is beautiful!" she said--"It seems true--it seems real--"
"It IS true-it IS real!"--the Voice replied--"It has been seen by many travellers,--but because they can never approach it they call it a desert "mirage." It is more real and more lasting than any other city in the world."
"Can I never enter it?" she asked, appealingly--"Will you never let me in?"
There was a silence, which seemed to her very long. Still standing at the window of her cabin she looked down on the shining city, a broad stretch of splendid gold luminance under the canopy of the dark sky with its millions of stars. Then the Voice answered her--
"Yes--if you come alone!"
These words sounded so close to her ear that she felt sure the speaker must be standing beside her.
"I will come!" she said, impulsively--"Somehow--some way!--no matter how difficult or dangerous! I will come!"
As she spoke she was conscious of a curious vibration round her, as though some other thing than the ceaseless, silent throbbing of the air-ship"s mechanism had disturbed the atmosphere.
"Wait!" said the Voice--"You say this without thought. You do not realise the meaning of your words. For--if you come, you must stay!"
A thrill ran through her blood.
"I must stay!" she echoed--"Why?"
"Because you have learned the Life-Secret,"--answered the Voice--"And, as you have learned it, so must you live. I will tell you more if you care to hear--"
An inrush of energy came to her as she listened--she felt that the unseen speaker acknowledged the power which she herself knew she possessed.
"With all my soul I care to hear!" she said--"But where do you speak from? And who are you that speak?"
"I speak from the central Watch-Tower,"--the Voice replied--"The City is guarded from that point--and from there we can send messages all over the world in every known language. Sometimes they are understood--more often they are ignored,--but we, who have lived since before the coming of Christ, have no concern with such as do not or will not hear. Our business is to wait and watch while the ages go by,--wait and watch till we are called forth to the new world.
Sometimes our messages cross the "wireless" Marconi system--and some confusion happens--but generally the "Sound Ray" carries straight to its mark. You must well understand all that is implied when you say you will come to us,--it means that you leave the human race as you have known it and unite yourself with another human race as yet unknown to the world!"
Here was an overwhelming mystery--but, nothing daunted, Morgana pursued her enquiry.
"You can talk to me on the Sound Ray"--she said--"And I understand its possibility. You should equally be able to project your own portrait--a true similitude of yourself--on a Light Ray. Let me see you!"
"You are something of a wilful spirit!" answered the Voice--"But you know many secrets of our science and their results. So--as you wish it--"
Another second, and the cabin was filled with a pearly l.u.s.tre like the vapour which sweeps across the hills in an early summer dawn--and in the center of this as in an aureole stood a n.o.bly proportioned figure, clad in gold-coloured garments fashioned after the early Greek models.
Presumably this personage was human,--but never was a semblance of humanity so transfigured. The face and form were those of a beautiful youth,--the eyes were deep and brilliant,--and the expression of the features was one of fine serenity and kindliness. Morgana gazed and gazed, bending herself towards her wonderful visitor with all her soul in her eyes,--when suddenly the vision, if so it might be called, paled and vanished. She uttered a little cry.
"Oh, why have you gone so soon?" she exclaimed.
"It is not I who have gone,"--replied the Voice--"It is only the reflection of me. We cannot project a light picture too far or too long. And even now--when you come to us--if you ever do come!--do you think you will remember me?"
"How could I forget anyone so beautiful!" she said, with pa.s.sionate enthusiasm.
This time the Sound Ray conveyed a vibration of musical laughter.
"Where every being has beauty for a birthright, how should you know me more than another!" said the Voice--"Beauty is common to all in our city--as common as health, because we obey the Divine laws of both."
She stretched out her hands appealingly.
"Oh, if I could only come to you now!" she murmured.
"Patience!" and the Voice grew softer--"There is something for you to do in the world. You must lose a love before you find it!"
She drew a quick breath. What could these words mean?
"It is time for you now to turn homeward,"--went on the Voice--"You must not be seen above this City at dawn. You would be attacked and instantly destroyed, as having received a warning which you refused to heed."
"Do you attack and destroy all strangers so?" she asked--"Is that your rule?"
"It is our rule to keep away the mischief of the modern world"--replied the Voice--"As well admit a pestilence as the men and women of to-day!"
"I am a woman of to-day,"--said Morgana.
"No, you are not,--you are a woman of the future!" and the Voice was grave and insistent--"You are one of the new race. At the appointed hour you will take your part with us in the new world?"
"When will be that hour?"
There was a pause. Then, with an exceeding sweetness and solemnity the Voice replied--
"If He will that we tarry till He come, what is that to thee?"